MoCo Planning Department seeks building nominees for Design Excellence Award

Is there a building constructed in the last decade in Rockville you think deserves major recognition? Does it "foster economic, social and environmental sustainability?" Does it "express the essential qualities of outstanding walkable, sustainable places at the scale of the neighborhood, block and building?" And "illustrate how great design contributes to the community in terms of character, identity and economic value?"

You're in luck, at least if you can afford the $175 entry fee, and are prepared to do a lot of writing.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is launching its first annual Design Excellence Award. Nominees may be submitted anytime between now and midnight August 21, 2015. The winning building project will be promoted by the Planning Department through its own media portals, and via press releases to the general media, and through features at department events that promote excellence in design.

Public and private projects are both eligible.

For complete nominating instructions, a list of the professional judging panel and full details, visit the award page on the department's website.

Ourisman dealership addition adds to shakeup at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville (Photos)

The recent closure of Ted's 355 Diner was just the start of significant changes coming to Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike. A strip mall structure of mostly financial-oriented businesses has vacated the shopping center, and their former building is about to be reconstructed to create an Ourisman automotive dealership.

Presidential Bank has moved to 11640 Rockville Pike. Scottrade will reopen July 13 at the Montrose Shopping Center at 5542 Randolph Road. For Eyes is opening up the pike near Roy Rogers. And OneMain Financial has relocated to 1010 Rockville Pike, Suite 304.

The brand of automobile to be sold at the new structure, which will raise the height of the building, is not yet known. City building permits name "Ourisman", and in one case, "Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet". An online message to Rockmont Chevrolet requesting comment was not returned by press time.

Caring Hands Animal Hospital opening in Rockville (Photos)

A new animal hospital is coming to Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike. Caring Hands Animal Hospital currently has several locations in Northern Virginia, but the Rockville site will be their first hospital on this side of the river.

The company was founded in 1997 by Dr. Michelle Vitulli in Centreville. One difference they emphasize with their hospitals, is that they will allow you to accompany your pet at all stages of treatment at the facility.

Rockville fireworks 2015

Where to see fireworks in Rockville this year? The location has moved to Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in King Farm, which should be an improvement for both pedestrians and drivers.

Rockville's July 4 celebration will begin at 7:00 PM Saturday night at the park. A live concert including the Nighthawks will take place from 7:00 until 8:45, when the Mayor and Council will greet attendees from the Stars stage.

Fireworks will begin at 9:15 PM.

For a map of where you can park, click here. If it rains Saturday night, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 5. You can bring food and beverages, blankets and chairs. Food will also be available from several vendors during the event.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

1800 Piccard Drive

Rockville Planning Commission to be briefed on APFS school standards changes July 8

Rockville planning staff will brief the city's Planning Commission on the Adequate Public Facilities Standards changes recently adopted by the City Council regarding school capacity, at the commission's July 8 meeting. The changes weakened the city standards, adopting the less-stringent Montgomery County standards. That means crowding can now reach 120% of capacity, rather than the city's previous 110% standard, and that capacity will be measured by the average of all schools in a cluster, rather than applying the standard to each individual school. By cluster averaging, individual schools have reached overcrowding levels of 180% of capacity in the MCPS system, despite the supposed 120% limit.

A memo from staff to the commission reflects these changes, but also details the elimination of school and transportation requirements for the following types of development in the city:

• Accessory apartments
• Personal living quarters
• Wireless communications facilities
• MCPS schools and portable classroom trailers
• "Up to 3 housing units"
• Senior housing, housing for the disabled, and other age-restricted residential uses
• Nursing homes

The memo also lists the projects that will benefit from the changes most immediately. Those are the Avalon Bay apartment project at Twinbrook, and an EYA development planned for the Tower Oaks area.

This meeting will begin at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 8, at City Hall, and will be broadcast live on Channel 11.

Future Rockville restaurant Stanford Grill gets serious about sushi (Photos)

Stanford Grill will be opening in September at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard in Rockville. They'll be adding world-class sushi to the American cuisine they've already built a following for at their Columbia location. You might not be surprised to hear that they've named an executive chef for the Rockville restaurant who knows sushi well.

Sean Kinoshita will come to Rockville from his former restaurant, the famed Tao Asian Bistro in Las Vegas. Of his cuisine, Kinoshita says, "A lot of people ask me how I make good food. I just say, I make food I like to eat. I make food that reflects my taste and flavors."

For the Stanford Grill Rockville menu, Kinoshita has created 5 sushi rolls, including:  two spicy tuna rolls, one original-style with sriracha mayo and one battera style. The spicy tuna roll battera style coils around avocado, sashimi, wasabi, scallions, sriracha mayo and unagi sauce. A coconut shrimp roll will feature a spicy masago mayo, crisp cucumber, avocado and pea sprouts. And a yellowtail jalapeno roll will bundle yellowtail, jalapeno, wasabi and cilantro.

But Stanford Grill wants to give you a preview of his handiwork in advance. They are hosting 3 special preview sushi nights with Chef Sean Kinoshita at the following locations and dates (reservations are recommended due to limited seating):

July 13, 4-10 PM

Stanford Grill

8900 Stanford Boulevard

Columbia, MD 21045

410-312-0445

July 27, 4-10 PM

Copper Canyon Grill

928 Ellsworth Drive

Silver Spring, 20910

301-589-1330

August 10, 4-10 PM

Copper Canyon Grill

9300 Taj Lane

Lanham, MD 20706

301-322-8600

Quickway Hibachi opens in Rockville (Photos)

Work in downtown Rockville? You may have a new spot for lunch. Quickway Hibachi is celebrating its Grand Opening in JBG's new retail development at 275 N. Washington Street. This is north of Rockville Town Square, and part of the Phase II redevelopment of Rockville's town center.

They have hard copy takeout menus, and you can also see their menu online. "Hibachi" may make you think of grilled, but they do have a good selection of sushi as well. You can combine these for a takeout bento box. The dining room is pretty nice, too, if you prefer to dine-in.