Photo | Clark Day Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz talks with Pepco President Tom Graham before the July 27 press conference called by Pepco to discuss power restoration to an estimated 100,000 customers.

About an hour after additional crews hit the roads to assist in the power restoration efforts in the D.C. area, the lights came on in Quince Orchard Park. Power was also restored in Deer Park earlier this morning. Both Gaithersburg neighborhoods were without power since Sunday.

During a press conference at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds this morning, Pepco President Tom Graham said an estimate of when the remaining 100,000 plus customers will have power restored will be available after 3 p.m. Customers are urged to call 1.877.737.2662 for more information at that time.

Graham said while he can’t confirm when all power will be restored he expects most customers will be back in service by Thursday.

Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz wants to know why some areas in his city are routinely affected longer during power outages and the mayor is pushing for a meeting with Pepco officials. “There seems to be a pattern and we need to sit down and figure this out,” he said.

Communication between Pepco and customers has been a problem during the days-long power outage and even Katz only learned of the press conference from Town Courier staff shortly before the event. He was not sent an advisory. Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio also asked The Town Courier to let her know if the paper learns of another press conference as much of her city remains without power.

Read more on the power outage in the August 3 issue of The Town Courier.

Sonya Burke contributed to this report.

MedImmune’s construction site averages 350 workers a day.

After reading in The Town Courier that residents were raising questions about the nearby construction, MedImmune officials have decided to provide even more information to the Quince Orchard Park (QOP) community about the escalating work.

“We have decided to include more general information in the monthly updates as it’s clear that residents are extremely curious,” wrote Elizabeth Huntley in an e-mail dated July 8 to QOP Community Manager Ruchita Patel.

According to Huntley’s latest update, construction is intensifying. She said the company is averaging 350 workers per day at the main site known as “Area 6” along Great Seneca Highway, and company officials say that number will grow to a peak of 375 workers per day in August.

“The installation of the pre-cast structure for the expansion of garage two is complete, and the balance of the work at the garage is expected to be complete by the end of September,” Huntley said. “The taller of the two tower cranes will be dismantled and removed from the jobsite within the next 30 days.”

Passsersby may also soon see changes on the outside of the steel structure, Huntley said, as crews work to install windows and glass in order to finish the exterior skin by the end of the summer.

In addition, motorists may note two new MedImmune monument marker signs that were installed this month along Quince Orchard Road. The signs are approximately 90 inches high and 235 inches long, and they replace the former Quince Orchard Park Corporate Center signs.

Gaithersburg’s Permits and Inspect-ions Director Wes Burnette said MedImmune’s construction of the newest parking deck is complete and work is beginning on construction of two on grade parking lots.

“This phase of building construction is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011,” said Burnette.

Planning and Code Administration Director Greg Ossont said Burnette and other city officials will begin attending QOP neighborhood meetings regularly while construction is continuing.

“This something new that I am trying in an effort to be proactive in addressing concerns and hear suggestions from residents with development projects nearby,” Ossont said.

A recent Council of Governments (COG) publication reports that the MedImmune office building project was the largest project in Montgomery County in 2009, adding more than 390,000 square feet of space with an approximate value of $50 million.

“The idea is to have a much more active site, easier to use and navigate and easier to respond,” said Matt Danielson, president of The Town Courier.

Danielson said content management systems have changed the dynamic of the web page by becoming more multi-dimensional instead of flat and one-dimensional.

“Our job as a newspaper is to constantly update and add to the database of information available to our users,” Danielson said.

He is hoping the queue for reader’s feedback takes off.

“Every story has a spot including this one,” he said. “We want reader feedback …nand we will respond to it.”

The site also offers a free classified service and advertising opportunities.

Check us out, www.towncourier.com.

Bark is now open in the Kentlands Square Shopping Center while Image Ace has moved from its Kentlands location to a storefront office in a shopping Center along Darnestown Road and Quince Orchard Road.

KDP Meeting Canceled

The Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) meeting was canceled on July 13 because several board members were out of town and a quorum could not be obtained. President Paula Ross said the meeting would be rescheduled, and she reminded members to enjoy the free Main Street Music Festival Concerts on Wednesday nights. The August KDP meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 10.

Latin Dance Party

Two Left Feet Dance Studio, located at 217 Market Street West, is hosting a Latin Dance Party from 7 – 11 p.m. on July 24. It is beginner friendly and will get you moving and grooving. Admission is $20 per person before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m. For more information, call 240.632.2345 or e-mail dance@twoleftfeetdance.com.

Kentlands 5K Registration

Now is the time to register for the 17th Annual Kentlands/ Lakelands 5K Run, Walk and Kids’ Fun Runs, which will be held on Saturday, September 4.
The event is traditionally the largest 5K Race event in Montgomery County.

For more Kentlands Downtown events and information, www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

A hazardous materials crew leaves PetSmart at Kentlands Downtown on July 15.

Several people people were evaluated onsite by rescue crews and released, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials.

The odor was determined non-flammable but as of 11:45 a.m. hazardous materials squads from both Montgomery County and the National Institute of Health remained on the scene. The odor is believed to have been caused by a overheated battery in a forklift operating in the store’s back room.

Soccer fans watch the American team lose at Tony and James restaurant last month.

“When you first get going it takes some time, some tweaking, to get things right,” said co-owner Tony Massenburg. “Rather than flounder we made changes right away.”

“Opening night was so strong from a turnout perspective that we took a hit; we accept our part in that and want people to give us another try,” said Massenburg.

Stepping into his new role, Lippe said he was impressed that the staff did well before his arrival with no leadership in the kitchen, and he has his sights set on quality. “My job is to make the menu taste great,” said the chef, who has worked for the Ritz Carlton and was a private chef and high-end catering consultant before joining Tony and James.

The menu will include more fish, more meat, a better selection of entrees that are a little bit higher end, according to Massenburg. “Nothing on our menu more than $30,” he added. In addition, a children’s menu with items such as grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and chicken tenders is also available with prices ranging from $8 – 10.

Kentlands resident Jon Nash has been to the restaurant four times including the USA v. Ghana World Cup game event, which drew a large crowd. “It was fun in that a lot of people brought their kids who had a great time in the open space upstairs while their parents watched the game and talked with friends,” he said.

While Nash likes the atmosphere, he’d like to see the quality of food go up and maybe the prices go down. “If they can begin to win fans over with their food, there is no reason why they can’t be very successful.”

Kentlands resident Larry Goldman was disappointed in his dining experience and felt the reality fell short of the hype. He also believes the prices are too high for the location and atmosphere.

As a food and beverage industry expert, Goldman’s advice is that the management focus on the fundamentals such as operating procedures, training, purchasing, inventory control and control of communication between front of restaurant and kitchen. “You have to have the fundamentals in place or it all goes wrong,” he said.

In Goldman’s opinion an overcooked meal is forgivable, but running out of Caesar salad because management didn’t order proper inventory doesn’t spell success. “I want to see them succeed, I really do,” he added.

Massenburg is hopeful that events such as the newly introduced “Three for Thursday/Single Mingle” nights and more live music such as the band Octane on July 10 and Chorduroy on July 24 will keep moving Tony and James in the right direction.

“We’ve made huge strides in food and service in the last month,” said Massenburg.

Joe Aflalo of Salon Red leads the vocals for Platform Soul outside the Star Diner.

Music Notes

Live music has been plentiful in downtown Kentlands with bands booked every Friday and Saturday nights on the plaza adjacent to the Star Diner. There’s also the new Main Street Music Festival every Wednesday night on the city green, which is attracting lots of attention. City Councilman Michael Sesma had a front row seat in July. “Delightful evening. Excellent music, good crowd that grew until 8:30 p.m.,” he said. “We sat outside Main Street Cafe and had a great view while dining.”

The Main Street Music Festival is attracting crowds to downtown Kentlands every Wednesday night.

Latin Dance Party

Two Left Feet Dance Studio, located at 217 Market Street West, is hosting a Latin Dance Party from 7 – 11 p.m. on July 24. It is beginner friendly and will get you moving and grooving. Admission is $20 per person before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m. For more information, call 240.632.2345 or e-mail dance@twoleftfeetdance.com.

Changes at the Square

There are lots of storefront changes at the Kentlands Square Shopping Center. Blockbuster and Chicken Out are two of the latest businesses packing up and moving out. Still no word on who may be filling the former Score retail space either. Giant Food Store recently installed new signs on the outside of its building, and Bark, a natural pet store, is planning to open later this summer.

Kentlands 5K Registration

Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Run, Walk and Kids’ Fun Runs, scheduled for Saturday, September 4. The event, which has grown to be the largest 5K race event in Montgomery County, is hosted by the nonprofit Kentlands Community Foundation in partnership with the city of Gaithersburg.

The 5K race has grown in size consistently each year, raising concerns from the race committee about the race outgrowing the course. This has forced the committee to limit registration. “Our number one concern is to create a safe race for all involved, and with the nature of our ‘looped,’ narrow course, we felt strongly that too many people on the course at once could compromise our participant’s safety. We registered over 100 5K participants in the first few days of open registration, so it will be interesting to see if we sell out this year,” said Steve Solbeck, race director for the event.  

Business Sponsors Sought

The Kentlands Community Foundation’s 5K Race Committee is now seeking sponsorship donations from local businesses who would like to participate in this fall’s Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race. All race proceeds go to charity, and the race is the Foundation’s largest fundraising event each year, with half of the proceeds donated to several other local charities (yet to be named). There are several sponsorship levels. Local businesses in particular are encouraged to support the 5K race by participating as sponsors. Both the kids’ fun runs and the 5K race start and finish on Main Street behind Market Square Plaza. All sponsors are given promotional value for sponsoring the race, including targeted mail campaigns, promotion in the participant’s goody bags, signage opportunities depending on level of sponsorship and the chance to be a part of the post-Race Expo in Market Square Plaza. Businesses can register to be a sponsor by going to www.kentlands.org/5K.

Volunteers Needed

The Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race requires nearly 200 volunteers to make it a success. All volunteers receive t-shirts, students earn SSL hours, and every volunteer is invited to a “5K Volunteer Thank You” Party each fall. To volunteer, go to www.kentlands.org/5K.

KDP Meeting

The next Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) meeting is scheduled for July 13. President Paula Ross reports that memberships continue to increase. For more information, www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

Fountain Out of Order Gaithersburg’s neighborhood Services Director Kevin Roman said repairs are needed before the water will be flowing at the art in public places fountain located at 106 Main Street in Lakelands. According to Roman, city officials have learned from the fountain’s property manager that the water meter needs to be replaced.

KDP Meets with City Leaders

Members of the Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) met with City Manager Angel Jones, Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello and Planning and Code Administration Director Greg Ossont on June 7 at City Hall to discuss the status of funds and partnership opportunities. City Manager Angel Jones said the two-hour meeting went very well, and she assured the downtown group that the remaining $35,000 in city funds will be available no later than July 1 for charrette implementation initiatives.

Main Street Music

The first Main Street Music Festival was canceled on June 9 because of rainy weather. Look for the event to resume every Wednesday (weather permitting) at 6 p.m. at the Kentlands Main Street Pavilion Green. For more information about the lineup, go to www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

Manna Food Drive

Members of the Rockville Express were at the Kentlands Giant on June 12 collecting food for Manna Food as part of a baseball food drive challenge at six Montgomery County Giant Food stores.

Kentlands Mansion Departure

If you have ever rented the Kentlands Mansion, chances are you have met Ann Choate, the facility director. Choate has just announced she will be retiring from her post at the Kentlands Mansion effective June 30 after 21 years working for the city of Gaithersburg.

Art and Photo Reception

The Mayor and City Council and City Manager Angel Jones turned out for an art and photography reception at both the Kentlands Mansion and Gaithersburg Arts Barn on June 8,
and it may have been one of the biggest turnouts ever. One reason for all the hubbub was that City Council member Ryan Spiegel’s wife, Rachael, had some of her travel photography on exhibit.

NLC Committee Tours Kentlands

City Council member Michael Sesma hosted a visit of the National League of Cities (NLC) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EENR) on June 8 – 10, which included stops at the Kentlands Mansion, Arts Barn and O’Donnell’s Seafood Grill.

Matching Grant Program

Neighborhood associations and community leaders have until July 15 to apply for funds from the city’s neighborhood matching grant program. An e-mail went out from City Hall on June 10 to local leaders with deadline and application information. The city has included $60,000 in the 2011 budget for the popular program.

Send us your business news at news@towncourier.com.

Merchandise piled up in these Kentlands parking spaces is a violation of the site plan, according to city officials.

Gaithersburg’s Neighborhood Services Director Kevin Roman said the situation is a violation of the current site plan, and he reports the city put store officials on notice to remove the merchandise by the following Tuesday.

According to Roman, the violation can result in a fine of $200.

Just three months ago, the Gaithersburg Planning Commission granted an additional 11 space parking waiver so the company could add 2,200 square feet of storage and receiving area for warehousing. The store was already previously granted a 36-space waiver, according to minutes from that meeting.

Planning Commissioner Leonard Levy was the only one to vote against the parking waiver and voiced concerns at that time about the company’s practice of storing extra merchandise in the parking areas.

Roman said he was not aware of the planning commissioner’s concerns with enforcement.

According to city records, Lowe’s has been fined thousands of dollars over the past 15 years for similar site plan violations.

Most local realtors agree the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which offered first-time homebuyers a tax credit of up to $8,000 and move-up homebuyers a credit of up to $6,500, helped make for a successful spring market. Now that the tax credit is off the table, though, it looks like a sluggish summer is ahead for home buying.

“It has come to a screeching halt,” said Re/MAX Metropolitan Realty agent Mike Aubrey. “During the spring tax credit we sold everything we could put a sign in front of.”

The tax credit was an effort to boost the real estate market nationwide out of its slump. The tax credit was used to bring new families into the housing market, reduce the inventory of unsold homes and increase home prices nationwide. Homes up to $800,000 qualified, and buyers had to meet maximum income requirement of $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples filing joint returns.

Since January 1, 2010, there have been 34 homes in Lakelands sold and another 110 still under contract and eligible for the tax credit. In Kentlands, 37 homes were sold and another 16 are under contract. In Quince Orchard Park 14 homes sold since the tax credit was enacted and another four are under contract. Homes that are under contract have until June 30 to settle and still be eligible for the tax credit.

“It has been a great spring because of the tax credit,” said Long and Foster Realtor Elaine Koch. “Without the credit it would not have been so pretty.”

Spring sales saw multiple offers on homes.

“We found our first-time homebuyers were racing to the finish line to purchase before the credit expired,” said Amy DePreta with Re/Max Metropolitan Realty. “To have 10 new buyers and six sellers come out of the woodwork is definitely a change from spring last year.”

Larry Prigal with Re/Max Realty said the tax credit didn’t make much of a difference in his sales in Kentlands and Lakelands because the credit was not enough money to influence his buyers.

“When you are in that higher price range it isn’t a significant percentage of the transaction,” he said. “I don’t think the $6,500 tax credit did as much to impact the move-up buyers as I had hoped it would do.”

Summer is normally a slow time for the market as families focus on vacations and summer activities, according to Koch. She said sellers will need to focus on pricing their house right and presentation to make a sale this summer.

“What will happen is that the days on the market will increase, and it will be more important than ever that the price is right and the house looks like it should,” Koch said.

Lakelands homes this spring spent an average of only nine days on the market, according to Aubrey.

“We are going back to a more normal pace. There isn’t that sense of urgency,” Aubrey said.

While showings of homes have dropped, those looking are in the market to buy.

At press time there were 20 homes in Lakelands on the market; 17 in Kentlands; and 10 in Quince Orchard Park. Low mortgage rates should help some buyers with their decision.

Koch said real estate is still clawing its way back to a normal market.

DePreta agreed.

“We are really coming out of the worst housing market ever. We are recovering. I think we have seen the lowest we are going to see. I hope,” she said.

Townhomes and single-family homes in the $500,000 range are still selling, according to Prigal, who said Kentlands and Lakelands is an area where “people want to be.”

“In other areas that $8,000 break did a tremendous job. Here I didn’t see a significant change. I had buyers and sellers when they had the tax credit, and I have them now,” Prigal said.

Aubrey described the market’s battle back from its tumble as having peaks and valleys.

“I predict this is a double dip recovery. This spring was the apex of the midpoint of that ‘W’ recovery. I think we will see things go down again nationally now that synthetic factors like the tax credit is going away. I think rates will go up over the next 12 to 18 months,” Aubrey said. “We have been riding a roller coaster.”