Tuesday, October 31, 2017

JINYA Ramen Bar to open at Pike & Rose (Photos)

JINYA Ramen Bar is coming to Pike & Rose. The California-based ramen chain has two existing area locations in the Mosaic District and Logan Circle. Its third will be in the ground floor of the L.L. Bean building at 910 Prose Street at Pike & Rose. The restaurant will open next year, and has posted Coming Soon signage at its future space. L.L. Bean, opening November 10, has also installed its permanent exterior signage.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Xi'an Gourmet to open in Rockville

While plans for a renowned local chef to open a Chinese restaurant in a grocery space on N. Washington Street fell through, a new Chinese spot will open on the strip after all. Xi'an Gourmet has leased the old Fusion Supper Club building at 316 N. Washington. The space has been vacant for more than a year. Xi'an Gourmet will add the flavors of Northwestern China to the potpourri of Asian dining options in Rockville.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Rockville construction update: Brightview West End (Photos)

Here's an update on the other major project in Phase II of Rockville Town Center, the Brightview West End assisted living apartment building. Brightview is located at 285 N. Washington Street, and includes 195 units of independent and assisted living, 6568 SF of ground floor retail, dining facilities and a fitness center, a landscaped courtyard, and a "therapeutic" roof garden.

Alzheimer's care is also be a specialty at this residential building. Services include transportation to medical centers, museums and galleries, and local events.

A movie theater, library and "upscale pub with billiards and TV" round out the leisure options. It looks like there is a coffee shop in the building, as well. I have to say it looks quite nice compared to previous generations of such facilities, and certainly gives the residents a bit more energy being downtown.







Thursday, October 26, 2017

Rockville construction update: Metropolitan at Rockville Town Center (Photos)

Kettler's Metropolitan at Rockville Town Center mixed-use residential building is looking more finished by the day. Here are some chronological images of the progress over the last month. The building, located at 255 N. Washington Street, has been expected to be delivered before the end of the year. Are those many individual entries along N. Washington Street the first "poor doors" to be implemented in Rockville?



























Wednesday, October 25, 2017

$100,000 of King Farm HOA funds missing, Rockville police investigating

Storm clouds gathering over
King Farm after $100K goes missing
Rockville police have opened an investigation after $100,000 in King Farm homeowners association funds went missing. According to NBC Washington, detectives are in pursuit of a former employee of the association, whom they want to interview. No suspects have been publicly identified. Residents have expressed dismay that they were not informed of the missing funds earlier.

The King Farm Citizens Assembly has posted a statement on its website to declare it will not comment publicly until the investigation is complete. It states that the Assembly learned of the missing funds in August, but does not mention who was responsible. Contrary to the NBC Washington report, the Assembly denies that it is under investigation, but rather cooperating with police in an investigation.

"Since the investigation is ongoing," the statement concludes, "the Assembly, on advice of the above authorities, is not at liberty to say more at this time."

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Veirs Mill corridor master plan meeting tonight

The next public meeting in the Veirs Mill corridor master plan process will be held tonight, Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 7:00 PM at Newport Mill Middle School, at 11311 Newport Mill Road in Kensington. At the last meeting, planners and residents identified and discussed community needs and challenges along the corridor.

Tonight, a consulting firm hired by the Montgomery County Planning Department will present their own list compiled after they conducted a study themselves. Residents and other stakeholders will be able to offer feedback on the consultant's report.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Public meetings scheduled for proposed self-storage, retail center in Rockville

Public meetings have been scheduled for two development projects proposed in Rockville. One is a 95000 SF self-storage facility that would be located at 204 North Stonestreet Avenue. The public can learn more at a meeting to be held Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 7:00 PM at the Rockville Memorial Library 1st floor meeting room, at 21 Maryland Avenue.

On the next night, a public meeting on a proposed 6000 SF retail center at 900 Rockville Pike will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM, in the Blue Crab Conference Room at Rockville City Hall. You may recall this project is on the undeveloped land southeast of the intersection of the Pike and Edmonston Drive.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Rockville construction update: 1900 Chapman Avenue apartments (Photos)

The multi-family residential building portion of the 1900 Chapman Avenue development is about four stories above street level at this point. Surprisingly, there still is no website or promotional materials for the building that I can find online. That's highly-unusual for a project this advanced in construction.
This is phase 1 of the project, which will eventually have a 61-townhome development on the other half of the site. The property is bordered by Chapman to the west, Twinbrook Parkway to the south, and the CSX railroad to the east. This used to be the location of Syms.




Thursday, October 19, 2017

Rockville construction update: Cava Grill at Upper Rock (Photos)

Cava Grill is rapidly multiplying in the area, and one of the fast casual Mediterranean chain's newest locations will be at JBG Smith's Upper Rock retail development. It is near the intersection of Shady Grove Road and I-270. Much like the neighboring MOM's Organic Market, the exterior is looking ready, but there's much more to be done inside.