Gaithersburg

Construction began this past winter on a 244 unit multi-family building with amenity space and internal courtyards at 333 Ellington Blvd in Downtown Crown (photos and renderings below). This will also include the expansion of the existing parking garage on Copley Place. The Planning Commission approved the Final Site Plan application back on June 16, 2021. The Property is comprised of 76,894 sq. ft. (approximately 1.765 acres), located in the City of Gaithersburg. We don’t expect completion until 2023. Additional information and renderings can be seen below, courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg:

The site is the last multi-family redevelopment site in Neighborhood 1 of Downtown Crown and, upon its construction, Neighborhood 1 will be largely built-out in its contribution to the overall vision established by the Sketch Plan and the Schematic Development Plan (defined and discussed in further detail below) for this community.


Gaithersburg

A power outage on Sunday, August 14th temporarily affected Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown, which led to some businesses closing for the day. The power came back later in the evening, and many businesses reopened, but a few remained closed until their regularly scheduled Monday morning opening.

One of the businesses that closed for the day was Starbucks, which notified customers with a sign on the door stating they were closed for the rest of the day due to the outage. A second sign, which was sent in to us by multiple readers, has caused a little confusion that was cleared up by a store representative Monday morning (photos of both signs available below). The sign states “OUR STORE WILL BE CLOSING Tuesday, August 16th, at 3:30pm” with an apology and a note that says “We are working to re-open our store as quickly as possible.” The representative made it clear that the store is only closing for the rest of Tuesday for a meeting that will take place at the store and that it will be reopening on Wednesday, August 17th.


MoCo

As we noted back in May, Montgomery County is providing 40,000 Chromebook computers to residents who do not have a computer. Eventbrite is being used to create appointment tickets to manage computer pick-ups.  If all appointments are taken, check back on the page in a few days for new events4 to 5 events will be hosted every week through October 2022. As more computers are received this summer and fall, we will offer more appointments into 2023. Every person receiving a computer:

There is a limit of one computer per person.  You do not need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive a computer but you must be a Montgomery County resident.  EVERY PERSON, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST HAVE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENT AND APPEAR ON THEIR APPOINTMENT DAY IN PERSON WITH ID TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER (For Example:  If a parent wants a computer for the parent and two computers for two children, the parent must make 3 appointments and bring the two children with ID to receive the computers.  If you make an appointment for June 21, you cannot show up on a different day.)


Calverton

Earlier this month, Giant Food celebrated the grand opening of a new Maryland store located at 12028 Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring (Calverton). The doors officially opened at 6 a.m. on Friday, August 5th and the company touts 100 new jobs to the Silver Spring community and comes following a season of grand re-openings at three additional Giant Food stores across Maryland and Virginia. During the Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony, Giant Food president Ira Kress joined the Wizards and Capitals’ mascots, MoCo Councilmember Tom Hucker, WTOP sports anchor Dave Johnson in presenting $3,000 checks to  Manna Food Center and Impact Silver Spring. The new store replaces the Giant store located at 11701 Beltsville Drive in Beltsville.

According to a press release: With close to 65,000 square feet of shopping space, the Silver Spring community will enjoy amenities such as full meat and seafood service, an expanded gourmet cheese selection and extensive prepared food offerings like freshly made sushi and pizza. The new store will also be equipped with full-service deli and floral departments and a Starbucks café. Customers can enjoy convenient shopping with free Wi-Fi and Giant’s latest store configuration.“Giant Food has been serving the Silver Spring community since 1958 and we are pleased to bring this new store that will provide a fresh space for everyone to enjoy,” said Ira Kress, President of Giant Food. “The new store is designed to bring the best products and value to the community while continuing to offer top-notch service to new and existing customers.”


Uncategorized

Earlier this summer, County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by Council President Gabe Albornoz, Councilmember Tom Hucker, members of the Montgomery County State Delegation and representatives from EDENS to announce bringing a main “anchor” store back to the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center and the redevelopment of the vacant shopping center. It was revealed that the Phoenix-based company Sprouts Farmers Market will be coming to Burtonsville in what will be the grocery chain’s first store in Montgomery County. Since then, Total Men’s Primary Care has also signed on for the soon-to-be renovated shopping center. At the community announcement in late June, an EDENS representative stated that Sprouts may open as early as the second half of 2023. Below, you’ll see the justification statement submitted to Montgomery Planning:

The subject property, known in the community as the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center, is comprised of approximately 13.35 acres (581,503 square feet) located at 15701 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. The center has been in decline and largely vacant for the past several years, but this Limited Major Site Plan Amendment application (“Site Plan Amendment”) represents an important first step towards its revitalization. As described more fully below, the proposed amendment will demolish a portion of the in-line retail to create a new community gathering space, add two new retail buildings without increasing overall density, enhance pedestrian and vehicular circulation, and introduce new landscaping, tree cover and improved lighting to the site


Bethesda

WSSC Water has lifted the precautionary Boil Water Advisory (BWA) as of 4:33 p.m. today for customers in the Cabin John/Glen Echo area of Montgomery County. Two consecutive rounds of water quality tests were performed by WSSC Water and all results confirm that the water is safe to consume.

While there is no evidence of contamination in the impacted area, WSSC Water asks customers who were under the BWA to take a few final precautions:


Colesville

Just after 4pm on on Saturday, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) crews were called to the scene of a collision with roll over on Randolph Rd. at Bergman Rd., west of New Hampshire Avenue in Colesville. Several adults being evaluated with non life threatening injuries, according to Battalion Chief Steve Mann.

WTOP traffic reports that Randolph Rd, both ways west of MD-650/New Hampshire Ave, is affected by the crash. Follow police direction at the rollover crash until it is clear, which should be soon.


Education

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has reached an agreement with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) to provide a $2,750 financial incentive to special education teachers who are hired for the 2022-2023 school year.

“We are happy to be able to offer this incentive to help fill these critical positions,” said Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight. “We are working diligently to fill every position and be 100 percent staffed come the first day of school, especially for our most vulnerable students in special education.”


Restaurants

The first announced Hangry Joe’s in MoCo (Wheaton already opened, but was announced later) will now open in the Travilah Square shopping center on Monday, August 15 Saturday, according to a sign placed on the front door. The sign previously stated that the restaurant would open on Saturday, August 13z

Back in December 2021, we let you know that Hangry Joe’s would be coming to the 1,600 sf location that was previously home to El Mexicano at 10050 Darnestown Road, between Pholuscious and Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Travilah Square Shopping Center. Since then, a Wheaton location was announced and has already opened. Construction began at the Travilah location this past spring and signage was recently erected at the upcoming Nashville-style fried chicken restaurant earlier this summer. Additional locations are planned for Rockville Pike and Montgomery Village.


MoCo Government

Marc Elrich had a 42 vote lead going into Saturday’s canvassing of 102 provisional ballots that were found unopened and sealed during an audit on Thursday. The ballots were canvassed, scanned, and tabulated starting at 11am Saturday morning and the unofficial final result gives Marc Elrich a 35 vote lead. The Board of Elections will meet at 3pm to certify the election results and David Blair is expected to request a recount.

If a recount petition is filed, election officials must work at least eight hours for each day of the recount and may choose to pause the recount on Sundays and holidays, per the Montgomery County Board of Elections.


Bethesda

Updated to reflect earnings now exceeding $4.5 million and $1.2 million for MoCo residents

The White Marlin Open is a 48-year-old deep-sea fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland.  The tournament awards prize money for catches of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin and swordfish. This year, a Bethesda resident, Jeremy Duffie, caught a white marlin and claimed the billfish tournament’s top prize., which is a world record payout. Duffie, fishing off Ocean City boat Billfisher, reeled in a 77.5-pound white marlin and claimed $4.536 million prize (photos below by @ryanwlackey). Sandy Spring’s Bill Britt received a $1.208 Million payout for reeling in a 511 pound blue marlin.


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