While the ground rules still are being set for major redevelopment in Wheaton, Montgomery County is moving ahead with plans to demolish a building to make way for a sidewalk project that has been more than a decade in the making.
But the county acquired the building by invoking its rights to eminent domain, which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year allows municipalities to force private property owners to sell if officials decide a new project would benefit the public.
Last week, the county announced that it had purchased the building, at 11234 Georgia Ave., to make room for a sidewalk to connect the Wheaton Metro station to a parking lot and other nearby shops.
“It’s going to cost over $2 million, and it’s still going to be an alleyway,” said the owner of Barry’s Magic Shop, Barry Taylor, whose business has been on that site for decades.
The county threatened to condemn the building and, its owner George Chaconas said, finally sued last year. Chaconas said he settled out of court with the county agreeing to pay $987,000 for the building. He told The Examiner that he felt strong-armed into the deal.
“I didn’t sell it to the county,” Chaconas said. “They took it.”
On Tuesday, the Wheaton Development Office referred calls for this story to the County Attorney’s Office, which did not return a phone call. This is not the first time that area leaders have used or threatened eminent domain to get what they want. The District used it to get some of the land needed to build the new Washington Nationals ballpark in Southeast.
Chaconas, who owns other buildings in Wheaton, said he does not plan to fight the county’s decision.
The owners of the other business lin the building, the Wheaton Door Co., did not return phone calls for this story.
Though the county has said it will work with business owners to find new locations, Taylor said his attempts to negotiate with for either more time in the building or help cover the cost of the increased rent are ongoing. He said he still hopes to work out a deal.
“If I move into a place that’s going to cost me $9,000 per month, in six months I’m going to be closed,” he said.
At a glance
» Demolition of the building is in line with the county’s 1994 plan to connect shops along Georgia Avenue with shops on Triangle Lane.
