ATI Physical Therapy coming to Montgomery Village

ATI Physical Therapy is coming to Montgomery Village. The physical therapy practice chain has leased space at 9156 Rothbury Drive, in the Goshen Plaza shopping center. That space was formerly home to Pet Valu.

McDonald's adds Glazed Pull-Apart Donut to menu

McDonald's has added a new item to its McCafe line of baked goods designed to go with coffee beverages. The Glazed Pull-Apart Donut is shareable, with donut holes attached to the center that can be torn off. McDonald's says it is a limited-time item, and will be available all day, not just for breakfast. 

The new donut has already appeared at some McDonald's locations in Montgomery County, and will be available at all McDonald's nationwide on September 1, 2021. How does it compare to Krispy Kreme? Watch my review to find out.

Starbucks at The Spectrum in Gaithersburg update (Photos)

Starbucks is really coming along at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. Glass has been installed, and most of the rest of the store exterior is wrapped in Tyvek. You can now clearly see the drive-thru taking shape. Here's a chronological look at the construction from July through today:

Burtons Grill & Bar applies for liquor license

Here's an update on Burtons Grill & Bar's future Kentlands location in Gaithersburg. The restaurant has applied for its liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the application has been scheduled for September 2, 2021 at 11:30 AM.

Royal Farms Gaithersburg construction update (Photos)

It looks like some work has begun on the interior of the future Royal Farms convenience store at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. Work continues on the exterior, as well. Royal Farms will be located at the I-270 interchange with Watkins Mill Road.

New signage at Gaithersburg Square

Property owner Federal Realty has added new signage at Gaithersburg Square, including this new sign on MD 355. The retail center is undergoing a major renovation. There are still many blank spaces to be filled in with current and to-be-announced new tenants. Right now, the sign is dominated by heavy-hitting national chain brands.

Maryland state troopers issue 875 citations in one-day crackdown on Beltway "superspeeders"

The Maryland State Police have concluded a crackdown on "superspeeders," drivers traveling at excessive speeds whom the agency says have been growing in number during the pandemic. On a designated day last Tuesday, troopers from the Rockville barrack on Montrose Road joined colleagues from the College Park and Forestville barracks in targeting speeders on I-495. 

By the end of the six-month initiative that concluded Tuesday, troopers had issued 875 citations, 803 warnings, 6 Move Over citiations (for failing to either sufficiently slow down, or change lanes when passing an emergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder), 41 Move Over warnings, and 43 safety equipment repair orders. They also made 8 arrests on outstanding warrants, and an additional 11 arrests for possession of controlled substances.

On Tuesday, troopers issued 149 citations, 155 warnings, and 34 safety equipment repair orders. They made 1 criminal arrest, and 3 arrests on outstanding warrants.

Funding for the coordinated operation was provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office. The stated goal is to reduce crashes on interstate highways in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. According to statistics released by the Rockville barrack, crashes are trending downward in recent years. Troopers based in Rockville responded to 1921 crashes in 2018, 1749 crashes in 2019, and 1121 crashes in 2020.

Gaithersburg Royal Farms update (Photos)

Here is my latest update from the site of Royal Farms' future store at the I-270 interchange with Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg. This is in the Spectrum development, where we learned this week that more housing than originally planned will be added, which should at least provide more customers for Royal Farms. You can see that another of the distinctive roof design elements has been constructed on the main store building.

Juvenile charged in mass shooting at Plum Gar Community Center in Germantown

Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a juvenile in the mass shooting at Plum Gar Community Center in Germantown last night. Four people were shot in the incident, which occurred around 10:00 PM Wednesday night, August 18, 2021. One victim has died.

Three victims were found wounded on the basketball court at the center. Police located a fourth victim nearby. All four were transported to local hospitals. The lone adult victim, Axel Trejos, 20, was later pronounced dead.

After setting up a perimeter around the center, officers took two male juveniles into custody. Shilen Wylie, 14, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. Wylie has been charged as an adult, which is why his name has been made public. The second male has so far not been charged.

Montgomery County police ask anyone who has information about this homicide to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.  Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online or via the P3 Tips app.

Kentlands Market Square gets new public plaza design (Photos)

 

Here's a look at the transformation of the public plaza at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. This is the next block up from the new Cinepolis movie theater. Previously a barren stretch of hardscape with minimal seating, the space now sports green turf areas, orange Adirondack chairs, benches, and stringed lighting above. It really needs to be seen at night, like this, to be fully appreciated.

Montgomery County executive appears maskless in Montgomery College classroom

Montgomery County has been under an indoor mask order for several weeks. When County Executive Marc Elrich (D) was caught on camera without a mask in a classroom at Montgomery College on Monday, his critics pounced, calling it hypocrisy. Elrich was attending a "5G Bootcamp" at the community college with Congressman David Trone (D - 6th District).

Trone posted several photos of the event on Twitter. In all but one, Elrich is wearing a mask. But in the maskless photo, everyone but Elrich in the classroom is wearing a mask. "Rules for thee, and not for me," tweeted @justhefactsmo1, sharing Trone's tweet. "What's the ticket for doing this in the grocery store? $500?" asked @jensreesman.

Spectrum developer seeks to convert office, commercial space to residential

Mayor & Council also expected to

make final decision on 

Lakeforest Mall master plan

Montgomery County's weak office market and moribund economy may end up sinking more potential office space development in Gaithersburg. A developer at The Spectrum property at the I-270 interchange with Watkins Mill Road is asking the City of Gaithersburg to convert sites approved as office and commercial use to residential apartments.

Under the current approval held by HIP Projects, Inc., the two sites were expected to become a bank branch, and an office building. The revised plan, if approved by city officials, would replace both with a six-story residential building containing 225 units. This would raise the total number of residential units at the Spectrum development to 690 apartments. A planned senior housing development, a police station, and a senior center have yet to be constructed at the Spectrum.

The request will be reviewed by the Mayor and Council at their meeting tonight, August 16, 2021. They are being asked by city staff to direct the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing, and send them back a final decision on the proposal. The Mayor and Council also have the right to retain final decision-making power on the matter for themselves. 

This would be only the latest example of space that could house high-wage jobs being switched to residential, reducing potential commercial and job growth if the stagnant County economy could be turned around in the future. Montgomery County continues to evolve into a bedroom community for the job centers located elsewhere in our region. I've been writing about it for a decade, but even former County Executive Ike Leggett expressed alarm at the trend in 2016.

The Mayor and Council will also review a final resolution on the Lakeforest Mall master plan draft that would allow up to 1600 housing units to be constructed on the site of the current mall. They are expected to vote on that resolution tonight. On the one hand, 1600 units seems like a small amount for a property of that size, if its proximity to MARC rail could be maximized. On the other hand, few expect county and state leaders to ever deliver such long-promised rail upgrades, and the mall is not walking distance to Metro.

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair 2021 begins today

The 2021 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair begins today at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, located at 501 Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg. It runs through Saturday, August 21. Some parking is available on-site, but there is also satellite parking at Lakeforest Mall, where a shuttle bus will take you to and from the event. Admission is $15 at the gates, or $12 if you purchase online. Children under 12 are free. There are separate tickets for carnival rides, the monster truck shows and the demolition derby. Here are two photos of preparations being made on the rides at the fair last night.

Kogi Asian Grill now open in Gaithersburg

Kogi Asian Grill is celebrating its grand opening today at 560 N. Frederick Avenue, in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center. Lunch is free today from noon to 2:00 PM, if you order Chicken Bulgogi or Spicy Pork Bulgogi.

Vine Alley update (Photos)

Here's a look at the exterior construction progress at Vine Alley, a new bistro at 114 Market Street in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. Wood paneling has been installed above and to the sides of the front entrance, as well as to the side wall. A stone facade has been added on the far left and right borders of the storefront.

Gaithersburg Amazon Fresh construction update (Photos)

The future Amazon Fresh grocery store at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road is now beginning to display some of the brand's trademark architectural details. For example, the vertical green lines on the edge of the canopy on the storefront have been applied. The roofline with large central panel is also visible. We're also getting a better look at those proprietary front windows across the front facade.