A proposal has been submitted to redevelop the former Nike missile site at 770 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg into a new apartment community with up to 376 multifamily units spread across three four-story buildings.
The plans are currently under review by the City of Gaithersburg, and no public hearing has been scheduled. The 13.7-acre property has a unique history. It served as a U.S. Army Nike missile launch site from 1956 to 1974 before being used by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for storage, research, and testing until 2012. The site then sat vacant for about a decade before being purchased by the current owner in 2022. The former military and NIST buildings have since been demolished.
The proposed development is smaller than what was previously approved in a 2023 sketch plan, reducing both the number of buildings and their height. The current proposal includes three four-story residential buildings rather than the previously approved four buildings up to five stories tall.
According to the application, 15% of the apartments will be designated as Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs). The community would also include:
- Landscaped courtyards and open green space
- A playground
- A dog park
- Internal private streets
- Surface and garage parking
- A pedestrian connection to the Muddy Branch Square Shopping Center
- A commemorative feature recognizing the property’s history as a Nike missile site
Developers say there will not be a direct pedestrian connection to the neighboring Lakelands Ridge community, consistent with the previously approved sketch plan and community feedback.
Traffic improvements are also proposed as part of the project. A traffic study concluded that a new traffic signal is warranted at the intersection of Muddy Branch Road and School Drive/Timberbrook Lane. The proposal also includes restriping School Drive to improve traffic flow, along with new crosswalks and pedestrian signals.
The application states the project is designed to provide additional housing while minimizing impacts on neighboring communities through landscaped buffers, tree plantings, and modern stormwater management systems.
The property is surrounded by the Timberbrook Condominium community to the north, Muddy Branch Road to the east, Muddy Branch Square Shopping Center and Lakelands Ridge single-family homes to the south, and Lakelands Ridge condominiums to the west.
Residents wishing to comment on the proposal can submit feedback to the City of Gaithersburg Planning Department while the application remains under review (via mail to to 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 or emailed to [email protected]).
