Aspen Hill Holdings LLC has acquired the property acquired the approximately 31,800 SF building for $3.5 million according to documents filed in the Land Records via Maryland Newsletters The building was built in 1968 and renovated in 1990 hosts multiple tenants and a previous LoopNet listing stated it was 50% leased Maryland Newsletters reported the seller was a partnership headed by Herbert Wolf III Financing for the purchase was provided by M&T Bank UPDATE: Montgomery County Police identified the pedestrian who died after being struck by a vehicle in Aspen Hill on Saturday night as 55-year-old Richard Patrick A Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision to call 240-773-6620 A pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle in an Aspen Hill intersection Saturday night officers from the Montgomery County Police Department responded to the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Aspen Hill Road for reports of a struck pedestrian Officers located an adult male pedestrian in the roadway suffering from life threatening injuries Journalist at the University of Maryland - Philip Merrill College of Journalism Please email if you would like to be allow listed WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks is celebrating the reopening of the recently renovated Strathmore Local Park in Aspen Hill More than one hundred residents gathered at the park on Saturday as Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County officials cut the ribbon Strathmore Local Park is located at 3210 Beaverwood Lane in Aspen Hill  The renovation includes an improved soccer field and a new playground with play structures for children ages 2-12 “This renovation is a $1.5 million transformation that started with a concerned email from a resident,” said Evan Dintaman “When Montgomery Parks leadership was alerted of the need to upgrade this park that set the wheels of change in motion and we’ve created a space for families to gather from the playground to the gorgeous natural-grass soccer field picnic shelter and stormwater management improvements iso critical to the Aspen Hill community,” Montgomery County District 6 Councilmember Natali Fani-González said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony the community was fully involved advocating for this renovation and I am so happy that it is finally done to enjoy.”  children filled the playground with laughter and excitement while others gathered under the pavilion for pumpkin painting and refreshments provided by Montgomery Parks The park renovation was funded by Montgomery Parks and a bond bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly.  About Montgomery Parks      Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity especially in diverse and urbanizing areas Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems    ### 2425 Reedie Drive, 12th Floor Wheaton, MD 20902Call Montgomery Parks Customer Service: (301) 495-2595 The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred on Georgia Avenue in Aspen Hill Montgomery County Police- 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to Georgia Avenue at Aspen Hill Road for the report of a pedestrian struck This is an active and ongoing investigation A news release will be distributed once more information becomes available following proper notification of next of kin 32 Montgomery County residents are without a home this morning after an apartment fire in Aspen Hill around 80 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire on Pear Tree Court near Connecticut Avenue “Firefighters did make several rescues from the top floor The fire was on the third floor of this four-story residential apartment,” said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer A total of six people were rescued from the upper floors Two people were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation The fire likely started by a knock-off phone charger overheating Fire officials said the fire is now under control Below is a map of the area where the apartment fire took place: Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area 33 residents were displaced after an apartment fire in Aspen Hill on Thursday Several had to be rescued and two were hospitalized with smoke inhalation according to county Fire and Rescue Service Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer About 85 firefighters responded to 3502 Pear Tree Court The fire was accidental and started in a third-floor bedroom likely caused by a phone charger overheating A charred cell phone charger was found among debris on the bed and there were no other sources of ignition found The entire 16-unit building was posted as unsafe to occupy Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm Boston Market closed its last remaining Montgomery County location at 3825 Aspen Hill Rd in Northgate Plaza (Aspen Hill) in October. The chain closed its Gaithersburg location back in April 2023 and also closed its White Oak location in early 2020 JP Morgan Chase opened in the previous Boston market location just last month and now the replacement has signed on in Aspen Hill The bank must have liked how the Gaithersburg Boston Market to Chase Bank transition worked out (photos of recently opened Gaithersburg location below) as it has received a permit to convert the space into a bank and will begin construction soon Chase is doubling its original branch network commitment made in 2018 to 140 branches by 2025 throughout Washington D.C. JPMorgan Chase cut the ribbon to its newly renovated regional headquarters NW at the corner of McPherson Square in Washington D.C This acquisition “reinforced the firm’s commitment to Washington D.C and the Greater Washington region” as it is one of the only banks expanding its physical footprint in our area “This region – stretching from Richmond to Baltimore – is one of the largest economies in the country,” said Peter Scher JPMorgan Chase Vice Chairman and Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested 13 people in Aspen Hill and Silver Spring Monday but this action was not very different than what had happened previously Nine of those arrested were on a list of wanted suspected criminals Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer The other four arrested were at the same location and were interacting with the people ICE had targeted Stoddard explained during a briefing with the news media Wednesday Stoddard said he is in frequent contact with the head of ICE’s Baltimore office and is informed when arrests are planned in the county ICE has told Stoddard that they are only arresting “the worst of the worst” criminals if ICE officers are given quotas as to how many people they must arrest they may switch their tactics in the future “Obviously we are tracking this on a regular basis,” he said During Monday’s arrests, reporters from the Associated Press were invited on a ride along and produced this video ICE officials targeted four people wanted for child pornography are referred to as “collateral arrests,” according to an ICE official Stoddard said he was told that ICE officials would not be in Montgomery County on Wednesday “They have been very forthcoming,” he said we haven’t seen anything that would qualify as a raid,” County Executive Marc Elrich said They are arresting people who are on a list and “have not gone into apartments” seeking undocumented people “is much like what it was before,” Elrich said is the increase in concern and fear among county residents He insisted that Montgomery County remains a welcoming community to all residents Suzanne is a freelance reporter with Montgomery Community Media She has over 35 years professional experience writing for newspapers The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has shared a traffic advisory regarding a collision involving a pedestrian that has closed northbound Georgia Ave Per MCPD at 11:16pm: “TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A collision involving a pedestrian has northbound Georgia Avenue closed at Aspen Hill Road Drivers should expect delays and seek an alternate route.” We will provide an update if additional confirmed information is made available A grocery shopper won a $33,150 prize on a FAST PLAY lottery ticket purchased at Giant Food located in the Aspen Hill Shopping Center “Congratulations to the lucky Silver Spring grocery shopper who won a $33,150 prize on a FAST PLAY ticket bought last night A customer at a Giant grocery at 13781 Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery County bought the progressive jackpot-winning ticket on March 11 in the $2 7-11-21 game the grocery earns a Lottery bonus of $331.50 Lottery officials encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket immediately and put it in a safe location The player gets 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim the prize The 7-11-21 game has a progressive jackpot starting at $1,500 which grows with the sale of each ticket until a progressive jackpot-winning ticket is sold This ticket went on sale in April 2024 with 12 progressive jackpot-winning tickets; seven remain available.” Starbucks is now open in the Aspen Hill shopping center The new store has taken over the former home of shuttered women’s clothing store Dress Barn (13677 Connecticut Ave.) An adult male suspect was arrested after assaulting a truck driver with a box cutter and attempting to steal the truck outside the Aspen Hill Giant; the victim sustained minor injuries and escaped The victim sustained minor injuries but managed to escape the truck with the keys The suspect then entered the vehicle and attempted to put it in gear Officers quickly located the suspect nearby and took him into custody without further incident He was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and charged with multiple offenses.” Earlier today, at around 1:45 PM, 4th District Patrol officers responded to a reported assault at the Giant grocery store in Aspen Hill. An adult male suspect approached a victim seated in a large box truck parked in front of the store. The suspect… pic.twitter.com/hKVDBKZ5bn — 4DCommander (@4DCommander) December 20, 2024 Starbucks is coming soon to the Aspen Hill shopping center Permanent signage is up and construction is ongoing at 13677 Connecticut Ave the former home of shuttered women’s clothing store Dress Barn An opening date is not yet available for either of the three upcoming Starbucks locations Photo by @lexialexandriamarie on Instagram. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon and evening. Some may become severe with large hail and high winds. TRACK RADARVa man charged after high-speed Tesla crash that killed 77-year-old woman in Aspen Hillby Khalida Volou (7News) — A Virginia man is facing manslaughter charges after police say he crashed into another car while driving at a high speed in a Tesla Montgomery County police charged 36-year-old Vincent Anderson of Lynchburg with criminally negligent manslaughter and failure to control speed to avoid a collision driven by 77-year-old Maria Antonieta Perdomowas making a left turn from northbound Layhill Road to continue west of Bel Pre Road Anderson who was drivinga 2019 black Tesla Model Y,was driving at 77 mph on Layhill Road when he collided with the Subaru in the intersection RELATED | Woman dead, man injured after crash in Aspen Hill, Montgomery County Fire officials say Police told 7News the Tesla was not on autopilot Anderson was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries 27 and accepted a plea agreement on Friday (7News) — An investigation is underway after an altercation led to a shooting in Aspen Hill Officers said they responded to the 2200 block of Bel Pre Road around 10:55 a.m A preliminary investigation revealed two suspects had just gotten off a Ride-On bus when they got into a verbal altercation with two people in a car nearby READ MORE | Bank robbed in Old Town Alexandria, investigation underway one of the suspects fired shots at the victims No injuries were reported and no suspects are in custody The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to share a tip online HERE. The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has arrested a 26-year-old suspect for multiple thefts from autos after responding to a report in the Parkvale and Norbeck Roads area in Aspen Hill, recovering evidence, and determining he had broken into several vehicles. On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at approximately 10p.m., officers from the 4th District – Special Assignment Team responded to the area of Parkvale and Norbeck Roads for the report of a theft from auto that just occurred. After viewing home video surveillance, officers quickly located the suspect, later identified as Rodriguez Hernandez, of no fixed address. Rodriguez Hernandez was arrested and taken into custody without incident. Upon his arrest, multiple items of evidentiary value were recovered. Additionally, Rodriguez Hernandez stated he had broken into multiple cars, before his arrest Tuesday evening. Officers believe there may be additional victims who have had their vehicles broken into by Rodriguez Hernandez. Anyone who believes they may be a victim is urged to contact the 4th District at 240-773-5500.” TRACK RADARRoughly 30 displaced from Montgomery County apartment complex after accidental fireby Winston Rogers (7News) — Six people were rescued from a four-story Montgomery County apartment complex Thursday while crews battled a fire that displaced more than 33 residents and caused hundreds of thousands in damage according to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Officials said the accidental fire on the 3500 block of Pear Tree Court in Silver Spring started in an unoccupied third-floor apartment likely caused by a phone charger that overheated The entire 16-unit building was declared unsafe and officials had to use a ladder to rescue five adults Roughly 85 firefighters responded to the scene according to an MCFRS spokesperson at around 10 a.m Damages to the building were estimated to be at least $700,000; roughly $500,000 in structural damage and another roughly $200,000 in damaged items Two adults were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision involving a juvenile pedestrian near Argyle Middle School in Aspen Hill on Tuesday Montgomery County Police issued a traffic advisory stating: “TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A collision has Bel Pre Road shut down in the area of Argyle Middle School Drivers are encouraged to seek an alternate route Updates will be provided as more information becomes available — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 19, 2024 Maryland’s first Mega Millions millionaire of the year purchased the winning ticket in Aspen Hill, according to the Maryland Lottery Aspen Hills Citgo on Georgia Avenue sold the $1 million winning ticket that was drawn Tuesday Also in Maryland, $10,000 winning tickets drawn Tuesday were purchased at Talbert’s Ice & Beverage Service on River Road in Bethesda, and in Ocean City. Winners have 182 days from the drawing to claim their prizes. Maryland Lottery offers instructions on how to claim prizes on its website 1:43pm UPDATE: MCPD officers have checked the area The shelter in place at Georgian Forest Elementary has been lifted (7News) — Montgomery County police are working to identify a man involved in vandalism of an Aspen Hill property on Friday Officers said the incident happened in the 3800 block of Aspen Hill Road around 7:44 a.m READ MORE | Maryland man and his dog escape through roof of trapped elevator The man was captured on surveillance kicking and breaking the window of a business The suspect is described as a man wearing an orange Albert Einstein Titans t-shirt Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-411-8477 or share a tip online HERE. Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Emerson Escobar-Avila, a missing 13-year-old from Aspen Hill. Escobar-Avila was last seen on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m., in the area of Grenoble Dr. and Parkland Dr. in Aspen Hill. He is 5-feet, 3-inches tall, 120 lbs., brown eyes, and black hair. He was last seen on wearing a black jacket, green hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Emerson Escobar-Avila is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). We block international traffic. Please email if you would like to be allow listed TRACK RADARFireworks spark several incidents in Montgomery County causing property damage Montgomery County fire officials said fireworks were involved in several incidents resulting in property damage It's not clear how many incidents crews with the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS) responded to on July 4 but Pete Piringer, the chief spokesperson for MCFRS posted about multiple incidents on X One of the first incidents was reported early Thursday around 4 a.m Police said a fiery two-vehicle crash on Interstate 270 near Montrose Road left three people injured Multiple packages of fireworks were found near one of the burning vehicles crews responded to a fire in the 14400 block of Brad Drive in Aspen Hill Piriner said a single-family house was engulfed in flames caused by aerial fireworks causing over $500,000 in damages to the home including a car and the neighbor's shed One person was displaced and no injuries were reported near Claridge Road in Glenmont Forest for a reported house fire and thankfully no one was injured or displaced The cause was determined to be discarded fireworks There were numerous fireworks-related incidents in Montgomery County an Aspen Hill home sustained more than $500,000 in damage and displaced the homeowner according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer on Thursday in the 14400 block of Brad Drive Piringer said that investigators believe aerial fireworks landed on the roof of the carport and flames spread to the attic The smoke alarm activated for smoke in the house a neighbor called saying the roof of the house was on fire,” Piringer said “Fire investigators believe this was caused by some aerial fireworks that apparently landed around the house on the roof and burned on the roof.” Another fire occurred about an hour later on Medway Street near Claridge Road and Glenmont Forest Piringer said discarded fireworks were left against the side of a house “Some people had discharged some of these fireworks earlier in the day and they smoldered and erupted into flames later,” he said The fire was only on the exterior of the house and no one was hurt Early Thursday morning, multiple packages of fireworks were seized after two vehicles crashed on Interstate 270 near Montrose Road in Rockville. One of those vehicles collided with a wall and burst into flames. Piringer said the other vehicle involved had a fairly large quantity of fireworks that were strewn across the road Fire investigators confiscated thousands of dollars worth of fireworks during Independence Day They also responded to dumpster fires and brush fires Piringer said people typically continue setting off fireworks after July 4 and urges you to turn any unused fireworks in to avoid fires prohibited in Montgomery County for good reason.” Linh most recently worked at WJZ in Baltimore as a reporter and anchor from 2013-2023 and is now teaching at the University of Maryland Linh worked as a reporter and anchor at stations in Fort Myers The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has shared that 4th District officers are investigating a shooting in the 14000 block of Taos Court “A male was shot in the leg and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries The scene is secured.” Public safety reporter Cordell Pugh reports that 4th District Officers aided victim by applying a tourniquet prior to EMS arrival We will provide an update if additional verified information becomes available Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a vehicle collision into a building at 2223 Bel Pre Road (Bel Pre Barber Shop) in Aspen Hill at 8:30 p.m on Thursday According to MCFRS spokesperson David Pazos The scene was turned over to Montgomery County Police and property management — Pazos@mcfrsPIO (@DavidPazos15) March 14, 2025 Jersey Mike’s Subs will donate 100% of its sales—expected to exceed $25 million—to over 200 local charities as part of its 15th Annual Day of Giving the culmination of the Month of Giving campaign has helped Jersey Mike’s raise more than $113 million for charities since 2011 Jersey Mike’s has nine locations in Montgomery County proceeds from every single sale this Wednesday—including subs and catering orders—will go to local charities.” The first Jersey Mike’s location in Montgomery County opened in the Milestone Shopping Center back in 2010 Below is a list of all of Jersey Mike’s MoCo locations: The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is on the scene of a shooting in the 2200 block of Bel Pre Rd (Near the McDonald’s in Plaza Del Mercado) According to police “No injuries have been reported More information will be released as it becomes available.” 11:36am UPDATE: Officers have determined this is a non-contact shooting Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting (PEI) has proposed the development of a Roy Rogers drive-thru restaurant to be located at 8645 Zetts Avenue (Zetts Ave The property is a 17,287SF lot located at the corner of Zetts Avenue and Shady Grove Road The site was previously developed with eight townhome style office/retail buildings with surface parking All the prior improvements were demolished in 2018 due to deteriorating and unsafe conditions The site is currently vacant and unimproved (photo below) Roy Rogers Restaurants was started in 1968 and has been in the region for over 55 years The chain was owned by Marriott until 1990 Dozens of restaurants existed in Montgomery County in the 1970’s and 1980’s but the number of restaurants in Montgomery County and the region declined in the early 1990s after it was purchased by Hardees Restaurants PEI bought the trade name and franchise rights to the Roy Rogers chain in 2002 from Hardees and has been working to bring the well-recognized brand back to the area with five currently operating in Montgomery County (Burtonsville PEI proposes to construct a 2,478 square foot building on the site along with a drive- thru lane and 16 parking spaces The design of the restaurant promotes the pedestrian and bicycle friendly requirements of the Shady Grove Sector Plan The plan shows a 6-foot-wide sidewalk separated from Zetts Avenue by a 6-foot street buffer along with a 3-foot screening fence/wall between the sidewalk and the drive-thru aisle 2-foot pedestrian/bike buffer and 10-foot sidewalk that describes itself has having “a commitment to giving back to community such as schools and non-profits.” The Roy Rogers restaurant provides a “broad menu of prepared-to order quick service food including hamburgers Breakfast items are also served during the morning hours The “Choose any Side” option includes french fries The signature Fixin’s Bar enables guests to dress their sandwich the way they like it without the need for a special order The modern Western decor of the restaurant is just right for family and casual dining Roy Rogers promotes signature items like the Double R Bar Burger the Gold Rush chicken sandwich and Roy’s Real Roast Beef sandwich at everyday value pricing.” Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Several people were rescued after a fire broke out inside a Montgomery County apartment building on Thursday morning The scene of the fire on Pear Tree Court in Montgomery County First responders were called at around 9:45 a.m 31 to the 3500 block of Pear Tree Court in Silver Spring where there was a reported fire in the third floor of a four-story building a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said upwards of 80 firefighters were met by "heavy smoke" showing from the upper floors and they were advised there were people still inside on the top floor required assistance and were rescued by ladders and an area tower while all other residents were all accounted for The cause of the fire is now under investigation Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group Spirit Halloween has opened its second Montgomery County location at 13822 Georgia Avenue in the space that was previously home to Tuesday Morning New at Spirit last year was a buy online/pickup in-store option, as well as delivery through DoorDash. During the Halloween season, Spirit operates over 1,400 stores in North America. The Spirit Halloween website is open year-round The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to the 14200 block of Pear Tree Lane in Aspen Hill at approximately 5:47 p.m on Saturday for a report of a “non-contact” shooting a victim was not shot but sustained minor injuries from broken glass at the scene and no suspects are in custody at this time The investigation remains active and ongoing We will provide updates as more information becomes available MyDrone.Pro (@MyDronePro) February 15, 2025 Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a two-alarm fire in the 3500 block of Pear Tree Ct in Aspen Hill around 9:45am on Thursday According to Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer approximately 85 firefighters responded to the scene where six people—five adults and one juvenile—were rescued via ladder and aerial tower Two adults were transported with non-life-threatening smoke inhalation injuries The entire 16-unit building was deemed unsafe to occupy The fire originated on the third floor of the non-sprinklered building and was caused by an overheated cell phone charger including $500,000 for the structure and $200,000 for contents Functional smoke alarms and a local pull alarm helped alert residents to the fire 5p More…Pear Tree Ct; 2-Alarm; 85 FFs on scene; @mcfrs rescued 6 people (5 adults,1 juvenile), plus 2 cats, via ladder/aerial tower; 2 adults transported w/smoke inhalation, both NLTI; entire 16-unit bldg posted ’Unsafe to Occupy’ 33 residents displaced (30 adults/3 kids & pets) pic.twitter.com/kzO2o3Yjdh — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 31, 2024 Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Allison Coaquira Huarcaya in the 3900 block of Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Allison Coaquira Huarcaya is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) — Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 25, 2024 Montgomery County Police issued a traffic alert at 5:53pm stating that Bel Pre Road is shut down at Arctic Avenue in Aspen Hill “Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route Expect delays.” A witness has noted that a driver crashed into a fire hydrant in the area leading to the street flooding According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief spokesperson Pete Piringer The driver struck the fire hydrant and it was sheared off The road was as damaged and some lanes were blocked The driver was transported to the hospital A post shared by The MoCoShow (MCS) (@themocoshow) The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has released surveillance footage of a suspect wanted in connection to a vandalism incident that occurred on Friday at approximately 7:44am in the 3800 block of Aspen Hill Road wearing an orange Albert Einstein Titans t-shirt The unknown male suspect is wanted for vandalism of property He was seen on video kicking and breaking the window of a business Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000 It has been nearly 10 years since Walmart officially abandoned its plans to open a store in Aspen Hill The retail giant was intending to build a 118,000-square-foot store with expanded grocery offerings on the site of the vacant BAE/Vitro office building at 4115 Aspen Hill Road  The nearly 10-acre Aspen Hill property included a 262,000-square-foot office building that was vacant since 2010 In 2019 it was purchased by Kaiser for a future Medical Center that was originally planned to open in 2022 and we are still awaiting the next move by Kaiser Walmart spokesman William Wertz said “I can confirm that Walmart has decided not to move forward with the Aspen Hill project.” “We will continue to look for new opportunities to serve customers in the area with our recent store expansion and renovation in Germantown we can effectively serve Montgomery County residents from these locations Our decision was based purely on business considerations and uncertainty about the length of Montgomery County’s zoning process.” president of Silver Spring-based Lee Development Group said “They hung in there for a couple of years but we are still looking at several more years to get all approvals for rezoning No retailer wants to get involved in a long schedule and Montgomery County approval times take a long time especially when you throw in rezoning.” Lee added “We need to improve the processes and find ways to shorten time frames so we can encourage businesses to come to Montgomery County.” Lee’s family owned the land for decades since it was farmland prior to the construction of the office buildings for vitro in 1968 The site at Aspen Hill Road and Connecticut Avenue was zoned for office use and was undergoing the county’s minor master plan amendment process to rezone the property for retail use The amendment process it was going through was the county’s fast track method to rezone properties out of sequence from the master plan amendment process and Lee said the rezoning was expected to be completed by mid-2015 but other planning approvals for the site could take an additional three years “That’s too long a wait for Walmart,” Lee added Lee Development Group was paying about $500,000 a year in taxes amounting to $2.5 million in expenditures while the property sat vacant Around the same time the property across the street “We are confident that this is a great retail location ultimately offering much-needed shopping options to the underserved Aspen Hill community,” Lee said “Once the property is zoned appropriately for retail use we expect strong interest from retailers looking to come to Aspen Hill.” Kaiser announced that it “purchased 10.4 acres of land at 13900 Connecticut Avenue in the Aspen Hill Area of Montgomery County We plan to build a new medical center that will open in 2022.” Montgomery Planning staff recommended approval for the plan that requested “to construct a 180,000 square-foot medical facility built over two phases; phase 1 to consist of 130,000 square feet of development and 63,144 square feet of open space; phase 2 to consist of 180,000 square feet of development and reduces the open space to 44,148 square feet.” The pandemic stalled plans and now it seems that the future of the property is uncertain while the county awaits Kaiser’s move Information in this article was attained from The Washington Post, Biz Journals, MyMCMedia, The Gazette, and Montgomery Planning Montgomery County residents carried signs and protested at Leisure World An estimated 200 Democrats at Leisure World carried signs against Elon Musk Tesla (Musk is the CEO) and for the “rule of law.” 200 Leisure World Democrats didn’t seem to care about the cold weather to show their support for democracy today. pic.twitter.com/ZdeQr6EScv — Scott Goldberg | Be Kind (@GoldberginMD) February 17, 2025 Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González joined a protest in Aspen Hill We will continue organizing to use all the tools our Constitution provides to defend our rights and achieve a democracy that works for all people. pic.twitter.com/nN80e5Xiky — Natali Fani-González (@NataliFGonzalez) February 17, 2025 Senator Chris Van Hollen was part of “a nationwide effort to defend our democracy against the illegal actions of autocrats and kleptocrats like [President Donald] Trump and Musk.” On this #PresidentsDay I joined hundreds of patriots in Annapolis as part of a nationwide effort to defend our democracy against the illegal actions of autocrats and kleptocrats like Trump and Musk We can’t let them cut vital public services for Americans to pay for tax cuts… pic.twitter.com/jZ0yX4SOAf — Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) February 17, 2025 Spirit Halloween opened its first Montgomery county location at 30 Grand Corner Ave in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront in August this year A second planned location is coming to Rockville and Spirit has just added a third Montgomery County location in Aspen Hill Spirit Halloween once again opened in the former Pier 1 Imports location in Rio in early August and has been stocking its Rockville store at 1519 Rockville Pike in the space that was previously home to Bed Bath & Beyond Spirit has since announced a third Montgomery County location at 13822 Georgia Avenue in the former Tuesday Morning location in Aspen Hill The Rockville and Aspen Hill locations are expected to open in early September Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Riley Miller at his family member’s residence on Arbutus Avenue in Aspen Hill He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and athletic pants with a stripe down the sides Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Riley Miller is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line)