The potential sale of a sprawling set of classic retail properties in the heart of Olde Towne Gaithersburg could have a transformative impact on one of the few remaining historic downtown cores in Montgomery County. Five contiguous retail properties with frontage along E. Diamond Avenue and N. Summit Avenue are now on the market. Of course, any sense of continuity of character in Gaithersburg went out the window some time ago, with the development of the soulless, cheap-looking, stack-and-pack Gaithersburg Station apartments further down at 370 E. Diamond. It's a travesty. Will the heart of Olde Towne now meet the same fate?
What's up for sale? 206-208 E. Diamond Avenue, 210-216 E. Diamond Avenue, 220 E. Diamond Avenue and 226 E. Diamond Avenue. It's a total of 32,819-square-feet of land on 1.65 acres. Current zoning allows a maximum building height of four stories on this site. The sale listing notes that the City of Gaithersburg is likely to demand first floor retail in any redevelopment. Parking waivers will be available due to nearby public parking. The listing says there are no historical preservation requirements, another travesty.
This will be a "historic" redevelopment opportunity in a historic downtown. Is there a developer who can do this responsibly, and maintain the Olde Towne character on a site visible from the historic B&O Railroad train station? A site that is one of the first things seen upon entering the heart of Olde Towne on Summit Avenue? I'll concede that the site is certainly easy walking distance to MARC commuter rail, but haven't we learned anything from the wholesale destruction of the historic downtowns of Rockville and Bethesda in the past? This is a saga worth watching closely.
Photos courtesy Transwestern/LoopNet
did they change the designation? When I look at these parcels in the past the facade on the historical part of the building was to remain the same you can build above it but you must maintain the storefronts.
ReplyDeleteYour description of the current state of Old Town Gaithersburg is very accurate and I fear any new development will sanction the creation of cheaply built undistinguished structures. Gaithersburg needs iconic Pritzker prize winning architecture and planning.
ReplyDeleteDiamond Drugs recently closed after decades in business. A restaurant took its place.
ReplyDeleteI worked for 12 years in Hagerstown with Jack Selby of Selby's Center Market. 2p09-2012. Great guy! I also played on CM's Babe Ruth team in the very early 70's. This whole corner will be missed!
ReplyDeleteThis is East Diamond Ave in 1972,it's the area the article is written about.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/GaithersburgHistory/photos/a.389544884855/10151333953044856/?type=3&mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
The Old Towne Cafe, now called OTC Bar & Grille, bought out or took over the lease of the drugstore space and renovated and expanded their space to where they can now seat about 80. It’s beautiful decor and still family owned and operated. They have become good friends and my wife and I promote a community music night there every 2 months and it is always packed. I always thought the family owned the property. That is one local business that could succeed within the scope of any new venture. Hoping for the best.
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