Montgomery College’s PIC MC Wins Approval for Ground Lease Request

Action advances vision for the future of Germantown Campus

The Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) is proud to announce that the Maryland Board of Public Works has approved its request for a ground lease at its 19710 Observation Drive Project located on the college’s Germantown Campus.

Montgomery College along with its joint venture partner, Minkoff/South Duvall, are developing a three-story, 120,000 square-foot commercial office building to accommodate the growing life science and technology sectors in Montgomery County, bringing additional biotechnology, cybersecurity, IT, manufacturing, and engineering jobs.

“I am grateful for the approval by the Board of Public works which will advance economic growth in Montgomery County particularly in the technology sector,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, Montgomery College president. “This approval will allow PIC MC’s vision of an innovation district integrating academic, businesses, and research operations to become a reality.”

“This milestone is the final governmental approval needed,” said Martha Schoonmaker, Executive Director, PIC MC. “This action allows us to move forward with implementing the development agreement and allows our development partner to seek and negotiate with prospective tenants”

Dr. Pollard added, “The pandemic has shown us how important it is to grow the life sciences and technology work forces. These areas are vital to the future of our community. Located on our Germantown Campus, 19710 Observation Drive will create opportunities for MC students to collaborate directly with employers and fuel new growth in critical industries.”

The functionally-driven building is being marketed as 19Seven10 and will feature lab, office, manufacturing and distribution spaces aimed at companies focused on biotech, life sciences and cybersecurity. The project is in a designated RISE Zone, which allows commercial and industrial businesses to benefit from property and income tax credits.

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About Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study.

About PIC MC
The Germantown Campus is home to the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College, or PIC MC, a hub of education, business, and entrepreneurship, where industry partners co-locate and actively interact with faculty and students to achieve both educational and economic success.  The Montgomery College Germantown Campus features the Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, an 80,000 square foot Medical Office Building, a 145,000 square foot bioscience educational building and the Montgomery County-owned, Germantown Innovation Center that is a business incubator with 24 startup life sciences companies.