Earlier this year Rosenfeld Investments sent a letter to the community informing them of plans to redevelop the Loehmann’s Plaza shopping center, located at 5200 Randolph Rd. in Rockville. The shopping center was the longtime home of the Loehmann’s department store and, until recently, of Chuck E. Cheese. The plans include a proposed mixed-use development including up to 50,000 square feet of retail use and up to 750,000 square feet of residential use with up to 680 dwelling units. The first phase of the project would be up to 84 of the dwelling units with a 23,000 SF grocery store with other development to occur in future years.
Per Rosenfeld Investments, “the Property currently is developed with a shopping center (Loehmann’s Plaza) and a large surface parking lot. In recent years, retail trends have changed and major retail uses have been migrating to areas like Rockville Pike and to mixed-use centers like Pike and Rose. At the same time, there is an acute demand for new housing in mixed-use areas like this, near transit service, and Applicant has determined that it is in the public interest to redevelop the property in stages with a combination of residential and retail uses.”
The Property is surrounded by a wide variety of uses. To the north and east are single-family and townhouse uses. Immediately to the south are multifamily uses and a variety of industrial uses exist to the west and south of the property along the CSX railroad tracks. The Property is served by transit service along Randolph Road and Parklawn Drive, and by its proximity to the White Flint Metro Station.
Through a process of staged redevelopment, the applicant proposes to demolish the existing shopping center and parking lot and to redevelop the property with a mix of town home and multifamily residential units along with various retail uses. Build-out of the redevelopment is proposed to include up to 710,000 sq. ft. of residential use (up to 680 dwelling units) and up to 40,000 sq. ft. of commercial use. Included within the residential use will be a 15% MPDU component. The overall density is estimated to be 1.53 FAR. Open space and green area will be located throughout the project including a park area in the northwest corner of the Property. The specific location, size and features of these open spaces, as well as the residential and commercial development, will be determined through the Preliminary Plan and Site Plan processes.
Given the current retail occupancy in the center, it is important to Rosenfeld Investments to stage redevelopment of the property. This staged redevelopment will begin with the eastern portion of the property where the retail space currently is vacant. This area (referred to herein as “Phase 1”) will consist of back to back townhomes designed to serve missing middle housing demands in the area. The current concept anticipates 86 townhomes with predominantly 2 garage parking spaces per unit plus guest parking, all organized in a grid pattern with the townhomes having garage access via rear alleys.
As part of the first phase, Applicant also anticipates locating a grocery store of approximately 23,000 square feet in the central part of the existing retail building and revising the loading area to accommodate a grocery store. The project will provide significant public benefits and earn a minimum of 100 public benefit points. Submitted with the Application, are initial plans for achieving public benefit points in five categories (transit proximity; connectivity and mobility; diversity of uses and activities; quality building and site design; and protection and enhancement of the natural environment).
This first phase of development will complement the recent town home redevelopment across Putnam Way by adding to the street character of Putnam Road with the fronts of townhome units along the road, and roadway connections at Longstone Drive as well as the current end of Putnam Drive. This also will include an upgrade to the streetscape and pedestrian experience along Putnam Drive.
Information courtesy of Rosenfeld Investments via Montgomery Planning. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps (2012)