Leggett, Hogan and County Officials Celebrate Groundbreaking for New Avery Road Treatment Center; Facility Provides Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for County Residents

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 29, 2018

County Executive Isiah Leggett, joined by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, County Councilmembers George Leventhal, Sidney Katz and Craig Rice and U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin celebrated the start of construction for the new Avery Road Treatment Center (ARTC) with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oct. 29.

Other officials participating in the event included County Department of General Services Director David Dise, County Department of Health and Human Services Director Uma Ahluwalia and Rebecca Fishman with the Potomac Healthcare Foundation. 

The new 37,682 square-foot facility, located at 14703 Avery Road, will replace the existing facility, built in 1991.  When completed, the ARTC will provide 64 residential beds for non-hospital detoxification and intermediate-care residential substance use disorder treatment.  It will also add new outpatient programming for a broad range of treatment options in a “one stop shop” recovery campus. Current services will be housed in a group of temporary buildings until the new building opens. 

“I am extremely pleased to be here today to mark the construction of this important facility,” said Leggett.  “This community is not immune to the devastation caused by the nationwide opioid epidemic and the services offered here at the Avery Road Treatment Center are a key component of our work in making treatment available to Montgomery County residents.”

The new building is designed to meet the International Green Construction Code and will have high-efficiency mechanical, plumbing and electrical equipment, as well as an efficient water system and windows.  The project is designed to minimize impacts to the surrounding existing forest areas and have no impact on the other on-site environmental features. 

“It is great news that we are breaking ground for our new Avery Road Treatment Center,” said Riemer. “Opioid and other addictions are destructive for both the substance user and their families, and it is important to continue to expand services to meet our community’s needs. This new facility will further strengthen our effort to ensure that all residents, in need of addiction treatment, has access to those services.”

“This project is an excellent example of leveraging public-private partnerships (P3) to build new facilities cost-effectively and efficiently,” said Dise. “DGS looks forward to the completion of the project and is proud to manage the design and construction for this new facility, which will serve residents who need addiction treatment services.”  

Treatment services at ARTC are provided by the Maryland Treatment Centers through a contract with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Crisis Services. The facility serves adults with substance use disorders including tailored treatment options for individuals with a combination of complex needs, including those who are homeless, HIV positive, intravenous drug users and patients with co-occurring (mental health and substance abuse) disorders. Patients can self-refer or be referred by their family, jail or law enforcement, hospitals and other treatment providers.  Maryland Treatment Centers has been a leader in providing a full continuum of care in response to the current opioid crisis, including medication treatments and other innovative interventions.

The project is funded through a unique P3 between the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Montgomery County and the service provider, Potomac Healthcare Foundation Ltd., the not-for-profit foundation associated with Maryland Treatment Centers. Each partner contributed a percentage of the funding needed to design, build and operate the program.  State funding was obtained through the MDH Office of Capital Planning, Budgeting and Engineering Services bond fund program for capital projects, while the County funding came through the Montgomery County Capital Improvement Program.  Operating funds will come from the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) and Maryland Medicaid Assistance.  Potomac Health Foundation obtained funding from Eagle Bank.

“As the state-delegated county agency supporting behavioral health prevention and treatment services for individuals impacted by substance abuse disorders, we have long contracted for treatment services at Avery Road,” said Ahluwalia.  “This partnership creates the opportunity for high quality and expanded treatment supported by a high-quality treatment facility.  As we respond to the acute opioid epidemic, this project epitomizes the shared vision and accountability for treatment offered to vulnerable substance abusing residents in our county.”

Frederick-based Noelker & Hull Associates, Inc. are the architects on the project and the contractor is Costello Construction.  The 18-month project is expected to be completed in early 2020. The cost of the new facility is approximately $15 million. 

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Release ID: 18-721
Media Contact: Mary Anderson, DHHS 240-777-6534, Judy Stiles, Office of Public Information 240-777-6536