Note: This plan has been put on hold due to both a new law prohibiting pipe-stem development and the adoption of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.
Update: More recently, a church has expressed interest in purchasing the property to develop a large church on this site.
On May 17, 2007, the Historic District Commission held a hearing to determine whether to recommmend historic designation for 406 Great Falls Road. Staff Kebba presented a summary of the staff report, noting that the applicant is considering Substantial Alteration of such a scale, that it actually constitutes Demolition of the existing house. Staff is recommending against historic designation on the basis of loss of integrity and lack of significance to the City. While associated with the well-known local families, Trail and Nicholson, this property is associated with later generations, two brothers specifically, who built the homes in the 1940s and are not noted specifically for their public contributions. The HDC not to recommend historic designation.
A developer has submitted plans for a proposed six home development to replace the two existing homes at 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road. These houses, on the southeast corner of the intersection of Great Falls Road and Monument Street, were built around the 1930's and occupy two large lots, typical of the Rockville Heights neighborhood, By city law, all demolition permits for buildings over fifty years old require an evaluation by the Rockville Historic District Commission (HDC) to determine whether the building(s) are historically significant. HDC staff has recommended that these homes be preserved, but the developer has requested an extension in order to refile the application. This matter will come before the HDC shortly and WECA and the HDC would like your input on this important issue.
