The “Welcome to North Potomac” sign located on Muddy Branch Road just a few hundred feet before the street transitions to Dufief Mill Road has been replaced after suffering irreparable damage from years of exposure to the elements The updated sign bears a resemblance to its predecessor but is constructed primarily from PVC a choice aimed at reducing future maintenance needs The NPCA emphasizes that the sign serves as a welcoming symbol for both visitors and residents A new park extension will be officially opening next weekend in the Potomac Yard neighborhood Mayor Justin Wilson and members of the City Council are set to attend an opening of North Potomac Yard Park (3601 University Drive) on Saturday The new park is a 4.5 acre extension of the Potomac Yard Park and will extend the Potomac Yard trail though commentors noted this trail does stop just short of the bridge and does not connect to the Four Mile Run trail The ribbon cutting will be on the north lawn near the playground and will be held rain or shine A release noted that there is limited parking on University Drive and additional parking in the JBG parking lot at 2900 Potomac Avenue but the site’s also only a couple blocks north of the Potomac Yard Metro station Please email if you would like to be allow listed Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland set a trial date for 37-year old homicide defendant Joseph Henry Morton, III on Jan The proceeding will start on May 6 before Judge Jeannie J. Hong and is expected to last four days According to the Baltimore Police Department, Morton allegedly shot 32-year-old Reginald Coffey in the 600 block of North Potomac Street on July 24 Morton is charged with second-degree murder and having a loaded handgun on his person.  The defendant will be represented by defense attorney Brandon Thornton.  © Copyright 2025 Baltimore Witness Powered by Team MindShift First Alert Weather Team will be on STORM ALERT with the risk for scattered storms across the region. Some of the storms may be severe. Check the radarSend us your photosCasa Blanca boutique decks the halls with Christmas trees and holiday cheerby 7News Staff (7News) — Myron Wolman is an interior designer and party planner with over 20 years of experience in the DMV area Last year he transformed his home into an upscale Christmas market/boutique called Casa Blanca Thousands have visited (by invitation and appointment) since it opened on Nov 1 There are 14 different trees with 14 different themes in the North Potomac An item can go from a few dollars to several thousand COVID-19 Updates Vaccine and Booster Information View All Media Advisories View All Speeches & Testimony Sign up for a newsletter or update your subscription preferences The historic YMCA building in downtown Hagerstown will be auctioned in January The approximately 100,000-square-foot structure the Neo-Georgian-style building reflects classical 19th-century architecture donated his time and designs for the project according to the Maryland Historical Trust the former YMCA is near several key landmarks including the newly constructed $90 million Meritus Park and the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts The building is not far from the Public Square making it a prime location for potential redevelopment The City of Hagerstown is updating its Downtown Plan Various development projects have been done downtown or are underway The Hagerstown YMCA moved from North Potomac Street to Eastern Boulevard North in 2001 the YMCA building is set to attract interest from potential buyers Hurley Real Estate & Auctions of Greencastle Property showings will take place on Wednesdays According to a news release, sealed bids for the property will be accepted until 1 p.m. on Jan. 22. Interested bidders can find more information and a bidders package at www.hurleyauctions.com or by calling Hurley’s at 717-597-9100 The auction presents an opportunity for developers and investors to acquire a significant piece of Hagerstown’s history while contributing to the ongoing revitalization of the downtown area This event marks a new chapter for the historic building This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/ Hub City Brewery opens in former Hagerstown Farmers Market space scores of locals and tourists alike laced up their sneakers strapped on their cameras and braved commuter traffic to wind their way toward the blossoms a man-made reservoir bordered by the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial they frame the duck-filled waters and nearby monuments in a fluffy canopy of pink The National Park Service (NPS) defines peak bloom as the period when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open The city eagerly anticipates — and celebrates — the season with a monthlong National Cherry Blossom Festival and local businesses and even public transit roll out their best blossom deals and decor But even on this Wednesday morning — with temperatures in the high 40s and predicted peak bloom still two days away — the Tidal Basin was full of both blossoms and visitors The scene was a mix of special occasions and everyday moments: people in dresses posing for photoshoots it's just such a pleasure to be out and see them," said D.C resident Martin Mühleisen as he paused on a walk with his poodle was excited to show the scene to her husband and 5-month-old daughter — tucked into a pink-flowered blanket in her stroller — for the first time area and has fond memories of cherry blossom season "It's amazing because I used to come here with my dad; we used to bike around the whole monuments It was a really good experience," she said enjoying the blossoms is an annual tradition That's the case for Hannah Moore and Lawrence MacDonald took their coffee to-go and brought tangerines and hard-boiled eggs to enjoy on a bench near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial "The trees are just gorgeous … and remind us why we love this city," Moore said "I think that we feel in D.C. that we're sort of in the heart of much of what the National Park Service has to manage," Moore said, adding she was pleased to see the project has continued despite the Trump administration's cuts to federal agencies "We can see where Stumpy was … and the new wall is being rebuilt and we're pretty excited that maybe next year we'll be able to walk all the way around [the repaired Tidal Basin path]." there's still plenty of space for people to walk around and snap photos whether that means pulling over in front of a low-hanging branch for a quick selfie or setting up shop for a full-blown photoshoot including a student donning her cap and gown for an early graduation photo session "I thought it might be really meaningful to take it with the [Washington] monument and everything and the view is perfect," said Johns Hopkins University graduate student Renfei Liu a girl wearing a crown and a sparkling pink dress arranged her voluminous skirt around her as she sat on a row of steps posing for a camera as her family members — also dressed to the nines — stood nearby explained to NPR that they were taking photos to be displayed at her quinceañera in May There will be cherry blossom décor at the party But the teenager said that only after she fell in love with the dress did she realize it perfectly matched the cherry blossoms It made for a convenient — and breathtaking — backdrop "It kind of was a very big confidence boost because instead of people more so looking and judging I felt a sort of appreciation towards the culture from a lot of people," Cardenas said Cherry blossoms are also a big draw for visitors, with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating that some 1.5 million people come to D.C described seeing the trees as a bucket list item She decided to check it off her list this year while her son is in graduate school in Virginia just walking around and everybody's taking photos and just enjoying nature." the Tidal Basin was teeming with large groups of students many wearing bright matching T-shirts and oversized lanyards consisting of kids in 8th to 11th grade — and their adult chaperones — who belong to chapters of 4-H They spent 16 months preparing for this trip including doing presentations and meeting with local lawmakers the county youth coordinator in Fayette County She's led their D.C. trips for about a decade and says, "Every time we come, it's a little bit different." This year, she's been worried about encountering protesters on the National Mall and was relieved to have avoided a demonstration by postal workers by a few hours the day before The Tidal Basin is pretty close to the White House and the Capitol building pink-flowered branches and calm water can feel far removed from the chaos of the political news cycle "Things come and go; cherry blossoms stay," says Mühleisen The Potomac Horse Center (PHC) closed permanently in July, after 31 years leasing the location from Montgomery Parks (14211 Quince Orchard Rd in North Potomac). In a statement in May notified Montgomery Parks of its intent to end its lease Montgomery Parks is preparing the site for the future which will include the demolition of buildings on site that are beyond repair In a statement made to Moderately MoCo Montgomery Parks is preparing the Potomac Horse Center site for the winter by removing the interior fencing We are planning to demolish the buildings on site that are beyond repair – probably in spring 2025 The property remains open to the public (except for the buildings) with parking available for access to the Muddy Branch Greenway Trail but we will be looking at what kind of park use would be best for that property in the future Montgomery Parks previously stated that PHC has been contractually responsible for all maintenance and capital improvements at the facility structural assessments performed by an outside expert in the fall of 2023 showed major life safety and structural concerns on site Per the Montgomery Parks statement in May Montgomery Parks requested that PHC develop a plan to fund the necessary repairs and maintain a viable equestrian operation PHC instead notified Montgomery Parks of its intent to cease operations and vacate the property A new section of park in Potomac Yard is nearly ready for its public debut A new memo (page 8) to the Parks and Recreation Commission said the North Potomac Yard extension of Potomac Yard Park is almost ready to be opened to the public The park is a 4.5-acre extension of the currently constructed Potomac Yard Park with a mix of active but the big selling point is connecting the Potomac Yard Trail to Four Mile Run “The main element of the park is the Potomac Yard Trail shared-use path that links Four Mile Run to the existing trail south to Braddock Road,” the memo said The memo said the park will be completed this summer A communications manager for the City of Alexandria said the plan is to have a soft opening later this month for the park with a formal dedication ceremony in September “As final touches and punch list items are completed this summer offering green spaces for families and students and nature enthusiasts,” the memo said ISI Elite Training founder Adam Rice opened his first facility in Myrtle Beach Adam selected the name ISI Elite Training based on Proverbs 27:17: “Iron Sharpens Iron as one person sharpens another.” Now the training facility has signed on to open its first Montgomery County location in the Traville Village Center in Rockville ISI Elite Training will be taking over the space that was previously home to Shimmer Salon & Spa at 9734 Traville Gateway With more than 40 locations open across 13 states ISI Elite Training is projecting 100 total open locations in 20 states with 225 total awarded locations by the end of the year An opening timeframe is not yet available for the location which has been a longtime tenant at Travilah Square (Rockville) will be moving from its current location at 10046 Darnestown Rd to 10028 Darnestown Rd within the same shopping center (photos below) The new store is taking over the space that was previously home to Title Boxing before the boxing gym moved around the corner to the Traville Village shopping center Travilah Beer & Wine will add a bar that will allow patrons to enjoy beverages in the store The move is expected to take place by the end of the month with a grand opening celebration to follow According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer the fire was located on the second floor of a single-family house We will provide updates as more information becomes available Earlier on Monday, MCFRS responded to a house fire in Germantown, which resulted in the displacement of two families. 345p 15400k Peachleaf Dr off Ouince Quince Rd, Quince Orchard, single-family house, fire on second floor, @mcfrs PE732, E703B, E728, PE720, PAT703, AT740, RS703, A703, BC704, BC702, RS741, PT710, M703 & others on scene pic.twitter.com/dWX0TXxraV — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 20, 2024 is normally a spot where smiling children climb its rope ladders and cheer as they glide down its many slides It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” said resident Gillian Bussey Bussey made the comments while looking over the charred remains of the playground at Greenbriar Local Park which was one of her 7-year-old son George’s favorite spots to play “I’m sorry for the playground and all the children,” George said in a somber tone Maryland National Capital Park Police said at around 9:55 p.m Firefighters were able to put it out and quickly determined what happened wasn’t an accident “We just can’t believe someone would come into a community to a park like this that’s designed to allow people to come and enjoy themselves and just take it upon themselves to destroy it so viciously as they have done to this play equipment,” said Lt Charles Smith with Maryland National Capital Park Police Smith said they are working with fire investigators to work to bring those responsible to justice He said the responsible suspects could face felony charges which could also come with time behind bars told WTOP his grandson has been asking him why someone would do something like this people don’t recognize how good it is,” Darroodi said they have to do something drastic to make [themselves] feel better.” said this event is damaging to the community “When you see a symbol of the neighborhood affected in this way in a way that feels very out of step with how we feel about the community here,” Solomon said said the playground was a popular attraction in the community and losing it is “devastating.” her young daughter Kelsey didn’t mince words with her message to them: “I hate you!” Officials said the fire caused $1 million in damage to the playground Anyone with information on what happened should contact the Montgomery County Fire Department Fire and Explosives Investigations Office at 240-777-2269 or by email at larry.seipp@montgomerycountymd.gov WTOP’s Steve Dresner contributed to this report 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 Mike Murillo is a reporter and anchor at WTOP What's Hot: 262-Unit Development With 'Main Street' Retail Pitched For Columbia Pike by Nena Perry-Brown ✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here Ten years after the redevelopment of Potomac Yard got its first nudge forward concept plans for the 19-acre North Potomac Yard parcel are barreling toward approval Since the plans for North Potomac Yard were revealed this spring the development team has amended the site plan application to propose names for the five new streets that will cut through the development and increase the height of the buildings closest to the future Potomac Yard Metro station.  which will have roughly 212 residential units above retail the proposed height increased from 85 feet to 95 feet tall The building would remain seven stories and would have a second-floor amenity terrace and ground-floor residential units with private entrances The height of Building 18 (office) was also changed from 90 feet tall to 115 feet tall Building 19 would be at the northeast corner of the intersection of Evans Lane and Potomac Avenue and would deliver roughly 262 units across seven stories There would be amenity terraces between each of the buildings three fingers The ground floor of this building would also have retail and residential units with private entrances. The residential buildings are designed by hord | coplan | macht The first phase will also have roughly 806,150 of office square footage across four buildings up to 91,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space nearly two acres of public plaza and green spaces and 1,879 below-grade parking spaces in a shared garage spanning the development. Elkus Manfredi Architects is the master planner and JBG Smith is leading the development The Planning Commission also recommended approval of an Environmental Sustainability Master Plan intended to enable the development to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 including making the buildings solar-ready (solar panels are not currently in the plans) This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/alexandria-planning-commission-recommends-concept-approval-for-north-potoma/17392 Questions about real estate in DC, VA or MD? Email us UrbanTurf Listings showcases the DC metro area's best properties available for sale The huge DC news of the week is that the Washington Commanders are going to build a n... read » Plans to redevelop a strip mall along the thoroughfare are back in the works after a ... read » Today, UrbanTurf checks in on the status of the development pipeline over in Congress... read » The new 230-room citizenM hotel is expected to open at the beginning of 2026.... read » Dubbed the Stratford House, the property had not been listed for sale in decades prio... read » Virginia's homebuyer assistance programs can seem complex. This edition of First-Time... read » In April, UrbanTurf looked at programs in the District that help homebuyers defray ... read » In this article, UrbanTurf looks at the estimated annual maintenance costs associated... read » In this article, UrbanTurf will explain what special assessments are, how they work, ... read » The center for the Washington Capitals is listing the 16,000 square-foot home for jus... read » With this weekend's DC houseboat tour a day away, UrbanTurf thought it only fitting t... read » President Obama travels to Denver this morning to sign the stimulus bill that has bee... read » In this week's installment of Ask An Agent, a reader wonders if there is a rule for h... read » As The Wharf prepares to begin construction, DC's houseboat community heads to its ne... read » In this week's installment of Ask An Agent, a reader asks a fairly common question th... read » Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market We've collected all our helpful guides for buying selling and renting in and around Washington Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro Updated to include letter by Potomac Horse Center The Potomac Horse Center at 14211 Quince Orchard Rd in North Potomac has announced it will close on July 22 The horseback riding center made the announcement Wednesday morning on its social media accounts: “With a heavy heart the Potomac Horse Center (PHC) is announcing its closure on Monday Lessons will continue uninterrupted through June 16th which is the last day of our Late Spring session Click the link in our bio for more details about the future of the Potomac Horse Center Foundation.” The Potomac Horse Center shared the following letter with the community: “Dear Potomac Horse Center Community It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the permanent closing of Potomac Horse Center (PHC) PHC is planning for lessons to continue uninterrupted through June 16th Should PHC need to adjust this timeline we will let you know PHC has tried to renegotiate its 1993 lease with the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) The tipping point in the negotiations was M-NCPPC’s insistence that the renewal of the lease was contingent on PHC raising three to five million dollars to improve M-NCPPC’s infrastructure with no assurances that PHC would be permitted to remain on the property PHC simply cannot ask our clients to pay for and invest in a rapidly deteriorating infrastructure that PHC does not own The terms of our 1993 lease are unsustainable under current economic conditions PHC pays M-NCPPC monthly base rent for use of the facilities plus a percentage of PHC’s net and gross incomes repairs and maintenance of M-NCPPC’s property The income from our lesson program also has to go to veterinary care It has become nonviable for our programs to cover the increasingly higher and higher costs of the rapidly aging infrastructure let alone allow PHC to build up the three to five million dollars required by M-NCPPC to proceed with negotiations prospective buyers can come to try the horses and see everything we have for sale The horses and equipment needed for daily use will remain on the property through June 16th individuals may immediately purchase all other assets including surplus tack and farm equipment PHC will accept cash or certified funds only PHC will not accept personal checks or be able to arrange payment plans The Potomac Horse Center main number will not be fielding sales calls or making appointments A post shared by Mr. MoCo • Alex Tsironis (@mrmoco301) Nwosu's first-grade class at Travilah Elementary School in North Potomac And while we're on the subject this week's "Reading with Robert" book was written by one of the greatest athletes ever It's called "I Promise." It's also the name's sake of the school he founded in his hometown of Akron The book was full of promises kids can make to become the best version of themselves It's jam-packed with pictures illustrating kids working hard in different sports as they all strive for greatness whether it's tennis The most important message of the book...never give up If you're interested in the book, click here for more If you'd like Robert to come to your school, you can suggest schools and locations in the form here The redevelopment of North Potomac Yard in Alexandria gathered more steam last week and residents in Crystal City are keeping an eye on its potential impacts North Potomac Yard is in the northeast corner of Alexandria It is currently occupied by a Regal movie theater a Target and other big box stores and restaurants The City of Alexandria is in the planning process for a massive mixed-use development at the 69-acre site On February 22, city staff released the first draft three chapters of the updated plan then the following day met with the Crystal City Civic Association at its general meeting Association president Christer Ahl told ARLnow.com that his members are most concerned that Crystal City will be left behind as nearby developments spring up in Arlington and Alexandria “Perhaps the larger issue which the project raises is whether it could contribute to the notion of Crystal City becoming a ‘backwater,’ stuck with many old buildings which at best might be renovated while the Rosslyn/Ballston corridor and Potomac Yard in two very different ways will be full of exciting new development,” he said “Of course, this depends a lot on the attitude and priorities of the county, JBG/Smith and other developers together with the near-term market situation.” Ahl added that many in the area are also concerned with the impact on traffic along Crystal Drive and Route 1 from the new development which could total as much as 7.5 million square feet The Alexandria City Council voted to approve the new Metro station in May 2015 to be located on the Yellow and Blue lines between the Braddock Road and National Airport stops While the new Metro station and the Metroway bus rapid transit route along Route 1 could take care of a lot of traffic impact there were still concerns about the number of cars to hit the roads with the new development “If we assume that the new development goes hand-in-hand with the new Metro station that should take care of a lot of the concerns,” Ahl said “Alexandria very strongly focuses on being as pedestrian Route 1 or Potomac Avenue leading into Crystal City I guess the proof in the pudding is hard to predict.” One other aspect that Ahl said troubled some association members is the potential loss of amenities like the movie theater and Target But he said members will continue to monitor the situation and see how it evolves “Depending on their own inclinations and their own preferences we’re speculating on whether it will be positive or negative in some sense Some people would hate to see losing some of their existing favorite places although they emphasized in our meeting that Target has a lease in place until 2028 so that might be the last thing that happens down there.” According to a timeline an advisory group tasked with updating the North Potomac Yard plan will present its final recommendations in April Alexandria has released conceptual drawings of what the proposed buildings might look like in the North Potomac Yard development As envisioned by architect Hickok Cole the first phase of the $1 billion campus will see construction of three academic buildings dedicated to computer science research and development programs The permanent campus is currently planned to be operational by fall 2024 and will accommodate 750 computer science master’s degree students per year and more than 100 doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows Virginia Tech will take up four acres of the northern end near the Alexandria border with Arlington The drawings were released on the city’s website prior to Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee meetings on March 4 and on March 11 The city will undergo the approval process for the project’s Development Special Use Permits this fall A city staff report broke down plans for the following North Potomac Yard buildings: In the heart of North Potomac, Craftmark Homes presents Potomac Chase – a boutique collection of seven gorgeous estate homes each promising a unique blend of luxury and serenity and offers discerning buyers a chance to own a piece of one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the area “The location is really the best of all worlds,” says sales manager Eric Yakuchev. Positioned minutes from River Road, Potomac Chase provides effortless access to both Washington D.C making it the perfect retreat for commuters “It puts everything you need right at your doorstep.” Residents will enjoy proximity to Downtown Crown Fallsgrove Village Center  & Quince Orchard Shopping Center Great Falls Park & Great Seneca Park – and a host of other MoCo conveniences “Craftmark has tailored each home with exquisite designer finishes setting the stage for your personality to shine through,” Eric says Craftmark Homes, renowned for their craftsmanship and quality, brings their expertise to Potomac Chase ensuring that each home meets their high standards and the expectations of future homeowners This commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of the community from the thoughtful planning of each homesite to the detailed design and construction of every home “When you hear ‘Craftmark Homes,’ you think reliability and top-notch quality They’ve created a name that people trust because they’re all about building something special,” Eric adds Don’t miss the opportunity to call this spectacular community home passed away peacefully after a long battle with Multiple System Atrophy Tammy Elliott.  He was predeceased by his parents Helen Cravis and Stanley Stearns.  Eric was a loving husband Known for his 1000-watt smile and quick wit Eric squeezed every ounce of joy from his shortened life and the most likely to laugh aloud during a movie He possessed a keen intellect and a deep understanding of people Eric attended UMass and spent the early part of his career in the ice cream and frozen foods industry.  After meeting Allison Eric relocated to Maryland where he married completed his MBA at the University of Maryland worked in business development for the advertising and IT staffing industries both of which fed his love of travel and adventure.  When not watching his beloved New England Patriots But nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday followed by interment at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park at 14321 Comus Road The family will be receiving visitors immediately following interment and throughout the evening at The Lakelands Community Clubhouse MSA Coalition at www.multiplesystematrophy.org Here's the link to watch the funeral service via livestream: https://bethami.org/services-and-holidays/livestream/ If you would like the adventure of an entirely different trout fishing experience similar to that of the western states, look no further than the North Branch Potomac River Spring Creek Outfitters guide; by Harold Harsh The Jennings Randolph Lake Dam in Garrett County supplies an abundant coldwater flow to the North Branch Potomac River to support a large river trout fishing opportunity While you can wade in summer months or fish from the bank a float-fishing trip in a raft or kayak is a unique way to experience all that this rolling river offers several fishing guide services are available to float anglers down the river and help you catch the trout of a lifetime The adventure begins at the catch-and-return area downstream of Jennings Randolph Lake. Its cold, gin-clear water supports populations of wild brown, rainbow and brook trout. Stocked by the state’s Fisheries Service you will not see a house or passing car—only the steep green mountain ridges on both sides of the river Guide Harold Harsh of Spring Creek Outfitters has float-fished this river for nearly 25 years “The best fishing starts in June and runs through to the end of November Boulder-strewn rapids and small waterfalls occur throughout so it is advised that an experienced guide take you down the river for the first time Guides offer both half-day and full-day float wading trips Let any of the outfitters below teach you how to navigate and locate the best trout holding locations The river changes character as you enter Allegany County near the town of Westernport the river now supports a great fishery in this area as many federal private and non-profit organizations have worked together to improve water quality during the past three decades Rick Morgan (front) and his son Bryan with rainbow trout; by Harold Harsh As a result, the river has become very productive and capable of producing some true trophy rainbow and brown trout. The river is managed by stocking fingerling trout that grow exceptionally well due to the abundant food supply of aquatic invertebrates and forage fish Access areas with boat ramps sit in both Westernport and the McCoole Fishery Management Area Maryland native and avid angler Neil Jacobs who pursues trout from the Arctic Circle to South America particularly enjoys fishing this section of the river “I fish the North Branch every opportunity I get,” he says and provides trophy fish opportunities right here in my home state.” Continuing another five miles downstream to the Gary A Yoder Fishery Management Area at Black Oak provides another good day of floating Jim Nashed enjoys this section of the river best but few trips compare to a day I had on the North Branch of the Potomac River,” he says “I found success with every possible technique—from dry flies to nymphs to swinging streamers It’s almost difficult not to have great success here.” He boasts of the number It truly is a one-of-a-kind fishing experience right here in Maryland. Your adventure awaits!Full of life, the fishery is a testament to solid management of water flows and fingerling stockings “These efforts are paying off,” Nashed adds “Continued efforts should keep the vitality of the river going for years With a fishery this amazing so close to home I hardly see a reason to venture to the western states very often.” Maryland.gov This and next month, the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review and the Planning Commission will receive half a dozen plans for the 1.9 million square-foot mixed use North Potomac Yard development “This application… represents the culmination of an extensive planning process for North Potomac Yard,” according to a master plan amendment filed with the Planning Commission to increase building heights near the proposed Potomac Yard Metro Station Buildings in Block 15 would increase in height from 85 feet to 90 feet and increase from 90 feet to 115 feet on Block 18 — both of which are near the developing Potomac Yard Metro Station The massive development includes construction of three academic buildings dedicated to computer science research and development programs for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus which the city is considering as an “integrated whole” instead of multiple standalone projects The plans will need to be approved for the development to meet its timeline The Virginia Tech campus is currently planned to be operational by fall 2024 Tomorrow, the BAR will consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for a pump station to handle sanitary sewer flows with Virginia Tech’s Sewer to Wastewater Energy Exchange (SWEE) system. The system will be transferred to the management of AlexRenew Enterprises once constructed is completed The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for October 6 and the plans will go to City Council this fall for approval The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved plans for the first phase of the massive North Potomac Yard redevelopment on Saturday Those plans include three academic buildings with significant open space dedicated to computer science research and development programs for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus open space and a mix of six residential and office buildings “This is a very significant set of decisions for the city but really the entirety of our city for a long period of time to come,” said Mayor Justin Wilson Saturday’s approval was necessary for Virginia Tech to meet its timeline of being operational at Potomac Yard by fall 2024 The first phase of the $1 billion campus will see construction of three academic buildings dedicated to computer science research and development programs at Alexandria’s border with Arlington The permanent campus will take up four acres and will accommodate 750 computer science master’s degree students per year and more than 100 doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows the city made a commitment to do what he can do to get that campus and academic building open by the fall of 2024,” said land use attorney Cathy Puskar “And despite a pandemic and other interruptions and we’re really excited to be here today.” The master plan amendment includes increasing building heights near the proposed Potomac Yard Metro station Council is expected to approve the design of a pump station in the northern section of the property this winter The property reserved for the pump station will be a temporary home for outdoor parking lots until the underground lots for the buildings under construction are ready The Innovation Campus has made its home at 3625 Potomac Ave on 3.5 acres in the 19-acre first phase of a new mixed-use development and innovation district in North Potomac Yard near the Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station positions Virginia Tech and its future partners near the nation’s capital Academic Building One provides instruction and support spaces for graduate-level programs in computer science and computer engineering as well as select other programs - including the Pamplin College of Business Experiential learning environments within this building are designed to enhance the Virginia Tech experience including flexible multi-purpose areas Campus plans call for Virginia Tech to build two additional buildings Get Directions   See All Locations   Contact Virginia Tech   © 2025 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Search MORE RESULTS Home > News > Maryland's Potomac Horse Center to close A beloved riding school in North Potomac/Gaithersburg that has helped educate numerous equestrians—including some world-class competitors—will be closing its doors this summer In an April 30 announcement, Potomac Horse Center‘s Nancy Novograd cited a failure to reach an acceptable lease agreement with the facility’s owner, the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) July 22 will be the school’s final day at the 60-acre Quince Orchard Road facility although there is some hint that a search might be underway for a new location Founded in the late 1950s/early 1960s by F.G Potomac Horse Center (PHC) was conceived as a facility for Olympic-level training of horse and rider a combined training (eventing) program and a hunter/jumper program In more recent years the focus was on riding lessons for all ages and levels opportunities to compete in rated horse shows PHC was the largest and most prominent riding school in the Washington Metropolitan area with such notable early instructors as Olympian and US Dressage Team coach Col Among the other renowned equestrians with PHC connections were its founder’s son accomplished jumper and dressage rider and trainer “Trip” Harting; international dressage competitor and FEI “O” judge Linda Zang; USET members Elizabeth Lewis and Kay Meredith; international dressage rider and judge Elizabeth Madlener; and top dressage competitor Linda Oliver US Eventing Association (USEA) Hall of Famer Sally O’Connor was another early member of the PHC staff USEA Hall of Famer and former USEF president) and Brian (a highly sought-after equestrian event announcer) reportedly took some of their first riding lessons at the Maryland facility Novograd’s letter announcing the closing of PHC reads as follows: “Dear Potomac Horse Center Community “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the permanent closing of Potomac Horse Center (PHC) PHC is planning for lessons to continue uninterrupted through June PHC need to adjust this timeline we will let you know PHC has tried to renegotiate its 1993 lease with the Maryland-National Capital Parks and The tipping point in the negotiations was M-NCPPC’s insistence that the renewal of the lease was contingent on PHC raising three to five million dollars to improve M-NCPPC’s infrastructure with no assurances that PHC would be permitted to remain on the property PHC simply cannot ask our clients to pay for and invest in a rapidly deteriorating infrastructure that PHC “The terms of our 1993 lease are unsustainable under current economic conditions NCPPC monthly base rent for use of the facilities plus a percentage of PHC’s net and gross incomes repairs and maintenance of M-NCPPC’s property nonviable for our programs to cover the increasingly higher and higher costs of the rapidly aging let alone allow PHC to build up the three to five million dollars required by M-NCPPC to prospective buyers can come to try the horses and The horses and equipment needed for daily use will remain on the individuals may immediately purchase all other assets including Novograd asked that anyone interested in making an appointment regarding the above please call (240) 614-3834 rather than the PHC main number Another announcement on the school’s website points to the possibility of a future at a new location: “The recently established 501(c)(3) Potomac Horse Center Foundation Inc.* is operating in partnership with Potomac Horse Center (*pending tax-exempt notification),” it begins “We are working to find a path forward and continue the remarkable legacy set in motion by F.G ‘Stretch’ Harting over 60 years ago. Founded in the late 1950s PHC quickly became a world-renowned premiere international equestrian center “The Potomac Horse Center Foundation Inc is seeking to secure a new location where we can continue this tradition of excellence “As the new Foundation establishes itself as a horse discovery center, we will welcome guests of all ages and invite the community at large to visit us and experience these magnificent animals We firmly believe that horses and horseback riding should be available to all; you do not need to own a horse to enjoy this lifelong sport.” Landing page image from montgomeryparks.org This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again When construction on the $1 billion Virginia Tech Innovation Campus is completed it will be a mostly walkable campus with underground parking and significant open space according to a presentation Tuesday by the Virginia Tech Foundation and developer JBG SMITH The first phase of development will occur at the current location of the Regal Potomac Yard movie theatre It is unknown if it will open again before construction begins The developers unveiled plans for the first phase of development which includes the construction of a 9-10 story structure will be located along E as well as the other Virginia Tech buildings will be built to reach LEED Silver certification and the areas immediately around it will include lawns and walking paths There will also be a slope of less than 5% meaning that there will be no steps or handrails on the campus “The overall illustrative plan shows the project’s contiguous an interconnected network of open spaces that stretch between Potomac Avenue and George Washington Memorial Parkway,” said Simon Beer a landscape architect with design firm OJB “All of the design of these spaces at this point are conceptual in nature Our team is going to continue to work with the city with you and with each individual building’s architect as we continue the process.” and the underground parking will be available once the buildings are finished The development will also see the construction of three academic buildings dedicated to computer science research and development programs The city will undergo the approval process for the project’s preliminary infrastructure plan this June in addition to an approval for a pump station to handle sanitary sewer flows from the proposed project and other off-site properties so that construction can begin in the fall The Powerline Trail is a partnership agreement with Montgomery Parks and Exelon Corp is a 6-mile trail that uses the Pepco right-of-way to connect South Germantown Recreational Park with the Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park in North Potomac The trail begins at the Hoyles Mill Trail in South Germantown Recreational Park and meanders for roughly 2 1/2 miles until it terminates at the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail.  The trail picks up again south of Seneca Creek at the Seneca Ridge Trail and continues on until just north of the Muddy Branch Creek Schaeffer Road at South Germantown Recreational Park south to Quince Orchard Road The trail crosses several neighborhood streets that serve as access points to the trail Rolling terrain through a powerline right of way Montgomery Parks Information & Customer Service Office Customer Service 301-495-2595 Info@MontgomeryParks.org 2425 Reedie Drive, 12th Floor Wheaton, MD 20902Call Montgomery Parks Customer Service: (301) 495-2595 NORTH POTOMAC, Md. (ABC7) — In July, someone reported to police that a cat was trapped inside a window of a North Potomac town home owned by 62-year-old Laura Prince 76 cats and a rabbit were found living in squalor Investigators later learned Prince also owned a one-bedroom condo in Silver Spring — housing 50 more cats and two additional rabbits a total of 129 animals combined between the two properties "The home itself was so flea infested the officers were pulling fleas off of themselves," said Hannah Carl with Montgomery County Animal Services first responders were forced to wear wear hazmat suits because of bugs and the overwhelming stench of ammonia Prince even wore a white mask while at her North Potomac home ABC7 News got a glimpse at some of the rescued animals They've all received flea treatment and have started to re-grow their normal coats "It's important to us that the animals that are in our community are well taken care of of Prince has since been charged with dozens of animal cruelty counts North Bethesda and North Potomac are no more An official decision was made this weekend when the mayors of the two MoCo census designated places met to put an end to the names that have caused quite a bit of debate in recent years Mayors Rock DeVille and Issa Darnes spent most of this weekend hashing out names for the area’s they represent It was decided that North Bethesda will be known as Pike City North Potomac will take on the name DuFief a builder who owned land above Turkey Foot Rd Protestors were seen outside of both offices this weekend contesting the name change “I always get at least 20 likes when I say North Bethesda is just Rockville anytime I make that comment on Facebook” said longtime Montgomery County Resident “You mean Gaithersburg is my go-to response whenever North Potomac is mentioned and now you’re taking that away from me I don’t think so.” proclaimed Jermaine Towns who once received 74 likes for his comment on a MoCoShow Facebook post The change will go into effect immediately North Potomac House Fire Causes 1.2 Million in Damages A fire at approximately 2:30am this morning caused approximately $1.2 million in damage on the 14100 block of Saddle River Drive in North Potomac Both occupants were able to get out of the house without sustaining any injuries Approximately 50 firefighters were on the scene to prevent a “well-advanced” fire from spreading to each of the neighbors houses and encountered heavy fire conditions throughout the two-story house The fire is believed to have started in the garage Photo and information courtesy of MCFRS PIO (ABC7) - A Montgomery County Council politician says a demonstration during Black History Month opened his eyes to a crumbling historic cemetery a small predominantly African American community located along River Road in North Potomac Tobytown was established in 1875 by emancipated slaves who mostly worked on farms in the area The living conditions were severely lacking until the 1970s when the county constructed new residences with electricity and running water playground and athletic fields - all in working order The few remaining tombstones are so weathered the Montgomery County Council viewed an eight-minute documentary on local historic African American communities highlighted the poor conditions of the Tobytown cemetery and promptly sent a letter to the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) in Kensington The sharply written letter called on the HOC to restore the cemetery to its original luster "We might be standing on graves right now we just have no idea," lifelong Tobytown resident Wesley Wilson stated who has a number of ancestors buried in the cemetery says he's taken it upon himself to make necessary repairs in the past He's comforted knowing Berliner has placed a spotlight on the issue "Let's hope this gets fixed quickly," Wilson added There is no immediate estimate as to the cost of repairs or a date for repair work to begin If you would like to read Council President Berliner's full letter to the HOC There's no shortage of ideas for the space where the Sports & Entertainment District could have gone empty plot of land in the Potomac Yard neighborhood that was slated to become a large entertainment district with sports facilities and more Now that the proposal to build a professional sports arena has been consigned to the history bin includes the area north of East Glebe Road continuing to the City border and allows over 7.6 million square feet of development.” which was heavily invested in the arena proposal and promised to preserve 1,000 units of affordable housing if the deal went through The development and real estate company recently started a new 20-year lease in the existing shopping center which means Alexandria’s most-beloved Target store will stay open JBG Smith released a statement when Monumental Sports & Entertainment revealed it would keep its professional sports teams in downtown Washington, D.C. deriding the political forces that killed the arena proposal single story shopping center on the site will remain through the remaining 20-year term of the Target lease and development on the remaining land will likely be far less dense … We will continue to pursue alternate uses and amenities to further develop our sites adjacent to the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus We will also continue to work tirelessly to attract business and customers to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the local communities in which we invest….” called for a significant amount of office space for large companies However the need for office space has collapsed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic It is unlikely any big companies will have much interest in building new office buildings on the land despite its proximity to the new Potomac Yard Metro station even large Alexandria presences like the U.S Patent & Trademark Office are reducing office space leases as workers who have gotten used to working from home become less likely to return to the office full time as the years pass.) Residents are not short on ideas for the area any future development will depend somewhat on what will work for property owner JBG Smith as well as local residents and city leadership “With this proposal now dead and the shopping center likely to remain for the foreseeable future we must now pursue large-scale economic growth elsewhere in the City pursue greater austerity in the provision of City services or prepare taxpayers for a more significant burden in the future Those are challenges that future City Councils will grapple with along with Alexandria residents,” Wilson wrote in his newsletter Alexandria Living Magazine is your go-to source for exploring the past Alyssa Sarkisov is starting off her summer with a bang finish sixth grade at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring and compete in the 2019 USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships This will be Alyssa’s second round competing in the road national championships “I’m feeling pretty good because I’ve already been pretty good this season already,” she said Alyssa has been getting ready for the competition by practicing with her team four to five times a week and doing races up to twice a week she took the top spots in her age in the Bunny Hop Criterium in Clarksburg time trial and cyclo-cross — which combines mountain cross-country and criterium riding — she is looking forward to doing some road racing It doesn’t hurt that she is particularly familiar with the area living close enough to do a few prerace runs of the Washington County course so we do ski there and go there a lot,” Alyssa said “I’m glad I don’t have to travel 10 hours to get to every race When she isn’t on her bike during the winter she is skiing at Whitetail Resort in Mercersburg driving past the roads she will speed down during the championships Alyssa said she feels more prepared for this year’s competition than last year’s including dealing with setbacks and getting over them She also said she has great support from her teammates and coach “It’s also a lot easier to practice because they push you to go faster,” she said of her friends at Rock Creek Velo “I probably wouldn’t be where I am without people to compete against.” especially with riding being a family affair for the Sarkisov family Katherine will compete at the nationals in the women’s junior 15-16 “My dad was a biker and there was a local team so we just started biking and competing,” Alyssa said Irina said Alyssa has worked hard to prepare for this year’s competition and hopes her dedication shows when she takes to the road (ABC7) — A raccoon that was captured Monday in North Potomac has tested positive for rabies Montgomery County Animal Services caught the raccoon in the area of Quail Run Drive and Jones Lane according to a message from Alert Montgomery Anyone who might have had contact with the raccoon is asked to speak with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services You can talk with a nurse in the Disease Control Program at 240-777-1755.