Sugarland Factory makes last minute name change to Lil' Cakes & Creamery in Gaithersburg

Sugarland Factory, the bakery and sweets shop coming soon to Gaithersburg Square shopping center, has made a last minute name change. The new name is Lil' Cakes & Creamery. Their permanent sign permit request will go before the Gaithersburg Planning Commission on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

Cinco de Mayo construction delay in Gaithersburg

Construction at Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican restaurant and bar coming soon to Market Square in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg, has temporarily been halted. Montgomery County, City of Gaithersburg, and WSSC inspectors have issued stop work orders at the site. Hopefully things get resolved quickly, as this is one of the most-anticipated new arrivals at the property.

No MCPS schools make 2019 Blue Ribbon Schools list

Montgomery County Public Schools were shut out again in the U.S. Department of Education's 2019 Blue Ribbon Schools list. Not a single MCPS school was named a Blue Ribbon School this year, and it's not the first time this decade this has happened. MCPS performance has steadily declined across the board since 2010. Its failure to close the achievement gap certainly did not help earn an award that partly considers schools' success in doing so among its criteria. Overall academic excellence is the other major consideration for recognition as a Blue Ribbon School.

The failure to show in this annual federal measure of academic excellence is just the latest embarrassment for MCPS. Surging drop-out rates, questions about student safety, failure to fully-vet staff, repeated sexual abuse scandals, a persistent achievement gap, poor test scores, and a chronic class attendance problem have already tarnished what was once considered the premiere school district in the Mid-Atlantic. MCPS has also begun to earn a national reputation as lightweight in academic rigor; a new, easy grading system has really taken the shine off top marks, and when students continued to fail final exams, MCPS simply got rid of the exams. Neither move will impress college admission officials as word spreads.

Unlike Montgomery County, public schools from Calvert, Howard, Prince George's and Worcester counties were recognized on this year's Blue Ribbon Schools list. Only one Montgomery County school made the list this year, and it was a Catholic school - St. Raphael School in Rockville. Students there celebrated with Chick-fil-A, according to the Catholic Standard. 

Montgomery County officials have continued to throw greater amounts of money at MCPS, with no positive result, clearly indicating that the problem is not funding alone. With Montgomery County floundering on every front from education and economic development to crime and traffic congestion, it's clear we need new leaders who actually know what they are doing, and will put the best interests of children ahead of their own political calculations. We must overcome a political cartel that suffers from a severe case of Lake Wobegon Syndrome, and accept that this County is in real trouble, folks.

Another Montgomery County job center lost

Montgomery County continues

to become the bedroom community

for job centers elsewhere in region

The developer of 1800 Research Boulevard in Rockville, a property approved for an office development, is requesting a master plan amendment to flip it to residential. FG Office Group, LLC, a Lerner shell company, is seeking to build a 350-unit residential building with courtyards and two "amenity spaces." One will be a pool, and the other a green space with patio and picnic areas.

Previously, the site had been designated for a 210,981 SF office building. The site would seem ideal for a biotech or medical research company, given its proximity to the I-270 biotech corridor, Shady Grove Hospital and The Universities at Shady Grove. But Lerner says it has concluded there is no market demand for office presently. Lerner adds that it has been unable to find tenants for their existing Fallsgrove office building on Shady Grove Road.

The moribund Montgomery County economy continues to stymie the office market. Some developers have been forced to move their own headquarters into their new office buildings because they are unable to sign an anchor tenant. Montgomery County hasn't attracted a major corporate headquarters in over twenty years. The end result is that a planned job center at Fallsgrove, similar to changes at King Farm, Bethesda, Wheaton, Silver Spring, and elsewhere in the County, will now be permanently lost. So even if the County changes leadership and policies to be more business-friendly down the road, those new jobs can't be placed here to reduce the number of County residents driving to job centers in Northern Virginia and the District.

Germantown construction update: Top Golf Germantown (Video+Photos)

The main building structure at the future Top Golf Germantown is taking shape. Netting to catch driven golf balls is also being put into place across the trademark tall poles at the far end of the green.

Wawa responds to Gaithersburg concerns about proposed gas station/convenience store

Wawa has filed its official response to concerns raised by Gaithersburg residents and elected officials during a public hearing on its proposed gas station and convenience store at 405 S. Frederick Avenue. Much of the content was already stated by Wawa representatives during the public hearing discussion.

A few points that stood out as new in the memo: Fuel delivery trucks will not be allowed to idle engines on-site. Wawa says it has checked again about the possibility of aligning its new sidewalk with the existing one in front of the Holbrook Shopping Center, but found it is not possible, due to utility placement and the new driveway that will be constructed. There will be no outdoor seating, and no car wash, to reduce potential noise generated.

Wawa also notes that Montgomery County's regulations on how close a gas station can be to a school, home, playground, wetlands, etc. do not apply within the City of Gaithersburg. In reviewing laws, they also determined that there is no restriction on the dimensions of automobile filling stations in Gaithersburg's zoning code.

The Mayor and Council are scheduled to make their final decision on approval of the Wawa at their October 7, 2019 meeting.

Gaithersburg construction update: UU Hot Pot & Kebab (Photos)

UU Hot Pot & Kebab is bringing some of the latest Asian cuisine trends in Rockville north to Gaithersburg. Located in The Majestic apartments at the Spectrum development, the restaurant will likely be the only hot pot establishment in the city when it opens. There had been Riverside Hot Pot before, but unfortunately, it closed. UU Hot Pot & Kebab will also feature skewers, as the name suggests. The progress on the interior of the restaurant is pretty far along, as you can see here.