Vandals go wild with fire extinguishers inside vacant Rockville office building

Vandals broke into a vacant Rockville office building, and hosed down the interior with fire extinguishers on January 29, 2024, Rockville City police report. The two suspects forced their way into the building in the 2000 block of Gaither Road at 2:15 PM that afternoon, and damaged two doors. This may have been related to an arson incident that same day in another vacant building in the same office park. Both buildings are among several slated for demolition in a delayed redevelopment project at the property.

Police describe Suspect 1 as a Hispanic male with a medium build, wearing glasses, a black beanie, a black jacket, and black pants. Suspect 2 is described as a Hispanic male, also with a medium build, wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. Anyone who has information regarding the suspects or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Arson in Upper Rock area of Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating a case of arson in the Upper Rock area off of Shady Grove Road. Some time between 11:30 AM on January 28, 2024 and 11:30 AM on January 29, a suspect removed a window barrier at a vacant building in the unit block of Choke Cherry Road. The suspect then set fire to a pile of trash inside the building. No estimate or description of the resulting damage was provided by police.

Several office buildings in the office park on that block were sold to Boston Properties in recent years. A Boston Properties representative told a Montgomery County government advisory board in 2022 that three of the buildings were vacant on the 31-acre site between Choke Cherry and Gaither Road. Police did not identify which specific building the arson took place at. If you have any information on this fire or the suspect, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Rockville apartment broken into

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at an apartment building in Rockville yesterday morning, April 28, 2023. The burglary was reported at an apartment on Upper Rock Circle, off of Shady Grove Road, at 8:26 AM Friday. Officers responded to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the apartment.

Assault at Rockville spa

Montgomery County police were called to investigate a report of a simple assault at a spa in the Upper Rock area of Rockville Friday evening, September 23, 2022. The assault was reported at a business in the unit block of Upper Rock Circle at 8:45 PM Friday.

Car stolen from Rockville apartment building parking garage

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen car at an apartment complex in Rockville yesterday. The vehicle was taken from a parking garage in the unit block of Upper Rock Circle along Shady Grove Road, according to crime data.

Amazon Fresh grocery store to open on Shady Grove Road

Amazon will open one of its new Amazon Fresh grocery store concepts in Gaithersburg. The store will take over the Office Depot building at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road.

First opening in California, the stores will offer the Amazon Dash Cart, which identifies the items you place in it. Customers can then push the cart through the Dash Cart checkout lane for instant checkout when leaving the store.

Fresh foods are prepared daily in-store. Amazon Fresh stores will emphasize low prices, compared to the company's higher-end Whole Foods Market chain. Expect a 2021 opening for the store.

M&T Bank to open branch in Upper Rock

M&T Bank has leased a ground floor retail space at the new 77 Upper Rock Circle office building in the Upper Rock area of Rockville off Shady Grove Road. The Buffalo-based firm intends to open a new bank branch there.

MOM's Organic Market in Upper Rock to open June 1

The long-awaited opening of MOM's Organic Market at 10 Upper Rock Circle is almost here. It will open June 1, 2018, and the local chain will be holding an opening weekend celebration at the store from June 1 to June 3.

Officially designated as MOM's Gaithersburg store, the market is located in JBG Smith's Upper Rock development, which is within the city limits of Rockville. A historic office building was torn down to clear the way for this new retail center, which is convenient from both the adjacent Gables Upper Rock apartments and I-270 (just take the Shady Grove Road exit and head east, and it's the first thing you see on the right past the interchange [you'll see the CVS Pharmacy, which is in the same shopping center]).

Opening weekend will include tastings of local foods, kids' activities and giveaways. You'll also have the opportunity to meet representatives from environmental organizations like Waterkeepers Chesapeake and Trash Free Maryland, and staff from Montgomery Parks' Brookside Gardens.

The new MOM's will feature only the highest-quality organic produce, an all-organic vegetarian eatery called Naked Lunch, sustainable insect proteins, a Backyard Beekeeping section with everything you need for this important environmental activity, free car-charging stations, only sustainable seafood (including canned tuna), a wide selection of GOTS-certified organic and sustainable clothing, a liquid bulk section featuring goods like vinegar and honey, a recycling center that can handle household items like cell phones and household batteries, and a large Health and Wellness department, where you can find everything from bulk organic herbs to bulk soap, bath salts and body scrubs.

MOM's does not carry any products that use cartoon characters to target children, and this location will be no exception. 5% of the grand opening sales will be donated to Waterkeepers Chesapeake. MOM's is one of the more on-target tenant choices in Upper Rock, considering that the city envisioned the development as a community for the "creative class" of young professionals. It sounds like they have a wider variety of merchandise than Whole Foods, as well.

Firehouse Subs opens in Rockville

A reader asked a few days ago about the status of Firehouse Subs in the Upper Rock area of Rockville. I am pleased to report they have just opened, and have a limited-time Pastrami Reuben sub on the menu. Firehouse Subs is located at 28 Upper Rock Circle.

Rockville construction update: Firehouse Subs (Photos)

Firehouse Subs is kind of doing it backwards at their future Upper Rock location. The permanent signs are up on the building, but the interior fit-out still has a ways to go. Perhaps the signs are there as an attention-getting promotional tool in advance of the opening.

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.

Rockville construction update: MOM's Organic Market at Upper Rock (Photos)

The exterior shell and windows of the future MOM's Organic Market at JBG Smith's Upper Rock development are completed, and HVAC and some lighting are in place. There's still a long way to go inside of the store, which will eventually be a convenient grocery store for Upper Rock residents in this growing community off Shady Grove Road at I-270.

CVS Pharmacy opens in Upper Rock area of Rockville (Photos)

The CVS Pharmacy has opened at JBG Smith's Upper Rock development, slightly behind schedule of an expected mid-2017 debut. Still to come are other retail tenants, including MOM's Organic Market. This was formerly an office park development turned into retail space along Shady Grove Road near I-270. The CVS, for GPS purposes, is located at 20 Upper Rock Circle. It features a convenient drive-thru pharmacy, much like the Rockville Town Square location.

77 Upper Rock retains Transwestern to handle leasing, property management

DSC Partners has retained real estate giant Transwestern to handle leasing and property management of their 77 Upper Rock office building. The 232282 SF building, constructed in 2005, is currently vacant but available for immediate occupancy. New owner DSC, led by former First Potomac execs Doug Donatelli and Nick Smith, plans to revitalize the building by adding contemporary fitness facilities, conference rooms, tenant common areas, green space and other tenant amenities.

In addition to the upgrades, DSC is also wagering that the transformation underway in the Upper Rock area will make the LEED Silver certified office building more appealing to prospective tenants. Coming soon within a block of 77 Upper Rock will be MOM's Organic Market, and Cava Grill, among other retail and dining options. It's a commendable move in a time when many other developers are converting existing or planned office space in Rockville to residential, forcing more Rockville residents to drive into D.C. and Northern Virginia to employment.

Rockville construction update: Upper Rock retail center (Photos)

Existing small retail spaces in Rockville's
Upper Rock District

Is Upper Rock becoming a hub for the "creative class" in Rockville, as was promised during the development's planning process? The jury may still be out on that, but what is known is that several retail additions are coming soon to the district off of Shady Grove Road. Among them are MOM's Organic Market, and the ubiquitous CVS Pharmacy.

Demolition clearing way for JBG's Upper Rock retail project (Photos)

Demolition of an existing office building at 5 Choke Cherry Road in Rockville is underway. The JBG Companies project there will revamp an office park just off I-270 and Shady Grove Road, and provide convenient retail for the new housing already built in the Gables Upper Rock community.

Tenants on-board already include a 14,600 SF CVS Pharmacy opening next summer, and a 16,000 SF MOM's Organic Market expected to deliver by next fall. MOM's CEO and Founder, Scott Nash, is a Montgomery County resident.

"Our customers have told us over the years how much they’d love a MOM’s between our Rockville and Frederick locations,” Nash said in a statement yesterday. “We’re thrilled to provide what they’ve been asking for with the opening next fall of our Northern Rockville/Gaithersburg store.”

An additional 4100 SF building will be offered for lease to a restaurant and smaller-scale retail tenants. JBG's portion of Upper Rock is 4.5 acres out of the total 20 being redeveloped. New Urbanist architect Andres Duany, the master planner for the Upper Rock redevelopment, is locally best known for his work on the Kentlands.

Renderings courtesy The JBG Companies

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION DECLINES TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD

The demolition reprieve the Sullivan and Associates-designed building at 5 Choke Cherry Road received from Rockville's Historic District Commission was short-lived. Last night, the commissioners voted unanimously that the structure did not merit historic designation by the city. Jack Sullivan has been recognized as one of the most significant architects in the history of Rockville.

The motion was made by Commissioner Anita Neal Powell, and seconded by Commissioner Craig Moloney.

Commissioner Jessica Reynolds urged the city to begin considering which of Sullivan's buildings in Rockville should receive such designation, to be preserved from demolition in the future. Moloney said he concurred.

The vote removes one of the last hurdles for developer JBG's planned Upper Rock retail project to proceed.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD IN ROCKVILLE

The Rockville Historic District Commission wants more information before rendering its decision on whether or not the office building at 5 Choke Cherry Road merits historic designation. At the outset of last night's meeting, Commission Chair Robert Achtmeyer asked if this matter was essentially a rubber stamp action for the body (the property is part of The JBG Companies' Upper Rock development, which received initial approval from the Mayor and Council, and a housing component has already been constructed). It quickly became apparent that that would not be the case.

Ironically, the commercial structure in question had previously been slated for a retrofitting by JBG, to transform it into a mixed-use, live-work housing development. That would have preserved the arguably-historic exterior. More recently, JBG determined that there was no market for additional housing in that immediate area, and has now asked for permission to demolish 5 Choke Cherry Road to make way for a retail development.

The building was designed by highly-regarded local architect John "Jack" Sullivan, who was responsible for many notable buildings in Rockville, including the County Council building. Now many of them are threatened with demolition, which concerned Commissioners Craig Maloney and Jessica Reynolds. Reynolds said she was still lamenting the demolition of the Suburban Trust Building (a.k.a. The Pink Bank), and the commission's decision last month to allow demolition of the Gillette Building.

Nancy Pickard, speaking on behalf of Peerless Rockville, testified that the building deserves consideration for historic designation on several of the criteria required to meet current preservation standards. 

While the staff report found 5 Choke Cherry Road did not meet any of the criteria for historic designation, Reynolds and Maloney disagreed. Maloney noted that the Brutalist architecture element of the 1973 structure predated the height of that style's popularity, making it an early example ahead of its time. There was also a sense during the discussion that the importance and prominence of Sullivan's work in Rockville met the criteria for having been designed by a master architect.

Ultimately, the commission voted to postpone the question. Reynolds asked city staff to provide more information on Sullivan's buildings, how many remain in unaltered form and which ones have been demolished already. She said that information would help the commission begin to reckon with which Sullivan buildings it should prioritize preservation of. The commission also felt that it would help to discuss the matter with JBG at a future meeting, to determine if there is any viable way for the developer to utilize the existing building, such as removing floors to allow higher ceilings for contemporary retail.

Given that the ground floor currently houses individual retail such as a credit union, it seems that retrofitting this building for retail would be possible. It also has prime placement along Shady Grove Road, giving it - and future tenants - high visibility.

The two single-family homes, whose owners were seeking a finding to allow demolition last night, were both found to not meet historic designation criteria by the commission.

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.”