Poolesville

“This is an exciting time for Poolesville as we are embarking  on several fronts to foster conservation, smart energy and green initiatives. A pilot project consisting of LED streetlight installation is just another way that we are able to demonstrate how even a small Town such as ours can champion green initiatives.”

The LED streetlight replacement project along Wootton Avenue in the Wesmond Subdivision allows the Town to replace the oldest streetlights, a mix of mercury and sodium, with much more efficient fixtures. The lighting is much improved and with the new “dark sky” compliant fixtures that specifically direct light downward, allows us to reduce light pollution.


Takoma Park

Last month, new regulations were enacted that allows tenants to request window guards be installed in their apartment at no cost. A tenant can request a window guard for any window if it meets the following criteria:

When you request a window guard, the landlord has 14 days to install the guard. A guard can be any combination of bars or window stoppers as long as it can securely ensure that an opening of greater than 4 inches is not possible. You can find out more by going online to the Window Guard Regulation webpage. The Housing Division is also available to answer any questions or assist. You can reach the Division through phone by calling 301-891-7222 or by emailing the Housing Division.


MoCo Government

Interagency workgroup to examine the county’s process for reviewing development projects to ensure economic competitiveness and to recommend possible improvements; findings will be delivered by October 15, 2023 to the Montgomery County Delegation

The Montgomery County House Delegation, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and the Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), have agreed to collaborate together on a workgroup to examine the county’s development review process, with a special focus on economic competitiveness. Delegate Lesley Lopez (D- District 39) will serve as the workgroup’s Chair. The Development Review Process Workgroup will be formed by May 1, 2023 and will deliver findings to the Montgomery County Delegation by October 15, 2023.


Gaithersburg

The City of Gaithersburg joins the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and seven local jurisdictions to create a joint Regional Fair Housing Plan, which provides strategies to expand access to safe and affordable housing, increase investment and resources in priority areas, and create more inclusive communities.

The plan includes an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice across the region and chapters that focus on jurisdiction-specific requirements and goals. All state and local governments receiving funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must submit a fair housing plan. In addition to the City of Gaithersburg, participating jurisdictions include the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, the District of Columbia, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Montgomery County, and Prince William County.


DMV

Metro is boosting mid-week service for customers who use the Blue, Orange and Blue Plus lines (info on Red line below) during the morning and evening rush hour periods. As announced just over a week ago, service on the three lines will increase to every 12 minutes instead of 15 minutes from 6 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In the heart of the system, between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory where the lines merge, trains will arrive at stations every four minutes.  

Per WMATA: The service improvements are focused on the middle of the week, where ridership is growing the most. As ridership has evolved post-pandemic, peak period demand is increasing with the heaviest ridership concentrated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In focusing on the busiest times and days of the week, Metro is working differently to provide more targeted service on #YourMetro when and where it is needed. The improvements come as Metro continues to return more 7000-series trains, increasing the number of daily trains in service by more than 40 percent since July. 


Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) have responded to a call for a crash on on Frederick Rd (Rt 355) near Professional Drive in Gaithersburg.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the collision between two vehicles caused one to overturn blocking most lanes on southbound 355 and some lanes northbound. Emergency Medical Services are evaluating a few patients with non-life threatening injuries.


Downtown Silver Spring

Back in June we let you know that a Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date was pushed back to Thursday, February 16th, and again recently to Tuesday, February 23rd, according to its Google listing. Nike is also opening a store in Bethesda.

The retail development (Downtown Silver Spring) has landed two additional major tenants with Uniqlo and Golds Gym signing on, according to a BizJournals report. Uniqlo opened its first and only other MoCo location in September of 2018 in Pike & Rose. The Downtown Silver Spring location will be taking over the 10,058 SF space at 914 Ellsworth St that was formerly home to Ulta prior to the move to its current location in Downtown Silver Spring. Gold’s Gym will be taking over 25,000 SF space that was occupied by Washington Sports Club until Fall 2020. Both are expected to open by the end of 2023.


Downtown Silver Spring

Downtown Silver Spring has landed two major tenants with Uniqlo and Golds Gym signing on, according to a BizJournals report. Uniqlo opened its first and only other MoCo location in September of 2018 in Pike & Rose. The Downtown Silver Spring location will be taking over the 10,058 SF space at 914 Ellsworth St that was formerly home to Ulta prior to the move to its current location in Downtown Silver Spring. Gold’s Gym will be taking over 25,000 SF space that was occupied by Washington Sports Club until Fall 2020. Both are expected to open by the end of 2023.

The retail development (Downtown Silver Spring) is also expecting another big tenant to open in the near future. Back in June we let you know that a Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date was pushed back to Thursday, February 16th, and again recently to Tuesday, February 23rd, according to its Google listing.


MoCo Government

Town hall will be held at Lakelands Park Middle School in Gaithersburg with virtual participation available

The Montgomery County Council will hold a hybrid town hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Lakelands Park Middle School, which is located at 1200 Main St. in Gaithersburg.  Councilmembers have scheduled this time to answer questions and listen to concerns from community members. Some of the topics for discussion will include public safety, public health, housing and transportation, and other issues of community concern.


Bethesda

Cava Group Inc., the parent company of CAVA restaurants, announced on Monday morning that the group confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to go public in the United States. CAVA, the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry, has opened over 200 restaurants since opening its first fast-casual spot in Bethesda in 2011.

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in the Traville Gateway shopping center (Rockville), with Moshovitis as executive chef. Following the launch of four additional restaurants, in 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis launched a line of dips and spreads to over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market. In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain CAVA (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as CAVA). The group opened the first CAVA restaurant in Bethesda in January 2011.


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