Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Wednesday night, December 20, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at the mall at 9:40 PM Wednesday. This is the fifth assault reported at the mall this year, and the first since October 20. The mall is now virtually assured of ending the year with a major reduction in violent crime in 2023, as 12 assaults were reported there in 2022. This improvement may be attributed to Montgomery County police having opened a "resource room" at the popular retail center during last year's upward trend of assaults.

Assault at government building in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a government building in the Town Center area early yesterday afternoon, December 21, 2023. The assault was reported at 1:59 PM Thursday at a building in the unit block of W. Montgomery Avenue. Property was reported stolen from a vehicle in the same incident.

Police called after aggravated assault with firearm in Rockville office park

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault with a firearm in an office park early Monday afternoon, December 18, 2023. The assault was reported in the parking lot outside a building in the unit block of Research Place at 1:00 PM Monday. There are several office buildings and a self-storage business on that cul-de-sac adjacent to I-270.

Rockville office building broken into

Rockville City police were called to an office building Tuesday morning to investigate a break-in there. The burglary was reported at a building in the unit block of Taft Court, off Gude Drive. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the building. It is believed the property was broken into sometime between 4:00 PM on December 18, and 6:09 AM on December 19, 2023.

Demolition of home at 110 North Street in Rockville appears likely (Photos)

A home in a Rockville neighborhood that began as an African-American community after Maryland Emancipation is likely to be demolished, after a City of Rockville analysis found it does not qualify for historic designation. The current owner of the bungalow at 110 North Street is seeking an opinion on the matter from the Historic District Commission, to determine if the structure may be demolished or not. A staff report by City Preservation Planner Sheila Bashiri determined that the home in its current dilapidated condition does not meet the standards for designation. The applicant's filing with the city notes that the HDC approved demolition of a similar home next door nine years ago. A McMansion sits on that adjacent lot today, so there is no historic viewshed to preserve.

While the bungalow reflects the style and location of a home built and/or resided in by freed slaves or employed servants following the Civil War, no major figures in Rockville history resided at 110 North Street, and no significant historical events occurred there. The report stated that its "architecture, design or landscape is not significant within the city of Rockville." Bashiri recommended HDC commissioners find the property does not qualify for historic designation. The HDC will take up the matter at its Thursday, December 21, 2023 meeting.

Photos courtesy City of Rockville

Rockville Mayor & Council to be briefed on proposed Rockshire Village development tonight

Rockville's Mayor and Council will receive a briefing on the Rockshire Village development plan proposed by local developer EYA at their meeting tonight, December 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Approval of the plan would require amending the 1966 Rockshire development plan for this property, a former shopping center located at 2401 Wootton Parkway. 

The proposal under discussion is essentially the same as was first introduced this past spring. 31 single-family homes, 29 3-to-4 story townhomes, and a neighborhood park would be constructed on the property. The amount of commercial and office space proposed has been reduced from 5,500-square-feet to 5,200 SF (the original size proposed last spring was 5000 SF). EYA is also seeking a parking waiver related to the commercial/office portion of the project, as well as a road code waiver for a proposed private alley, which would not comply with a City requirement that any road constructed must either connect to an existing road or end in a cul-de-sac.

Following tonight's briefing, EYA will be asked to revise its plan to address existing concerns about the driveway access from Hurley Avenue, outdated traffic studies being used by EYA, trees, the relocation of a trail near the Korean Presbyterian Church, parking capacity, and pedestrian access to the retail structure from the Carl Henn Millenium Trail that were raised this fall by nearby residents and the Rockville Planning Commission. In addition, the plan revisions would address any new concerns expressed by the Mayor and Council at tonight's meeting.

Artist Maggie O'Neill opens pop-up gallery at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Local artist Maggie O'Neill has opened a pop-up art gallery in the former Wentworth Gallery space at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Featuring last minute gifts of prints, sculptures and Vote for Your Daughter-inspired art and merchandise, the temporary boutique will be open 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM today, Sunday, December 17, 2023, and next Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 

You can also score a free print signed by Maggie O'Neill if you spend $200 anywhere in the mall. Look for the pop-up on Level 2 of the mall, outside of Nordstrom.