Future of Lakeforest Mall on Gaithersburg Mayor & Council agenda tonight

A master plan has been drafted for the Lakeforest Mall property in Gaithersburg, and the Mayor and City Council will review that and public feedback at their regular meeting tonight, in a joint session with the city's Planning Commission. 739 people out of 8120 city and county residents who were mailed or invited to take a survey on the potential redevelopment returned their surveys. 28 people participated in public forums or focus groups on the matter. 

City planning staff characterizes the majority opinion from this feedback as favoring mixed-use development, housing at a variety of price points, job opportunities for "various career levels," and a variety of transportation modes. Other familiar buzzwords include creation of a "sense of place," and addition of "maker spaces."

Staff is also recommending circulation patterns that promote pedestrian and cycling safety. Housing should be "higher density," despite the mall's substantial distance from the nearest Metro station. Retail should be downplayed, staff argues, because there is already too much retail in the area.

Auntie Anne's to close at Lakeforest Mall

Auntie Anne's is closing at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. A complete liquidation auction of their equipment will be held December 22, according to an online listing for the auction. 

Junction Station brings nostalgia to Rio Lakefront for the holidays

Junction Station, a pop-up shop featuring tinplate toys and trains from the 1920s to 1950s, is bringing a train horn blast of nostalgia to Rio Lakefront for the holiday season. A large window display at its storefront at 201 Boardwalk Place shows off many of the railroad, vehicle and aircraft items for sale. It also gives shoutouts on buildings and signs to various tenants of the Peterson Cos. retail development. A nice reward for window shoppers making their way down the street, which has no small amount of retro aesthetic itself.

Airport Cafe for sale at Montgomery County Airpark

The Airport Cafe at the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg is for sale. Currently serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, there is the potential to expand hours to dinner service. The cafe seats 40 indoors and 50 on the outdoor deck, which offers a view of the airpark runways.

Asking price for the cafe is $80,000. The current lease runs through January 1, 2024, and the monthly rent is $1600. 

Car stolen from Gaithersburg repair shop

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen car in Gaithersburg Monday afternoon. The vehicle was reported stolen from an auto repair business in the 8100 block of Beechcraft Avenue around 1:38 PM.

Aggravated assault with gun in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault in Germantown yesterday afternoon. An aggravated assault involving a firearm occurred in a wooded area in the 12100 block of Skip Jack Drive near Gunners Lake around 4:00 PM Monday.

Armed robberies in Gaithersburg, Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to two armed robberies in only 15 minutes in Gaithersburg and Germantown late Saturday night. The first robbery was reported in the 12500 block of Laurel Grove Place in Germantown around 11:00 PM. Fourteen minutes later, another armed robbery was reported in the 19700 block of Drop Forge Lane in Gaithersburg. Guns were the weapons employed in both robberies, according to crime data.