Montgomery Village

Update on Upcoming Dunkin’ in Montgomery Village

By Patrick Herron

Construction is progressing at the upcoming Dunkin’ location in the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center in Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village (photos below). Dunkin’ is taking over the former Capital One Bank building at 20000 Goshen Rd. Earlier this year Dunkin’ opened a new location at the Layhill Center (14328 Layhill Rd) in Silver Spring and last week we reported that construction has begun on its upcoming location at the Traville Village Center (9761 Traville Gateway Drive) in Rockville.

Since Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in late 2020 for $11.3 billion, the company has been opening in former bank locations that allow for easy installation of a drive-thru window. Dunkin has also aimed for non-traditional development that includes opening in airports and on college campuses, including the University of Maryland.

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Gaithersburg

Bill Introduced to Create Airpark Community Advisory Committee

By Patrick Herron

Bill 24-23 would create the ACAC, providing a regular forum to discuss and propose recommendations to improve Airpark operations. Council President Evan Glass and Councilmembers Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz, Sidney Katz and Laurie-Anne Sayles are co-sponsoring the measure.

The MCA is a public general aviation airport in Gaithersburg and is home to a reported 67,195 flight operations a year. In 2019, the MCA partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set up an online portal for residents to submit aircraft noise complaints similar to what’s offered in communities near other airports. In 2019, there were 27 complaints, in 2020 there were 191 complaints made from 11 unique households, and in 2021 there were 2,835 complaints made from 35 unique households, according to a 2022 report from the Council’s Office of Legislative Oversight.

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Crime

Detectives Investigate Residential Burglary; Surveillance Video of Suspect Released

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a residential burglary that occurred on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in the 14000 block of Castle Blvd. in Silver Spring. Detectives have released surveillance video of the male suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 5:44 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of a burglary that just occurred. The investigation has revealed that the suspect forced entry into the front door of the apartment building with a large rock. The suspect then entered an apartment through its front door that had been left open, stole property and left the scene.  Detectives reviewed the surveillance cameras of the apartment building and obtained a description of the suspect. The suspect is described as a Black male with black hair, in his 20s or 30s, wearing a red hat, black glasses, a black/white/red jacket, black jeans, and black shoes.

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Takoma Park

Takoma Park Receives $60,000 Grant To Study Streetery Traffic Impacts

By MCS Staff

City Award $60,000 to Study Laurel Avenue Streetery Traffic Impacts: Since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Laurel Avenue Streetery has offered a popular, public gathering space in the heart of Old Takoma, where previously there was none. The temporary closure was so popular that in 2022, the City Council voted to extend its existence indefinitely.

On Thursday, April 20, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) awarded the City of Takoma Park a $60,000 Transportation-Land Use Connection program technical assistance grant to conduct a traffic study on the streets surrounding Laurel Avenue. The study will look at traffic impact scenarios for a full, permanent, or semi-permanent closure of both sides of Laurel Avenue. It will look at the potential impacts on vehicle traffic flow, emergency vehicle access, cut-through traffic, and any roadway or signal redesigns that would be necessary to accommodate the reconfiguration. The idea to close both sides of Laurel Avenue to create a large, dedicated pedestrian plaza builds on conceptual design work being conducted by the Old Takoma Business Association (OTBA).

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Event

Healthy at the Harbor

National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland

165 Waterfront St.

National Harbor, Maryland 20745

Website Social

Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.

Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.

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Bethesda

Installation of Vape Detectors Begins at Six MCPS High Schools This Week

By MCS Staff

Earlier this month, MCPS announced that vape detectors were in the process of being installed in the bathrooms of a “limited number of high schools.” Student journalists Hannah Lee, Claire Yu, and Avery Wang, of Richard Montgomery’s RM Tide newspaper, have reported that installations begin this week at six MCPS High Schools: John F. Kennedy, Northwood , Paint Branch, Quince Orchard, Richard Montgomery, and Walt Whitman. The detectors will remain until at least the end of the school year.

Per MCPS: “Vape detectors are in the process of being installed in the bathrooms of a limited number of high school schools. These detectors will help to identify any instances of vaping or smoking in the bathrooms, allowing us to take appropriate action to prevent harm to our students’ health and safety.”

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Gaithersburg

New Chick-Fil-A in Gaithersburg Aiming For June Opening

By MCS Staff

Permanent signage went up last month at the upcoming Chick-Fil-A restaurant at 700 N. Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg, at Progress Labs.  Progress Labs, which began construction in summer 2021, is a 44-acre property that directly fronts I-270 at the Montgomery Village Avenue exit. and is located next door to the recently constructed 300,000 square foot FedEx Ground facility, just south of the new Watkins Mill Interchange. The restaurant is now aiming to open in June, according to its Google listing (photo below).

Chick-fil-A has additional MoCo locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg (Kentlands), Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring. Prograss Labs will also be home to MoCo’s first Sheetz.

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Gaithersburg

Shake Shack Opens Kentlands Location Today

By MCS Staff

Shake Shake officially opens its Kentlands location in Gaithersburg today. The burger chain has hosted friends & family and training events since Monday, but today will be the restaurant’s first day opening to the public. Shake Shack has additional MoCo locations at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and Cabin John Village in Potomac. The restaurant will be open from 10:30am until 9pm and offers a variety of burgers, fries, and other items.

Background: On July 8, 2021, Shake Shack was granted approval for the construction of a 4,700 square foot building with outdoor seating as the second of three commercial infill sites totaling 16,000 square feet along Kentlands Square Place. The burger chain was granted its license to sell beer and wine on the premises during its Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) hearing on January 6th of 2022, and prepared to break ground in February. Construction began in March, but stalled after flooding that occurred over the summer. The approval was for the first of three infill sites was granted for the construction of a 2,100 square foot Starbucks building with drive through and outdoor seating. Starbucks opened in January of 2021, a little over two years ago.

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Gaithersburg

Revised Plan For Four-Story Buildings Totaling 152 Units Returns to Planning Commission in Gaithersburg Today

By MCS Staff

MBW and Haris Design and Construction Co. submitted Concept Site Plan application (SP-9149-2021) on December 16, 2021, to demolish the buildings located at 9, 11, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue in anticipation of redevelopment into a pair of four-story multifamily buildings totaling 151 units with 182 parking spaces. The Planning Commission deferred the Concept Site Plan at its December 7 meeting. The revised plan will return to the Planning Commission today, May 3.

The Historic District Commission initially reviewed SP-9149-2021 at its June 22, 2022 meeting for potential historic or architectural significance. The application was deferred to its next meeting so the HDC could receive more historical information on the properties. At its July 27 meeting, the HDC determined there was reasonable probability 9, 11, 13, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as an historic district, or, in the alternative, 9 and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as individual sites. The HDC directed Staff to prepare a petition resolution to the Mayor and City Council, and the HDC approved the resolution at its August 24 meeting. At its October 3 meeting, the City Council voted not to accept the HDC’s petition to designate the properties as historic. The HDC provided a nonbinding courtesy review of the Concept Site Plan (SP-9149-2021) at its October 26 meeting.

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Potomac

Baskin Robbins Opens Potomac Woods Plaza Location on May 7

By MCS Staff

Permanent signage went up last month at the new Baskin Robbins at 1079 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac Woods Plaza, located in the space that was previously home to Ibhana Creations. Baskin Robbins has now set an opening date of Sunday, May 7th.

Last February, Baskin Robbins closed its doors at Cabin John Village and announced its plans to open in the nearby Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center this spring. Baskin Robbins was replaced in Cabin John Village by The Scoop, which was opened this past August by Timothy and Mitch Ryoo– Potomac natives and Winston Churchill High School Graduates (2010 and 2006). Baskin Robbins will also be opening a location later this year in the Montgomery Village Center. 

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Maryland

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Continues Snakehead Tagging Program, Providing Cash Incentive for Anglers

By MCS Staff

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is continuing a northern snakehead tagging program in an effort to spur removal of invasive fish from our waters. This spring, up to 500 tags will be put on snakeheads from Gunpowder River, upper Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and Mattawoman and Nanjemoy creeks of Potomac River.

 

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Crime

Montgomery County Man Charged With Fatal Shooting That Occurred in February

By MCS Staff

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit identified and charged a man in connection with a fatal shooting in February. The suspect is 25-year-old Luis Marquez of Silver Spring. He’s charged with murdering 38-year-old Maurice Chase Jr. of Takoma Park.

Per PGCPD: On February 20, 2023, at approximately 12:40 am, officers responded to the 6700 block of New Hampshire Avenue for a shooting in the unincorporated section of Takoma Park. Officers located the victim inside of an apartment building suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he died several hours later. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect shot the victim during an altercation. Marquez is charged with first and second degree murder and additional charges. He is in custody of the Department of Corrections. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.

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