The Montgomery County Planning Board took the first step Thursday toward jump-starting the long-stalled redevelopment of downtown Wheaton by approving $200,000 to assess the feasibility of moving the county headquarters of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission there from Silver Spring.

County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) requested that parks and planning consider relocating staff from three locations in Silver Spring to the Wheaton Triangle central business district, which the county has been pushing as a “smart growth” town center location in partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and developer B.F. Saul of Bethesda.

The feasibility study could be the first piece of the puzzle needed to build momentum for redeveloping the Wheaton district, said Darian A. LeBlanc, senior managing director of broker Cassidy Turley's Government Services Group, which is taking the lead on attracting a federal tenant for new office space in the planned mixed-use complex.

"I believe it's a step in the right direction," LeBlanc said. "It's an incredibly viable site, and as the project continues to add pieces, the overall viability and the marketability of the project are enhanced."

The parks and planning headquarters could generate momentum for redevelopment of the Wheaton complex, which includes proposals for as much as 900,000 square feet of office space, a 120-room hotel, 250 residential units, 40,000 square feet of retail-flex space and parking. The project encompasses more than 11 acres owned by the county or Metro, including the Mid-County Regional Services Center on Reedie Drive, nearby parking lot 13, two other parking lots, the Metro bus bay and the Metro parking garage and pedestrian bridge.

The properties are in a triangle formed by Georgia Avenue, Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard. Bozzuto Development of Greenbelt and other developers already have begun redeveloping surrounding blocks with a mix of new apartments, condominiums, townhouses and renovated retail and office space.

But until now, the Wheaton town center plan has failed to advance for lack of an anchor tenant, the same problem that prompted Bozzuto to abandon a deal with Metro and the county in 2009 after six years of futility. Bozzuto had no luck even before the financial industry meltdown in 2008 and the Great Recession helped drive vacancy rates in Montgomery County above 15 percent in the last quarter.

Efforts to generate interest in the project have included an aborted plan to move the Wheaton Library about a mile south to the site and creation of new high-density zoning near the Metrorail station.

But Wheaton's location remains a major selling point that should attract other government and private tenants, LeBlanc said.

"Ideally, we'd like to be successful in terms of outreach to the federal government," he said. "This fits with the General Services Administration's focus on smart growth, transit-oriented projects. Wheaton has a lot to offer. The [Metro] Red Line, access to the Beltway and north-south and east-west surface roads."

By approving money for the feasibility study, the planning board also revives prospects for finding a new home for some 400 county workers, another project stalled partly by the recession. In 2008, the board approved development of SilverPlace, a public-private venture for a two-building project at 8787 Georgia Ave. that would have included 158,000 square feet of office space and 300 residential units. But the county council balked at its $69 million price tag and the plan has been dormant since 2009.

BAE Systems sells Rockville building for $11.75M

Meso Scale Technologies has bought 1601 Research Blvd. in Rockville for $11.75 million from BAE Systems, which is vacating the building as part of consolidation moves, according to CresaPartners, which represented the seller.

The property is a 179,491-square-foot, class B office building built in 1983. Meso Scale — which makes and sells measuring and testing products for biotech laboratories — will occupy the entire building. BAE is relocating as part of its move to consolidate staff to the Redland Corporate Center in Rockville and other locations.

Gene Sachs and John Kyle of CresaPartners represented BAE and Lew Flashenberg of J Street Cos. represented Meso.

Sylvan Learning secures $38.5M financing for HQ

The headquarters of Sylvan Learning, which led redevelopment of the east side of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, has secured $38.5 million in permanent financing, according to broker Cassidy Turley, which arranged the deal for the owner.

The 222,578-square-foot class A office building, developed by H&S Properties Development, is fully leased to tenants including Sylvan and Whole Foods Market, It overlooks Little Italy at 1001 Fleet St.

The property is part of the Harbor East neighborhood, a mixed-use development on 70 acres of downtown waterfront that combines more than 10 million square feet of commercial, retail, restaurant, hotel, entertainment and residential space.

EYA plans residential redevelopment of office building

EYA of Bethesda has acquired a 129,564-square-foot office building in Alexandria, Va., for $21 million, where it plans another of its infill residential redevelopment projects, according to Cassidy Turley, which represented the seller.

The building, 601 N. Fairfax St., is along the Potomac waterfront in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. The freestanding building, built in 1986, is less than a mile from Reagan National Airport and easily accessible by Metrorail and major thoroughfares.

EYA has developed 10 other communities in Alexandria, including the Condominiums at Old Town Commons, a 44-unit project that is to have units available for occupancy in early 2013. They will be the first new condos to open in Old Town Alexandria since 2008.