The decision on a developer for a new 2nd District Police station could come by the end of August, according to a Montgomery County government official.
In February, the county put out a request for qualifications and development proposals for a public-private project to rebuild the more than 50-year-old police station in downtown Bethesda (7359 Wisconsin Ave.).
The county had originally contracted with Chevy Chase-based developer JBG Cos. to build a new station at 7900 Wisconsin Ave. in exchange for the existing police station site. JBG planned a 400-unit residential building there.
But those plans fell through last year when JBG couldn’t purchase all of the properties at the 7900 site.
The county then put out a new request for proposals. Greg Ossont, deputy director of planning and development for the county’s Department of General Services, said the county is close to picking a proposal.
He said the county is aiming for a decision by the end of the month.
The request for proposals allows for the station to be built anywhere in Bethesda Central Business District, but rebuilding it at 7359 Wisconsin Ave. is also a possibility.
The original project was slated to cost the county $9 million. That money has been kept in the budget as a placeholder amount, though the costs would have to be re-assessed. The new request for proposals process will delay the project by about a year.
The existing facility is 21,700 square feet and, according to the county, too small to meet the requirements of the 24-hour police station. The building also requires major upgrades and faces security concerns.
