The Labs at West Watkins on Gaithersburg Planning Commission agenda tonight

Trammell Crow is asking the City of Gaithersburg to allow it to rellocate and consolidate approved office and retail space for its planned biotech development, The Labs at West Watkins. Located in the Watkins Mill Town Center, the two life sciences buildings would be larger than originally planned, allowing Trammell Crow to eliminate two other office buildings it had approvals for. For that reason, the company needs to reallocate the 62,494 square feet of retail and 100,950 SF of office space already approved for the two canceled buildings among these two biotech buildings, and three other future buildings.

The Labs at West Watkins is to be part of the long-delayed urban core of the Watkins Mill development, where there has been substantial residential development such as the Parklands community. Future streets that would connect to the Labs property are Town Center Boulevard, Commerce Street, Midtown Street, Grand Street and Parkview Avenue extended. All of these roads have yet to be constructed. Trammell Crow also notes that the replacement of the Corridor Cities Transitway rail line with a bus rapid transit route has made the required dedications of land on its property for the railway obsolete.

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission will review the requested site plan update at its meeting tonight, September 7, 2022 at 7:30 PM. City planning staff are not yet making a recommendation on the request to the commissioners at this early stage of review.

Renderings courtesy Trammell Crow Company

Paranormal Cirque Clarksburg shows "postponed until further notice"

The Paranormal Cirque shows planned for September 8 to 18, 2022 at the Clarksburg Premium Outlets have been "postponed until further notice," the touring company announced on Facebook yesterday. New dates will be announced. The circus is extending its run in Waldorf rather than move to Clarksburg as scheduled.

Flood watch in effect until 2:00 PM today for Central Maryland, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for all of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including Montgomery County and Central Maryland to the border with Pennsylvania. It is in effect from 4:00 AM to 2:00 PM this afternoon, September 6, 2022. There is the possibility of rainfall of 2-3" during this time, with potential totals up to 5" in some areas, due to heavy showers and possible thunderstorms.

Expect creeks, streams, rivers and flood-prone areas to experience high water levels and overflows. If you see high water in the road ahead, do not attempt to drive through it. Turn around and find an alternate route.

Montgomery County Executive candidate Reardon Sullivan releases new campaign ad

Reardon Sullivan, the Republican nominee for Montgomery County Executive, has released a new campaign ad. "Montgomery County has changed," he says as the ad begins. "We were once the premier county in the country, but now violent crime has skyrocketed in our neighborhoods and schools. Our police are not supported, and can't do their jobs." 

Sullivan accuses the County's public school system of "pushing radical social agendas," instead of "the real lessons our children need to learn." He notes the trend of businesses leaving the county or closing, and the financial impact of that on County revenues. Alluding to the disatisfaction of a majority of Democratic primary voters with the incumbent executive, Sullivan asks, "[D]o you really want another four years of Marc Elrich?"

The ad ends with an appeal for voters to make their choice based on the areas of agreement residents have about the future of the County, as opposed to on the basis of party labels. “Now voters have a clear choice to make in the General Election," Sullivan said in a statement announcing the video this morning, "and I ask all voters for their support and their vote so together we can put Montgomery County back on the right track.”

Charley Prime Foods under construction at Rio in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Construction has begun on a new restaurant at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Charley Prime Foods will feature American cuisine, cocktails and waterfront dining by the AMC Theatres Dine-In Rio Cinemas 18. It comes well-recommended, as it is from the same team responsible for Bar Charley and Quarry House Tavern. Charley Prime Foods is expected to open in late 2022.

Maryland governor candidates Dan Cox, Wes Moore to square off in TV debate October 12

After declining several invitations to debate Republican Dan Cox, Democrat Wes Moore has accepted an invite extended to both Maryland gubernatorial candidates from WBAL and Maryland Public Television. The debate is scheduled to take place on October 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM. It will be broadcast live on WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5, WBAL-TV 11 in Baltimore, Maryland Public Television statewide, and on NBC4 in the Washington, D.C. area.

Unless Moore agrees to further debates, this will be a high pressure forum, particularly for Cox. With far less broadcast advertising money than Moore has at his disposal, this will be a key opportunity for Cox to speak to a substantial TV and radio audience of likely voters. Cox is also in a rare scenario where the current governor of his own party affiliation - Larry Hogan - is refusing to help him in any way, due to Hogan's ongoing feud with Donald Trump. Trump endorsed Cox over Hogan's choice of Kelly Schulz in the GOP primary. 

"I look forward to the opportunity this October to contrast my vision and values with Dan Cox’s far-right agenda,” Moore said in a statement. “I am glad Wes Moore has finally accepted an invitation to debate with me," Cox said in his own statement this morning. "So far, he has refused or declined to respond to several requests, including those from Morgan State University and the Maryland Federation of NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association). I would like to thank MPT and WBAL for this opportunity. I look forward to letting the voters of Maryland see the candidates live, in person and unfiltered."

Spirit Halloween now open at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Spirit Halloween has returned to Rio Lakefront for 2022. The store is now open at 101 Boardwalk Place, the former home of Charming Charlie. A tour of Spirit Halloween has become an annual Halloween-season tradition for many. New animatronics this year include Lord Raven, Bog Zombie, Monty the crazed cymbal-wielding monkey, Lucky Bottoms, Bag o'Bones, and Nozzles the Clown.