Paladar closes at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar has closed at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. A sign posted at the restaurant calls the closure a "tough decision," but that unspecified "challenges in recent years have made continued operations unsustainable." Paladar was one of the original businesses at the decade-old development, and was successful enough to reach the end of a 10-year lease at the property. However, the chain appears to have been struggling in recent years, closing its North Bethesda Market restaurant in 2018, Annapolis in 2020, and Cleveland, Ohio in 2023. At some point their Tysons location closed, as well.

New development proposed for Downtown Crown

More homes will be added to the Downtown Crown development if a new project is approved by the City of Gaithersburg. Applicant Byan Condie of FRH Realty, LLC has proposed constructing a 244-unit residential building called Fairfield at Crown at 333 Ellington Boulevard. That property is at the rear of an existing parking garage.

The building will be 70' tall, and have 43 studio apartments, 147 one-bedrooms, 50 two-bedrooms and 4 three-bedroom units. An expansion of the adjacent garage will add 313 additional parking spaces for the new residents, and for patrons of the existing businesses in the area.

Existing trees along Diamondback Drive will be retained, and nine Willow Oak trees will be planted along Ellington.The applicant will have to obtain approval from Washington Gas in order to allow the building's balconies to encroach above an existing public utility easement adjacent to the property.

City planning staff has recommended approval of the project's site plan, with conditions relating to resident parking, the aforementioned Washington Gas approval (without which, staff says the balconies will have to be Juliet-style balconies), approval of temporary construction and access easements with adjoining properties, and submittal of traffic plans and any plan revisions required to address staff comments. The application will be taken up by the Gaithersburg Planning Commission at its virtual meeting tonight, June 16, 2021.

Gaithersburg Historic District Commission to review plan to rehab Crown Farm Corn Crib

The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission will review a plan to rehab one of the most historic structures in the city at its next virtual meeting on March 24, 2021 at 7:30 PM. The Crown Farm Corn Crib, located on what is now City property, dates back to the mid-to-late 1800s. It is essentially a barn, but was divided into rooms where corn was stored.

Rehabbing the corn crib is a necessary step to the eventual creation of a public park on the site. Proposed plans include replacing synthetic siding added later, and restoring the original German, lap or beveled-lap wood siding. Half-round metal gutters would be installed. Storm windows that will visually blend in with the original materials are also being recommended.

City planning staff is recommending approval of the plans. The staff report says that successful preservation of this resource will "help tell the farm's complete story in its approximately 150 years of operation."

Crown developer wants to switch planned SFHs to townhomes

A developer at Crown Farm is seeking an amendment to the schematic development plan allowing 23 approved single-family homes to be converted to 34 townhouses. The proposal would also increase the size of the pocket park located at the corner of Rubens Lane and Rockwell Avenue. Previously planned as 13,557 square feet, under this plan it would be 23,331 square feet. Six additional trees would be planted within the expanded park and along Rockwell Drive.

Planning staff is holding off on making a recommendation until later in the review process. The Planning Commission will review the proposed amendment at their March 18 meeting.

Gaithersburg Planning Commission approves final site plan for new building at Crown

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission voted unanimously last night to approve the final site plan for a 386-unit residential building with ground floor retail at the corner of Fields Road and Decoverly Drive in the Crown development. Developer Aventon Companies plans to file for building permits next week, in the hopes of a December or January groundbreaking.

Six conditions were imposed to address concerns raised by commissioners and staff. Chair John Bauer praised the development team for devising "comprehensive solution[s]" to the issues the commissioners had raised at the previous meeting. "Nicely done," he added.

One landscaping feature will be tall grass
and vegetation alongside parts of the building,
such as here at the loading dock

Gaithersburg Mayor & Council to hold public hearing on new Crown office building May 6

A new four-story office building has been proposed for Downtown Crown, on a pad site near the Harris Teeter grocery store at the Gaithersburg development. The city's mayor and council will hold a joint public hearing on the project this coming Monday night, May 6, 2019 at 7:30 PM at City Hall.

The proposed building would be constructed at 10002 Fields Road on a .84 acre lot. A 42335 SF development, it would include 8735 SF of ground floor retail. The site already includes a 2500 SF Pepco electrical switchyard.

City staff is not making a recommendation on approval of the project yet. They have identified a potential parking conflict with the amount of reserved spaces required for the nearby Ruth's Chris Steak House. Staff also advised requiring the developer to deliver the planned streetscape improvements, including specialty pavers, before allowing them to occupy the building.

Gaithersburg Mayor and Council to discuss Crown Farm legal issues in closed session tonight

What legal issues or litigation are brewing at Crown Farm? We don't know, and likely still won't know after Gaithersburg's Mayor and Council meet in a session closed to the public tonight at City Hall.

A quiet posting on the city website Friday says only that the Mayor and Council will "consult with counsel to obtain legal advice; and...consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. The topic to be discussed is the Crown Farm Development." The session will follow the body's regular 7:00 PM meeting tonight, July 20.

Stay tuned.

Photo courtesy City of Gaithersburg