Gaithersburg Mayor & Council refer 309 N. Frederick Ave. historic designation question to HDC

Gaithersburg's Mayor and Council voted last night to refer the request to remove historic designation from a house at 309 N. Frederick Avenue to the Historic District Commission. The current owner wants it removed so that the property will be more appealing to potential buyers.

Some who testified questioned if it should be so easy to remove historic status. One nearby resident said he thought the current state of the property wasn't contributing anything to the community or city as-is, suggesting it is mostly a parking lot at the moment. One intriguing point that came out was that Taco Bell had an interest in opening a restaurant on the site in the past.

After the HDC makes its determination, the Planning Commission and Mayor and Council will make their final decisions. A final vote should take place in November, and the records for public comment for all three bodies remain open.