Security Fence Up, Preliminary Demolition Preparation Underway After Final Tenants of Shopping Center Relocated
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 15, 2004 - A construction security fence is in place and preliminary demolition preparations are underway this week at the site of Rockville Town Square, which is part of Phase I of Rockville’s future Town Center.
Work began on the site this week after the last of the 23 tenants of the shopping center on North Washington Street were moved to new locations. The shopping center, which was anchored by a Magruder’s Grocery Store, will be razed to make way for a public parking garage and some of the residential and retail projects that will be part of Phase I. The 12.5 acres that cover this portion of Phase I of the plan will be called Rockville Town Square by developer RD Rockville, LLC.
Work has started several weeks ahead of schedule because of the success in finding new permanent or temporary homes for the shopping center’s tenants. The CVS drug store and a beauty salon were relocated this week to nearby space in a shopping center at the intersection of North Washington Street and Middle Lane.
Work on the site began less than a month after the official June 15 groundbreaking for Town Center. That ceremony was attended by more than 350 people including Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. The new Town Square Development will be the focal point of the City’s new redeveloped downtown.
The construction fence will eliminate pedestrian access to some sidewalks in Town Center. The fence extends to the curbs of some sidewalks adjacent to North Washington Street and East Middle Lane because the sidewalks will be replaced as part of the new Town Center. Pedestrians are advised to walk on sides of the streets that have sidewalks.
On Monday, July 12, Rockville’s Mayor and Council approved a total initial contract of $8,045,930 with Whiting-Turner Construction of Baltimore for construction services associated with the Rockville Town Square project. An authorization to proceed amount not to exceed $975,679 was included in the total amount. This initial amount will allow 60 days of work while the full scope of work and costs are finalized.
The construction funds include about $3.97 million for public improvements (such as surveying, earthwork, utilities, sheeting and shoring) and about $4.1 million toward construction of the first of three public parking garages.
The Mayor and Council are scheduled on Monday, July 26, to consider the remaining balance of the public improvements (approximately $10.5 million) that will go toward paving, fountains, sidewalks, landscaping and site amenities.
“We are on our way and we intend to be back on the site for the grand opening in 2006,” said Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo. “We have great confidence in our partners and in the expertise of the company that will be doing a bulk of the work.”
Whiting-Turner, which was founded in 1909 and operates in cities across the nation, was selected among four final bidders. The selection was a joint decision of the City, RD Rockville, LLC and Federal Realty.
Phase I of Town Center, which has an estimated public-private cost of about $352 million, will be developed by RD Rockville, LLC. It will include about 630 luxury condominium and apartment homes and approximately 170,000 square feet of retail space that will be owned by retail developer Federal Realty Investment Trust.
Town Square will encompass 12.5 of the 15-acre focal point of Phase I. 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.
Updates on Town Center construction, including progress photos, will be available on the City Web site at www.rockvillemd.gov.
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