Kentlands Chopt update (Photos)

Bringing the Chopt restaurant to fruition at Kentlands Market Square has been an epic struggle. Coming Soon signage went up at its future space way back in April of 2020. A peek inside shows that work has finally begun, but is still in the very early stages of construction.

Spectrum Starbucks update (Photos)

Starbucks at the Spectrum development off Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg is a bit behind the progress at neighbor Royal Farms, but moving forward nonetheless. The store will feature a drive-thru, and is right off the new I-270/Watkins Mill interchange. They are now hiring for all positions.

Montgomery County to install dynamic speed signs on Brink Road

Dynamic speed signs will be installed along Brink Road in Germantown and Gaithersburg, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation announced. The signs will show a digital readout of an oncoming driver's current speed. MCDOT cited speed as a factor in several auto accidents along the two-lane rural road. It did not cite the fact that much of the cut-through traffic is the result of the Montgomery County Council failing to build the M-83 Midcounty Highway Extended. 

North Pointe at Flower Hill shopping center begins leasing in Gaithersburg

North Pointe at Flower Hill, a new shopping center development expected to deliver this fall at 18251 Flower Hill Way in Gaithersburg, has begun leasing. An anchor restaurant tenant space includes a rooftop dining area, and an outdoor dining patio, It and a second restaurant space have end cap locations. Pettit Management services is handling the leasing for the center, and can be reached at 301-975-1020.

The red star indicates the location of
the new shopping center

Poolesville fireworks 2021

Montgomery County has canceled its government-funded public fireworks displays this year, making it an outlier among our neighbors Frederick and Howard counties, who are proceeding with theirs. The City of Rockville has also canceled its display, and City of Gaithersburg officials have postponed theirs. What is a traditionalist to do? If you are near any of these mostly-private fireworks displays, you may be able to enjoy a free show anyway (just don't trespass on private property). 

Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac

Chevy Chase Club - July 3, 2021/9:30 PM

Columbia Country Club - June 29/9:10 PM

Congressional Country Club - July 4/9:15 PM

Kenwood Golf & Country Club - June 30/9:15 PM

Poolesville (PUBLIC)

Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department at soccer fields on Hughes Road at Sugarland Road - July 4/Event begins 5:00 PM, fireworks "after dark"/Parking $5.00

Rockville

Manor Country Club - July 1/9:30 PM

Norbeck Country Club - July 1/9:20 PM

Woodmont Country Club - June 26/9:30 PM

Silver Spring

Argyle Country Club - July 2/9:30 PM

RanKen Noodle House opens in Gaithersburg

RanKen Japanese Noodle House has opened at 133 Commerce Square Place, in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. The restaurant serves ramen, udon and soba noodles, rice dishes and skewers. Grilled salmon and sea bass, teriyaki chicken, fried chicken ponzu, and hamburger steak are among the a la carte options.

Royal Farms begins taking shape in Gaithersburg (Video+Photos)

After a lot of work at the Royal Farms construction site along Watkins Mill Road east of the I-270 interchange, the structural elements of the convenience store and mega gas station are beginning to take shape. You can now see the framework of the store, and the car wash behind it. The gas tanks for which excavation was seen in my last update are now in place. They've also put up signage calling for job applications.

Sardi's Taphouse coming to Gaithersburg

Sardi's Taphouse is coming to Olde Towne Gaithersburg. It is taking over the building formerly home to Growlers at 227 E. Diamond Avenue. The bar area inside is being remodeled for the new establishment. There is already a successful Sardi's Taphouse in Olney.

Montgomery Villlage Lidl construction update (Photos)

Here's the current state of the future Lidl store in Montgomery Village, at the intersection of Montgomery Village Avenue and Centerway Road. I'm not exactly bowled over by the visible progress since my last update over a month ago. 

But this has been a long, drawn-out process. That process began way back in 2019, when it was believed that this would be the first Lidl store to open in Montgomery County. Not quite! There is no opening date yet, but Lidl is very good about announcing those, so I will let you know as soon as I have that information.

Public hearing on regulation of poll watchers in Gaithersburg

The Gaithersburg Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on revised regulations pertaining to poll watchers at election polling places. It will be a virtual hearing online, and you can register to speak now.  If passed, the new ordinance would amend Chapter 6C of the City Code, entitled “Elections,” Article IV, entitled “Poll Watchers,” and Section 6C-30, entitled “Rights; Unlawful Acts, Challengers, and Appeals.” The hearing will take place on June 21, 2021 at 7:30 PM.

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.