Plans to redevelop Silver Spring office into 148-unit apartment advance
Project is MoCo’s second expedited office-to-residential reconstruction project
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Elia GriffinJuly 29, 2026 11:03 a.m. | Updated: July 29, 2026 11:04 a.m.
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Plans for a 148-unit apartment building located between two future Purple Line stations in Silver Spring’s Long Branch neighborhood are moving forward, with the Montgomery County Planning Board approving the plans on Thursday.
The proposed building at 831 University Boulevard East would house up to 148 apartments with around 26, or 17.5%, designated as moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs), according to planning documents. Sonina Properties, a Potomac-based development and property management company, said construction is likely to begin in early 2027.
“It is a very attractive project,” Planning Board Chair Artie Harris told developers Thursday. “Very good location, close to two Purple Line stops and its in a walkable community.”
Harris added that he supported approving the project, noting that the county was facing a housing crisis. “It helps to address that,” Harris said.
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The plans call for demolishing the existing, aging office building at the University Boulevard East site and redeveloping it into a five-story residential building. The project is the county’s second commercial-to-residential reconstruction project to move forward under the expedited approval plan process, according to Montgomery Planning documents.
In May 2025, the planning board approved a sketch plan for the project; however, developers decided to withdraw the application and move forward with the project as a “Commercial to Residential Reconstruction” application under the county’s expedited approval process.
In April 2025, the county approved and enacted a zoning text amendment that created the commercial-to-residential reconstruction use and allow for an expedited approval process for applications that fall under that category.
Eric Colbert, the project’s architect, told Bethesda Today on Thursday after the board’s vote that the project team aims to begin demolition in two months and start construction in six months.
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According to Colbert, developers estimate construction of the five-story apartment will take about one and a half years to complete, with a mid- to late-2028 opening.
During Thursday’s meeting, Colbert said that since receiving approval from the planning board on the project in 2025, developers made some adjustments to the project. Changes included refining the sizing and shape of the building and adjusting the development’s rear courtyard.
“We’re looking forward to moving forward,” Colbert said Thursday during the meeting.
In May 2025, Inder Chawla, head of acquisitions at Sonina Properties, told Bethesda Today that the existing building at the site is a medical office building that was nearing 50% vacancy. Knowing that the Purple Line would run nearby, Chawla said he decided that it was time to redevelop the property.
“We did some market research and found [that a] multifamily project at that site would really meet the need of the community, and also sort of change the character of that asset there because the building is dated. It was built in the early 1960s,” Chawla said in May.
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According to planning documents, when Sonina Properties submitted their expedited approval application in April, the building was 55% vacant.
The project is near the intersection of University Boulevard, Carroll Avenue and Forston Street, about a tenth of a mile from the border of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. It is just outside of the city limits of Takoma Park.
Two future Purple Line stations — the Takoma Langley Station and the Piney Branch Station – are also within walking distance of the proposed site, planning documents state.
The project site is also near Rolling Terrace Elementary School, Takoma Park Spanish SDA Church, Takoma Academy Preparatory School and Sligo Adventist Elementary School.
According to planning documents, Montgomery Planning staff did not receive any recent correspondence from community members regarding the expedited approval application for the project.
Planning Board Commissioner Shawn Bartley also praised the Sonina Properties project and the development team for “taking advantage of the expedited process.” He noted that he was excited to approve the plan.
“I’m excited for this development to this part of the county that needs it,” Bartley said. “Last time you were here I said that you were a beacon of light for that area. I’m excited for you guys to demolish the building quickly.”
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine