Hundreds Planning to Attend Including Governor Ehrlich, County Executive Duncan, Congressman Van Hollen
City of Rockville, Developers RD Rockville, LLC, and Federal Realty Ready to Start on ‘Town Square’ in Phase I of Revitalized Downtown
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 9, 2004—The City of Rockville and developers RD Rockville, LLC, and Federal Realty Investment Trust will take a major step in the public-private partnership that has been formed to create a new downtown for the City with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, June 15, starting at 9:30 a.m. on the project site at East Middle Lane and Maryland Avenue.
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan and Congressman Chris Van Hollen are among those who have accepted invitations to be part of the ceremonies. The event will be hosted by Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo and Councilmembers Bob Dorsey, John Hall, Jr., Susan Hoffmann and Anne Robbins; RD Rockville, LLC and Federal Realty Investment Trust.
The project, with an estimated public-private cost of more than $315 million, will be developed by RD Rockville, LLC. The development will include about 630 condominium and apartment homes and approximately 170,000 square feet of retail space that will be owned by retail developer Federal Realty. The first buildings are scheduled to open in 2006.
The public is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the Town Center development, which is being called “Rockville Town Square.” Town Square will encompass 12.5 of the 15-acre focal point of Town Center. Eventually, other phases of revitalization will expand Town Center to more than 60 acres.
Rockville Town Square will include a mix of uses for retail, restaurant, cultural, entertainment, condominium and apartment homes and office space. It also will include the new Rockville Regional Library and a public square that will host special events, concerts and the Rockville Farmers’ Market. Three public parking garages, one private garage and on-street parking will create about 2,000 spaces to support the development.
“Each day that brings us closer to groundbreaking is more exciting for all of the people who have worked so hard to make Rockville Town Center a reality,” said Mayor Giammo. “Rockville Town Square is one project, but this will set the standard for the future of downtown Rockville.”
Among the other guests expected for the groundbreaking are members of Maryland’s District 17 state delegation, members of the Montgomery County Council and members of the Washington area’s development community.
This will be the most significant event in Rockville in more than three decades. In 1972, the Rockville Mall opened in downtown Rockville and struggled financially from the start. Most of the mall was demolished in 1995.
“As County Executive, I’ve seen first-hand the positive effects that projects of this type and magnitude bring to communities in need of revitalization,” said County Executive Duncan, who was mayor of Rockville from 1987-93. “As a former mayor and current resident of Rockville, I am very excited about the new Town Center project and commend Mayor Giammo and the members of the City Council for making it happen.”
Earlier this year, WDG Architects, which was hired by RD Rockville to design Town Square, presented detailed block-by-block designs 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; East Middle Lane on the south; North Washington Street on the west and Maryland Route 355 on the east. Town Square will cover approximately 12.5 of those acres. The other 2.5 acres is the Rockville Metro Plaza development.
Rockville Town Square promises to have an inspiring design compared to most downtown redevelopments. Its buildings will have unique architectural qualities and upscale amenities. More than 30 building facades are planned, with some of their features inspired by historic Rockville buildings.
Information on Town Center and Town Square is available on Rockville’s City Web site at www.rockvillemd.gov, the development Web site at www.rockvilletownsquare.com and from Rockville’s Department of Community Planning and Development Services at City Hall at 240-314-8200. For more information about RD Rockville, LLC, and Federal Realty Investment Trust, call Charles Maier at 301-929-1429.
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