History of the 10A Project & Accomplishments To Date
Future Site of the the Greenbelt Museum Visitor and Education Center
Recent Project Timeline
● July 2019 FOGM hired Old Line Architects with Council approval
● September 2019 FOGM and architect met with GHI technical services to discuss plans, make sure GHI rules and regulations for additions were understood by all
● Winter 2020 COVID-19 hits significantly delaying the project
● Spring and Summer 2020 FOGM and Museum Director refine draft plans with architect
● Summer 2020 FOGM hires civil engineer, structural engineer, as well as electrical/plumbing/mechanical engineer through the architect.
● Fall 2020 engineering firms visit the 10A site, prepare reports
● Winter 2020-2021 FOGM and Museum Director finalize the HVAC and lighting layout, architect works on renderings
● Spring 2021 FOGM and Museum Director begin approval processes that are required. This includes obtaining neighbor consent from the surrounding residents, and scheduling a work session with Greenbelt City Council.
● Once those two items are complete, we will begin working with Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) to obtain a GHI permit, then a City permit, and County permit. We anticipate this process will take the rest of 2021, if not longer.
● Early 2022 hope to have permitting process completed
● Spring of 2022 hope to have work beginning on 10A, possible completion by end of 2022
Funding to Date
Working with Neighborhood Design Center
In 2017, FOGM shared a request for proposals from area design and architecture firms to help with planning the new Greenbelt Museum Education and Visitor Center. After interviews with several firms and careful deliberation, the FOGM Board decided to enlist the help of the Neighborhood Design Center. Long established in Baltimore, the nonprofit now has an office in Prince George’s County in nearby Hyattsville. Board and staff were impressed with their willingness to engage the surrounding community in the design process and to be open-minded and creative as the process progresses, especially given the challenges of the 10A project. Trying to fit a visitor center, exhibit space, archives, offices and a gift shop in a typically-sized Greenbelt Homes Incorporated-house will not be easy! This part of the 10A project is supported by an operating assistance grant from the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, one of several grants we have received.
In 2017, the FOGM Board enlisted the help of the Neighborhood Design Center. We knew that trying to fit a visitor center, exhibit space, archives, offices and a gift shop in a typically-sized Greenbelt Homes Incorporated-house would not be easy!
The Neighborhood Design Center created plans and renderings based on feedback from Museum staff, the FOGM Board, and many other stakeholders and Greenbelt residents. This portion of the project was funded by a grant awarded to FOGM from the Maryland State Department of Housing and Community Development. The plans detail creative solutions to challenges inherent in transforming a residence into a public facility.
The 10A garage will be converted into a film room, so that visitors can view our short orientation film without being disturbed by subsequently arriving visitors or groups. The former living room will be an exhibit hall and the kitchen and dining room will be combined into one large learning lab, which will allow groups more space for hands-on educational exploration. They also propose changes to the upstairs to create a larger space for the research room and staff offices.
For more information about our fundraising efforts or how to get involved, please contact Museum Director, Megan Searing Young, at 301-507-6582 or director@greenbeltmuseum.org. To receive regular updates on the project, join our email list by clicking here.