Public-Private Partners Cut Ribbon to Officially Open Already Vibrant Addition to Rockville Town Center Three Years After Groundbreaking
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 17, 2007 — City, County, State and Federal officials, along with private sector development partners, today dedicated the new and already vibrant Town Square section of Rockville Town Center. The dedication culminated years of commitment, planning, construction and hard work by many people, from individual residents, to community groups, businesses, developers, and every level of government. The mixed use development, a public-private partnership, is considered a national model for suburban redevelopment and revitalization, having already won two awards from the Maryland/DC Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
“It seems hard to believe we broke ground just three years ago,” said Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo. “The end result is better than I hoped for, and I am thrilled the community has embraced Town Square so enthusiastically. This is truly the new heart of Town Center, a gathering place, a cultural place, and a place to learn, live, and do business. We are grateful to all of our project partners including RD Rockville, Federal Realty Investment Trust, Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and the Federal government,” the mayor added.
Among the many speakers praising the development and predicting continued success for it and the rest of Town Center were U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen, Jr., Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett, residential developer Scott Ross of RD Rockville, LLC, and retail developer Don Wood of Federal Realty Investment Trust. Rockville Councilmembers Robert E. Dorsey, Susan R. Hoffmann, Phyllis Marcuccio, and Anne M. Robbins joined with other elected officials, business people, and community leaders in cutting the ribbon to officially “open” Town Square.
Town Square is a mixed-use project that includes more than 640 residential units, more than 40 retail and restaurant establishments, the new 71,500 square foot Rockville Library, approximately 1,000 new public parking spaces, an arts center and an “incubator” for new technology-oriented startup businesses.
In the heart of Town Center is Town Square, is the plaza, an open space that provides a gathering place for families and friends and an area for public events.
“This is what we hoped and planned for, a vibrant town center that is alive morning, noon, and night, weekdays and weekends,” said Mayor Giammo. “Combined with the relatively recently built “Regal Row” of theaters, shops and restaurants; the existing residential and business communities; and the mixed uses now being planned, the heart of Rockville is a wonderful attraction for residents and visitors, alike,” Mayor Giammo said.
More than just a collection of buildings, businesses, residences, and cultural facilities in the heart of the county seat, Town Square provides a pedestrian friendly environment that also is transit-oriented, with Metro less than a 10-minute walk away, bus service from Ride On, and a new, local loop shuttle service in the works. For those who drive to Town Square and other parts of Rockville Town Center, there are three new, state-of-the art public parking garages that incorporate an electronic parking guidance system that directs drivers to available parking spaces, including handicapped spaces. The garages also will have a “pay by space” system that will allow users to pay at pay stations located on every level in each garage and in garage lobbies.
Through an innovative set of agreements with a private company, the City of Rockville also will be making free, broadband wireless Internet access (“WiFi”) available in outdoor public areas of Town Square.
Additional information on Rockville Town Center and Town Square can be found on the City’s Web site, www.rockvillemd.gov, and at www.rockvilletownsquare.com.
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