Friday, July 31, 2020

Rockville planning commission to review Wegmans, Twinbrook Quarter Phase 1 site plan

The Rockville Planning Commission will review the Phase 1 site plan for B.F. Saul's Twinbrook Quarter mixed-use development at 1500-1616 Rockville Pike, which includes a Wegmans grocery store, at its August 5, 2020 virtual meeting. If approved, Phase 1 will include up to 460 apartment units, 270,000 square feet of office space, a 92,000 square foot Wegmans, 12,000 square feet of restaurant use, and 17,000 square feet of retail use.

One new element in the plan is a potential daycare facility within the structure, with a capacity for up to 135 children. Phase 1 will also include construction of Festival Street and another extension of Chapman Avenue, including its intersection with Festival Street.

Planning staff is recommending approval of the site plan. The project is adjacent to the Twinbrook Metro station at Halpine Road.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Main Street Apartments virtual ribbon-cutting scheduled for today at 5 PM

The official opening of the Main Street Apartments at 50 Monroe Place in Rockville will be marked with a virtual ribbon-cutting online today, July 30, 2020, at 5:00 PM. Guests of honor who will appear on the webcast will include Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen (D), U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D - Maryland District 8), Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) and Main Street Connects founders Jillian and Scott Copeland.

You can register to join the virtual ribbon-cutting online now. Main Street Apartments is a unique development, in that 25% of the apartments have been set aside for adults with disabilities, and 75% of the overall units are reserved for low-income residents at below-market rates. A community center on the building's ground floor is designed to be a welcoming gathering space for residents and non-residents alike.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Armed robbery in Rockville; two cars stolen in 24 hours

An armed robbery was reported to Rockville police Sunday night, July 26, 2020. The robbery took place in a wooded area in the 400 block of Casey Lane in Fallsgrove around 11:30 PM. A gun was the weapon used in the robbery, according to crime data.

In other Rockville crime news, two cars were reported stolen in one 24-hour period on July 27. The first was taken from a commercial parking lot in the 1400 block of Research Boulevard. A second vehicle was stolen from a residential parking lot in the 10800 block of Antigua Terrace.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Bagel City contents to be auctioned off in August

Bagel City has permanently closed at the Pike Center on Rockville Pike. Now the contents of the shuttered bakery and deli will be auctioned off online next month. Items available for bid will include a 2-barrel Triumph mixer, a convection oven, bakery display cases and a cappuccino machine. Bidding will take place online on August 6, 2020.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Subway closes at Federal Plaza

No more $5 Footlongs at Federal Plaza. Subway has closed, their signage is gone, and their space has been totally cleared out. Usually we can blame the moribund Montgomery County economy or - more recently - the coronavirus, but the struggling sub chain has been closing an average of three locations a day according to Restaurant Business Online.


Friday, July 24, 2020

Rockville speed camera lit on fire

A Montgomery County speed camera that issues tickets to drivers was vandalized and lit on fire on July 17, 2020, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said today. Anti-law-enforcement words were spray painted on the camera, the lenses were covered, and then the camera unit was lit ablaze.

The camera was located in the 400 block of Hurley Avenue, near Wootton Mill Park, in Rockville. Piringer asked that anyone with information related to this incident contact the MCFRS Arson Hotline at 240-777-2263.

Photo via Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Thursday, July 23, 2020

7-Eleven opens at Montgomery Mall

7-Eleven has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store is located at the entrance to the Dining Terrace on Level 2.