Governor, U.S. Representatives, State and Local Officials Invited for City’s Biggest Event in More Than 30 Years
$300M ‘Phase I’ of Public-Private Partnership Named ‘Town Square’
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 20, 2004—A few shovel fulls of dirt will mark the most significant step toward Rockville’s future in more than three decades at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, June 15, for Phase I of the new Rockville Town Center development.
The public is invited to the ceremony, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the East Middle Lane parking lot. The $300 million Phase I of the development, which is being called “Rockville Town Square” by private developer RD Rockville, LLC, will encompass the 15-acre focal point of Town Center. Eventually, other phases of revitalization will see Town Center expand to more than 60 acres.
“This will truly be a great day for Rockville,” Mayor Larry Giammo said of the groundbreaking event. “Although thoughts of this project go back more than 10 years, in the past three years, as the result of the hard work and dedication of many people, some remarkable things have happened to make this a reality. I am already anxious for the next time we return to the site in about two years for the grand opening.”
The groundbreaking itself will be a grand event. Mayor Giammo, Councilmembers Bob Dorsey, John Hall, Jr., Susan Hoffmann and Anne Robbins, and private partners RD Rockville and Federal Realty Investment Trust will be joined by representatives of the public partners in the project. The public partners include Montgomery County, the State of Maryland and the federal government. Among those invited to the groundbreaking ceremony are Governor Robert Ehrlich, U.S. Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, members of Maryland’s District 17 state delegation and members of the Montgomery County Council.
In 1972, the Rockville Mall opened in downtown Rockville and struggled financially from the start. Most of the mall was demolished in 1995.
Earlier this year, WDG Architects, which was hired by RD Rockville to design the Phase I plans, made detailed block-by-block presentations of the new downtown. In February and March, the Mayor and Council approved use permits for Town Square following recommendation of approval from the City’s Planning Commission.
Phase I encompasses Town Center’s central 15 acres bordered by Beall Avenue on the north; Middle Lane on the south; North Washington Street on the west and Maryland Route 355 on the east. Town Square will cover about 12 of those acres.
Rockville Town Square promises to have a unique look compared to most downtown redevelopments. Each building will have a distinctive appearance and differing amenities to make the area look like it developed over time. More than 30 building facades are planned. Many of their features were inspired by historic Rockville buildings.
Rockville Town Square will include a mix of retail, restaurant, cultural, entertainment, residential and office uses. It also will include the new Rockville Regional Library and a public square. Three public parking garages, creating about 2,000 spaces, will be built to support the development.
Information on Town Center is available on Rockville’s City Web site at www.rockvillemd.gov and from Rockville’s Department of Community Planning and Development Services at City Hall at 240-314-8200.
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