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: New retail building at Montrose Crossing (Photos)

The frame structure of the new retail building at Montrose Crossing is now taking shape at the shopping center. With 8 in-line spaces, Pieology, Cava Grill, Honeygrow, Five Guys and Allure are already confirmed tenants.

The new building replaces Timpano Italian Chophouse. You can expect this to serve a role similar to the modernized one-story structures out front at neighboring Pike & Rose. When Montrose Crossing is redeveloped as mixed-use at some point in the future, these businesses will remain open and generate revenue for Federal Realty, even as other structures are demolished.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ to open in Rockville

The latest addition to Montrose Crossing is the rapidly-expanding local chain Honey Pig Korean BBQ. It will occupy a 6200 SF space at the shopping center, located at 12015 Rockville Pike.

This is not to be confused with another future Montrose Crossing tenant, Honeygrow. Both are Asian eateries, but Honeygrow is a Chipotle-style stir-fry bowl concept.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ says the Montrose Crossing location will open in Spring 2018.

Saul Centers moving forward with 10-building project on Rockville Pike (Photos)

Saul Centers is preparing to begin the process of redeveloping 18.36 acres of commercial property at 1500-1616 Rockville Pike. The mixed-use project is like a small city, consisting of 10 buildings of residential, office and retail use. It will directly abut the Pike, Halpine Road and the Metro/CSX tracks at the rear of the site. Saul won key concessions from the city after lobbying the Mayor and Council, which included deletion of a long-planned access road on the east side of the Pike.

Sketch plan of
Twinbrook Metro Place

The development will have its own road network, including extensions of Chapman Avenue and Congressional Lane, and a main road called Festival Street. This project will be only 150 feet from single-family homes in Twinbrook, and 600 feet from the entrance to the Twinbrook Metro station.

Notably, Saul is requesting a cap on the total number of vehicle trips generated by the project, rather than specific limits on the number of housing units, etc. The company says that will allow them flexibility for a project that will take a significant number of years to complete. Saul will also request a parking reduction, and designation as a "Rockville Champion Project," which will give them more flexibility on retail tenant spaces and signage restrictions. However, the developer is giving a rough estimate of what will be included in the development as follows: up to 1865 residential units, 431440 SF of office space, 472950 SF of retail (including shopping, dining and grocery store), a 9000 SF theater, and a 226-seat "cultural amenity" space.

1.1 acre Central Park shown
in upper right corner

A 1.1 acre "Central Park" is the dominant green space feature planned. An anchor building for the park will have two levels of dining, with dining terraces that overlook the park. Attorneys for the applicant say that this building will become "a destination for the entire City of Rockville." The park is expected to host regular events and activities.

Seven of the buildings will have elevated courtyards for residents and office workers to use. The residential buildings and office building fronting Rockville Pike are expected to have two levels of retail at their bases. All parking will be in garages, with a proposed total of 3900 parking spaces for all uses on the site.

The properties assembled by Saul for this project are: 1500 Rockville Pike, 1580 Rockville Pike, 1582 Rockville Pike, 1584 Rockville Pike, 1592 Rockville Pike, and 1616 Rockville Pike.

Sign installed at Pandora Seafood House and Bar in Rockville (Photos)

The construction of Pandora Seafood House and Bar at Rockville Town Square has drug on for many months. Finally, the sign is in place on the front facade, however. The restaurant is expected to open by September.

3 arrested in Rockville armed robbery after squatters are found in vacant Fallsgrove apartment

Zackery Conrad Thompson

Rockville police have arrested three suspects in a Fallsgrove armed robbery, potentially ending a crime spree in that area. Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery around 4:30 PM on August 6, in the 700 block of Fallsgrove Boulevard. Upon arriving, the victim told them he and his child were walking near the footbridge along the trail near the Thomas Farm Community Center, when he was robbed of his wallet and phone at gunpoint by two individuals. The two suspects then fled toward the Fallsgrove Village Center.

Despite establishing a perimeter around the area, police were unable to locate the two suspects. On August 9, Fallsgrove apartment management staff entered a vacant apartment in the same block of Fallsgrove Boulevard. Inside, they startled 3 people squatting in the unit, who ran past them out the door and fled. Again, police were unable to locate any of the suspects, who had foolishly left behind evidence of the August 6 armed robbery.

A day later, Rockville officers detained 3 people after observing suspicious activity in the 100 block of Jersey Lane. They discovered a home on that block had just been robbed, and arrested the three.

Zackery Conrad Thompson, 19, of the 100 block of Brookes Avenue in Gaithersburg, was arrested and charged with one count of armed robbery and two counts of fourth-degree burglary. He is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Center.

 

Charges are also pending against two additional juvenile subjects related to the robbery and trespassing.

 

Anyone with information about this subject or these incidents is asked to call the Rockville City Police Department's Criminal Investigations Unit at 240-314-8938.

Comment period extended for proposed East Rockville asphalt crushing plant

The public will have an additional 60 days to comment on the proposed M. Luis Company asphalt crushing and screening plant at 14900 Old Dover Road in Rockville. This comment period will close on October 6, 2017.

Comments may be sent by U.S. Mail to Maryland Department of the Environment, Air Quality Permits Program, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 720, Baltimore, MD 21230-1720 or emailed to shannon.heafy@maryland.gov.

If you were unable to attend the July 19 public hearing, and have questions beyond what is covered in that report or my previous report, a docket with full information on the project is available for review at the Rockville Memorial Library in Rockville Town Square.