Warner Circle Park will remain a public park managed by Montgomery Parks.
WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks, in conjunction with Montgomery County Government, has entered into an agreement to transfer the historic Circle Manor and Carriage House at Warner Circle Park to Washington Landmark Construction (WLC) to develop seventeen residential condominiums. The Historic Preservation Commission recently approved the proposed work as described in the Historic Area Work Permit. WLC is now working to complete the design documents and obtain all necessary permits.
“Montgomery Parks is pleased that the historic circle mansion and carriage house will be used for housing in a beautiful park setting, and we are excited to work with Washington Landmark Construction to bring these buildings back to the community,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “We look forward to finalizing the sale so that WLC can begin construction.”
The developer, WLC, completed a detailed archaeological survey and geotechnical investigation on the grounds. Montgomery Parks, Montgomery County, and WLC will finalize the sale of the buildings after the design has been completed and the necessary approvals have been obtained.
Montgomery Parks will issue Park Construction and Archeology permits before any construction activities begin. The construction, which includes renovation of the carriage house and the historic house, including an addition and site work, is expected to begin in the fall of 2023 and take about 18 months to complete.
“We are honored to revitalize these buildings while maintaining their historic significance,” said Karl Voglmayr, founder and CEO of Washington Landmark Construction and Development LLC and Warner Circle Mansion Condominiums LLC. “We will continue working closely with Montgomery Parks and the Town of Kensington to ensure this restoration will be an asset to the community.”
Montgomery Parks acquired Warner Circle Special Park in 2005 to preserve the historic landscape as a public park and find an adaptive reuse for the historic buildings. Since then, the Parks Department has invested significant resources to stabilize and maintain the historic structures and find a partner that would fully restore the properties, ensuring their long-term preservation while maintaining public access to the park.
Warner Circle Special Park was originally the home of Brainard Warner, the founder of the Town of Kensington. The park includes a large 1893-1914 Queen Anne house and a 1914 carriage house. The property is listed on the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation and the National Register of Historic Places.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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