No redevelopment in that seems that's the craze in the DC area. Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring--hell, now even Wheaton getting in have all had renovations and new downtown apartment and retail.
1. Development: I've just moved in to Gaithersburg olde towne area. Previously I'd lived in Bethesda and Silver Spring for over 15 years, so it's my first time upcounty in a sense. I'm surprised by how "old" it is. Not old in the charm sense, which I don't mind, but by the lack of Giant Supermarkets (no Giant or Safeway within 5 driving minutes? That's a first for Montgomery County), or public parks to go for a run, or just lights with a walkable area to relax or to go grab a cup of coffee on a winter evening? Seems strange. I mean I understand the charm but I wonder why it's been left behind when developers are moving in everywhere else in the country. I'm finding I have to drive to downtown Rockville or over to Rio as the closest places that are happening, and I have to do groceries in downtown rockville too.
2. Rent: Also curious IF modern new apartments/retail space construction ever happen in the future, would it mean rents in Olde Towne would instantly (i.e. within 2 years) go up 20-50% like they did in downtown silver spring when the granite top and vaulted ceiling apartments arrived or would the rise in rent be more gradual? (I understand those apartments themselves being priced at a certain point, but seemed that everybody jacked up rent even if they had no reason to and their properties hadn't changed in any way). or would it be more gradual?
Olde Towne isn't a desirable area, so I guess so far no developers are interested. I don't pay much attention now that I don't live there anymore, though. The area has a high concentration of latinos--who knows how many legal compared to illegal--you must have noticed that already.
Regarding grocery stores, there's a Giant on Watkins Mill in Montgomery Village which shouldn't be much more than 10 minutes away from you...it's behind the Montgomery Village Shopping Center on Mont Vill Ave. Plus there's a Bloom on 355 just before Shady Grove Rd....plus another Giant on Goshen Rd. You don't need to be driving into Rockville for groceries.
Crime cameras are going up soon due to the fact that all kinds of gangs roam the area.
I have lived here for 20 some years and use to walk the Old Town area after dark,but not anymore.
By the way there is a Giant in the Quince Orchard shopping center at Quince Orchard & Clopper Rd,not quite walking distance and one at Crabbs Branch & Shady Grove Road.
wow, I've been gone from Montgomery Village/G'Burg since '98 (having grown up there and gone to school there: Whetstone Elem, Mont Village Jr High, and G'burg High) and never heard of gangs in the area.
My folks still live there though.
It was a great place to grow up in the '70s and '80s, too bad it seems to have gone down hill since then.
I think someone is overstating how bad the gang situation is in Gaithersburg.
all kinds of gangs roam the area.
Haha, no. It is not that bad at all (Unless of course you're comparing it to Potomac or Georgetown).
If anything, Olde Towne is rather dead. Very quiet. Barely anyone in the streets after 8 pm or so. If there is a "multitude of violent gangs" they must travel to unload their guns elsewhere.
It's overrun with illegal aliens so no developer wants to touch it. Same with Lakeforest/Montgomery Village.
Gaithersburg really f'ckd up taking a page from the book of Takoma Park.
Besides crime...Local financing and parking regulations are depressing interests from developers. The City is trying to revise its parking ratios to match Montomery County which is also similar to Rockville. Developers recognize there is not enough land for large scale projects in Olde Towne so parking ratios must be reduced to offset land and construction costs.
Recently, demolition has started on East Diamond for the Archstone project.
It has been on the decline since the '70s. Before illegal aliens took it over, it was dumpy. This is arguably the oldest part of Gaithersburg, so it looks kind of a dump when you see old buildings.
I think someone is living in a bubble.
There are 300-500 known gang members in Gaithersburg alone.
There have been two shootings this month of August in the immediate area. Doesn't bode well now, does it?