DATE: May 20, 2003
Maryland Commitment Further Solidifies Public Partnership City Needs Toward Building Future Downtown
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 20, 2003—The City of Rockville has been approved for a $1 million grant from the State of Maryland that will go toward the design and construction of the first of three public parking garages that are instrumental in the design of the City’s new Town Center.
Rockville was informed this week that the State Board of Public Works, at its April 30 meeting, approved the request for funds. In February, the City was approved for $162,000 in federal funds for sidewalk improvements and pedestrian amenities in the new downtown project. It is expected that development of the first 15 acres of Town Center will require about $317 million in combined private and public funds. The cost is estimated to come in the form of about $219 million in private investment (70 percent of the cost) and $97.5 million in public funding (30 percent of the cost). The public funding will be a combination of City of Rockville, Montgomery County, State of Maryland and federal contributions.
“Throughout our planning process, we have stated how important it was going to be to have a partnership in establishing the public funding for Town Center,” said Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo. “As we move closer to getting this project underway, we are grateful that the State has taken this significant step to help us in the early stages. This clearly demonstrates Maryland’s commitment to the building of our City’s new downtown.”
The new Town Center, which will be anchored by the new Rockville Regional Library, will include a mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment, residential and office uses. A town square will be included in the design, along with wide sidewalks that will encourage a pedestrian environment and outdoor cafes. The planned residential projects will include more than 480 apartments and more than 170 condominiums. Three public parking garages and one private garage, along with on-street parking, will create extensive parking to support the project.
It is intended that construction of the library, the first parking garage, the first retail establishments and the town square will begin in early 2004 and those entities will be completed by early 2006.
Rockville’s District 17 Delegation has been instrumental in gaining funding for the parking garage design. The members of Rockville’s District 17 Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly—Senator Jennie Forehand and Delegates Kumar Barve, Michael Gordon and Luiz Simmons—have been major supporters of the Town Center development.
“Our District 17 delegation has played a significant role in making Town Center possible,” said Mayor Giammo. “This grant is a direct result of their efforts and we look forward to their support as we seek future funding to create a downtown that is the pride of Montgomery County.”
Further information on Town Center is available on the City’s Web site at www.ci.rockville.md.us and from Rockville’s Department of Community Planning and Development Services at City Hall (240-314-8200).
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