WHEATON, MD—Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has increased the scope of the Wheaton town square plan, requesting the County Council approve nearly $144 million for the project.

Leggett's budget request is more than double the original appropriation for the project, according to Gazette.net. The Wheaton town square plan now calls for the development of a 266,000-square-foot multi-use building that will house the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, its credit union, and a day care center. The plan also calls for space for the Mid-County Regional Services Center, the Wheaton Urban District and 15,000 square feet of street level retail.

Leggett's new proposal is significantly larger than the original plan that called for a 150,000-square-foot building. Montgomery County is working with developers StonebridgeCarras of Bethesda and Greenbelt-based Bozzuto Development to construct the county office building, a town square and a 218-unit apartment development.

Once the new office building is completed, StonebridgeCarras and Bozzuto would take possession of the county's existing parks and planning offices at 8787 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. Plans call for a total of 400,000 square feet of mixed-use space there including office and retail space and a 360-unit apartment project. See story at Gazette.net.