Tag: News

HPC Supports Reynolds House Historic Designation

Sandra L. Youla

June 5, 2026

Thanks to everyone who testified and submitted letters of support to the Historic Preservation Commission for historic designation of the Reynolds House. And thanks to those of you who showed up at the HPC meeting in support.

All your help was very effective! On Wednesday 5.27.2026, the HPC, in a unanimous vote,

  • found that the Edwin and Julia Reynolds House satisfies three designation criteria as outlined inf Sec. 24 A-3(b), Historic Resources Preservation, Montgomery County Code, and
  • agreed to advise the Planning Board to recommend that the County Council amend the Master Plan for Historic Preservation to add the Edwin and Julia Roberts House as a Master Plan Historic Site as part of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan.

In other words, the HPC agreed that the Edwin and Julia Reynolds House should be designated on tn the Master Plan for Historic Preservation, agreeing with the HPC Staff’s excellent Designation Report that the house met criteria 1.A, 1D, and 2. See Designation Report at https://montgomeryplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/III.A-Edwin-and-Julia-Reynolds-House-Chevy-Chase.pdf

But this is not the end of the process–we still have to go through the Planning Board and County Council processes before designation happens. The County Council makes the final decision. I will keep you informed of upcoming public hearings and worksessions in which we should participate via written comments, oral testimony, and our attendance. We may also need to lobby decision makers and perhaps invite them on a site visit with us.

Note that the Parks Department, which owns the property, testified to the HPC in opposition to designation, so we will have to make a convincing case to the Planning Board and the County Council that the Reynolds House not only meets criteria for designation but that designation is iu the public interest.

Cheers, and I look forward to working with you to make the historic designation of the Reynolds House a reality.

Sandra Youla

youlatoy@msn.com

FY2025 Recommended Operating Budget Submitted

From the Office of Council President Andrew Friedson

Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson issued the following statement today after County Executive Marc Elrich transmitted his $7.1 billion Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget to the Council: 

“The Council appreciates the work of the County Executive and his team to develop the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget. Now we begin our work to create the final budget over the next two months. Budgets aren’t simply spending plans; they are moral documents that demonstrate our collective priorities. As we work toward our shared fiscal and policy goals, transparency and accountability will be our governing doctrine.

“With unprecedented needs and finite resources, we must ensure every dollar is put to its best use to serve the greatest needs of Montgomery County residents. We look forward to receiving the views of our community members during the budget process, so we can carefully balance the need for important County services with pressures on our taxpayers.”

The Council’s public hearings on the operating budget are scheduled for April 8 and April 9 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Starting March 15, those interested in testifying at the public hearings can sign up online on the Council’s website or by calling 240-777-7803. Comments and suggestions are also welcome online, by mail or by calling the Council budget hotline at 240-777-7802.

Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget can be viewed on the Office of Management and Budget’s website.