Site plan shows development that would replace King Buick GMC in Rockville

Here is a look at the site plan for the proposed redevelopment of the King Buick GMC auto dealership property at 16200 Frederick Road. Rockville leaders are currently considering whether or not to annex the property into the city, a move necessary to allow construction of the density proposed here by developer EYA. A public hearing on the question of annexation has been scheduled.

EYA is proposing to build 247 townhomes and 118 "two-over-two multifamily units" on the property. Above, you can see the proposed open space (shown in blue) and green space (green) for the development. 

The site is walking distance to the Shady Grove Metro station. Intriguingly, it is also across the street from the Montgomery County dump, an issue that previously arose during the successful approval process for the Bainbridge Shady Grove down the street. May the winds be ever in your favor!

Rockville Planning Commission to hold public hearing on annexation of King Buick GMC dealership into city

Should the City of Rockville annex the King Buick GMC dealership at 16200 Frederick Road into the city limits? You can weigh in on the proposed plan at a virtual public hearing being held by the Rockville Planning Commission on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM. To participate, follow the instructions on the meeting agenda. If approved, the new land added to the city is expected to be redeveloped by EYA as a residential housing development.

Rockville Mall artifact found

Historical documentation of the infamous Rockville Mall is few and far between. Photographs of the structure are virtually non-existent, even on dead mall websites. Whether such materials were simply destroyed, or slowly disappear via the Mandela Effect or CERN tearing apart the space-time continuum, is unknown. So discovery of any new artifacts from the Rockville Mall is exciting, indeed.

Here we have a matchbook from David Lee's Empress, a Chinese restaurant with a location inside the Rockville Mall. It is currently being auctioned off on eBay. If you ever ate at the Empress, please leave your memories in the comments section below. Meanwhile, my archaeological dig for Rockville Mall ephemera continues. "It belongs in a museum!"

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea holding soft opening in Rockville

It's finally time to try authentic Taiwanese fruit tea at Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea in Rockville. The shop is now having a soft opening at 777 Hungerford Drive, near Flagship Car Wash.

Armed carjacking reported in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed carjacking on Rockville Pike late Sunday afternoon, January 31, 2021. The carjacking was reported at a commercial parking lot in the 12000 block of Rockville Pike around 5:31 PM, according to crime data.

Car stolen in Rockville

City of Rockville police responded to a report of a stolen car last Friday morning. The vehicle was parked outside of a home in the 5800 block of Stillwell Road. It was reported stolen around 10:50 AM.

Rockville Mayor & Council to receive presentation on proposed "Great Seneca" transit improvements

Elected officials at the Montgomery County and state levels have failed to deliver the Corridor Cities Transitway they assured us would make the Science City sector plan a "smart growth" success. The developers built, but the transitway never materialized. Now, Montgomery County will deliver its proposal for old-fashioned bus service additions to what was rebranded as the "Great Seneca" sector plan to Rockville's Mayor and Council this coming Monday night, February 1, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

Two new bus lines would pass through the City of Rockville as part of the proposal. The County Department of Transportation is including options for dedicated bus lanes, queue jumping, and priority for buses at traffic signals in the plan. They will seek feedback from the Mayor and Council on the proposed bus lines, which are being brought before city officials for the first time next week.