PAWS FOR A CAUSE RAISES OVER $400 FOR ANIMAL CHARITY IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

The Paws for a Cause event this past weekend at Gables Upper Rock drew 200 people - and their dogs - to 200 Upper Rock Circle in Rockville. More than $400 was raised for MCPAW—Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being, a partner of the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center.

In an unexpected bonus, several rescue dogs found prospective homes during the Saturday event.

Attendees enjoyed a dog costume contest, free food truck fare,  free doggie ice cream, face painting, music and more. More than a dozen pet-friendly vendors provided giveaways, merchandise and information, including Tiki’s Playhouse, Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic, Sniffers Doggie Retreat, Unleashed by Petco and Whole Pet Central.

Gables Upper Rock gave away a number of pet-themed freebies such as Frisbees, pet food scoops and doggie clean-up bag dispensers.

Now under construction right off the Shady Grove exit of I-270, Gables Upper Rock will offer 441 pet-friendly apartments, along with a private on-site dog park and a dog spa area for bathing and grooming. “We are about creating places where people want to live, and we recognize that more than ever, our residents’ pets are important members of their families,” said Greg Gaisor, Vice President, REIT Operations—East for Gables Residential. “We want our residents, including the four-legged ones, to be content and happy and work to ensure they are.”

DOGS INVITED TO FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY AT GABLES UPPER ROCK IN ROCKVILLE

Dogs will be the guests of honor at Saturday's Paws for A Cause, 11 AM to 2 PM, at Gables Upper Rock, 70 Upper Rock Circle in Rockville. The November 1 event will raise money for fundraiser for MCPAW—Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being, a partner of the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. Most activities Saturday will be free, but with donations accepted.

Is your K-9 ready for the dog costume contest? He or she will enjoy a host of Fido-centric freebies including doggie ice cream, potty bag dispensers, natural dog treats and more. There will be activities for those on two legs, too, including face painting, music, a photo booth and food trucks like Holy Crepes and The Mighty Dog and Acai.

Pet-centric vendors will offer information, discounts and merchandise, including MCPAW, Tiki’s Playhouse, Bark!, Amazing Art Studio, Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic, Sniffers Doggie Retreat, Unleashed by Petco and Whole Pet Central.

If you and your dog enjoy your visit to Upper Rock, you may be interested to know that Gables Upper Rock welcomes dogs as residents in their apartments, as well. 

When completed, Gables Upper Rock will offer 441 pet-friendly apartments, a private on-site dog park, Turf, and a dog spa area for bathing and grooming, Couture. All community care products used at Gables Upper Rock are safe for pets, and the paths connecting the community’s four residential buildings are perfect for dog walking.

“We are about creating places where people want to live, and we recognize that more than ever, our residents’ pets are important members of their families,” says Greg Gaisor, Vice President, REIT Operations—East for Gables Residential.

WEAK OFFICE MARKET LEADS JBG TO ASK FOR UPPER ROCK PLAN CHANGES

More evidence of Montgomery County's abysmal office market was on display at this week's Rockville Planning Commission meeting. Developer JBG is requesting an amendment to its Pre-Development Plan for 5 Choke Cherry Road, in the Upper Rock District off Shady Grove Road.

When the plan was approved on May 23, 2005, it included 293 residential units, retail and restaurant space, a community park, and 73,700 square feet of office space, with a surface parking lot.

Devon Lauer, Senior Development Analyst for JBG, said the company wants to replace the 73,700 SF office space component with 35,000 SF of retail and restaurant space. This would be arranged in four, single-story structures, with surface parking serving all four. Potential tenants under discussion include CVS and MOM's Organic Market.

The applicant's attorney, Bob Harris of Lerch, Early & Brewer, said the change is needed due to the poor office market. Residential would not work either, Harris said, due to “the evolution of the residential marketplace in this area,”  noting that such units would have to compete with Crown Farm, the Reed Brothers project, and others on the east side of MD 355, around the Shady Grove Metro. That "softness in the office market” is being felt by existing office building owners near the Upper Rock District. JBG believes that adding retail and restaurant amenities will help it attract new tenants to its existing office space in Upper Rock, as well as to nearby office buildings. Harris recalled another office owner saying he’s struggling to keep his tenants, and could use the retail nearby to help retain them.

JBG will return at future sessions with more detailed information for the commissioners regarding the request. Once again, the weak office market is casting doubt on whether smart growth can be applied in Montgomery County, if there are not adequate, high-wage jobs nearby these new developments.

GABLES UPPER ROCK APARTMENT FIRE A SETBACK FOR UPPER ROCK PHASE II (PHOTOS)

Yesterday morning's devastating fire destroyed many apartments in the Gables Upper Rock apartment complex off I-270 and Shady Grove Road. Fortunately, the fire was within an unoccupied part of the complex, which had been expected to open for leasing soon. Instead, crews are turning to a demolition and debris-removal operation today. Equipment was moving into place last evening for that purpose. I'm curious if the sprinkler systems were active at this point in the construction; we're often told by developers that less firefighting resources are needed even as development grows, due to modern sprinkler systems.

Montgomery County firefighters, and at least 4 firetrucks, remained on scene late last night, to inspect and extinguish any remaining hotspots in the wreckage.

MCFRS public information officer Pete Piringer tweeted the following photos of the scene; you can see some of the heavy equipment moving into place for today's operations: