New book drop at Takoma Park Library

There's a new book drop at the Takoma Park Library at 101 Philadelphia Avenue. It is located to the left of the main entrance. Patrons are asked to only insert books for return into the slot. CDs and other fragile media and materials should be returned in person at the front desk. The book drop, of course, is open and accessible 24 hours a day. Library operating hours are now 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday through Sunday.

Armed robbery in Takoma Park

Takoma Park City police responded to a report of an armed robbery last night, April 14, 2026. The robbery was reported in the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue at 7:05 PM Tuesday. It took place in a commercial parking lot. An unspecified weapon, other than a firearm, was employed in the robbery.

Pickpocket strikes at convenience store in Takoma Park

Takoma Park City police responded to a report of a pickpocket at a convenience store Friday evening, March 6, 2026. The theft was reported at a store in the 900 block of Merrimac Drive at 7:47 PM Friday. There is a 7-Eleven store located at 900 Merrimac Drive. When stopping for a Big Bite hot dog with everything on it, don't forget to watch your wallet, keeping it in a front pants pocket when possible.

Renovations ahead for Takoma Park City Hall

The coming months will see additional renovations at City Hall in Takoma Park. Changes will be primarily focused on the lower level of the atrium. The Takoma Park City police department will be expanding into that lower level. A new floor slab and structural supports will be installed to create the functional space for the police, that is being claimed from the open atrium's vertical space. A storage room on the upper level will also be expanded in size. 

Takoma Park Community Center & Library parking lot resurfacing

The rear parking lot at the Takoma Park Community Center and Library at 7500 Maple Avenue is being resurfaced this week. This work is expected to take approximately 3-5 days, weather permitting. During construction, vehicle access to the rear lot will remain available, with traffic entering and exiting through the Philadelphia Avenue entrance. Vehicle access to Grant Avenue will be periodically disrupted. Pedestrian access from Philadelphia Avenue may also be temporarily affected; a detour will be in place during these times.

The contractor has been advised of student pick-up and drop-off times. Parking will be disrupted and unavailable at times, and vehicle passage through the rear parking lot will be disrupted periodically.

Self-storage facility burglarized in Takoma Park

Takoma Park City police responded to a report of a burglary at a self-storage facility Sunday night, November 2, 2025. The burglary was reported at a facility in the 1300 block of Holton Lane at 7:49 PM. Public Storage is located on that block of Holton. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business.

Montgomery County Council votes to increase impervious surfaces days after new flood risk was revealed

The Montgomery County Council speaks loudly and often about climate change and the environment, but their warmed-over Reaganomics policies betray their true values. This has been revealed once again as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has commissioned new flood zone maps that show much more of Montgomery County's land area to be at risk of flash flooding than the standard U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps. Several of the areas highlighted on the new maps experienced significant flooding during an unusually-heavy rain event last month. But just four days after MWCOG released its new flood danger maps to elected officials in MoCo and elsewhere in the region, the Montgomery County Council went ahead and approved new zoning rules that will increase the amount of impervious surface area in many of the very neighborhoods identified as now being at high risk of flash flooding.

Under the Reaganesque Thrive 2050/"More Housing N.O.W." zoning text amendment approved by a majority of the Council on July 22, 2025, the allowed increase in impervious surfaces are almost entirely permitted in the downcounty areas like Bethesda and Silver Spring. That is where the greatest flooding risks are located. Despite having access to this new flood danger report and maps on four days earlier on July 18, our "green" County Council bulldozed ahead, and voted to approve a massive increase in impervious surfaces in the very areas at highest risk. Single-family home neighborhoods where houses are currently surrounded by soil and grass lawns will now be open to four-story apartment buildings.

Just in the River Road corridor of Bethesda alone, the properties where the greater impervious surfaces will be allowed are within the flood zones of at least three major streams. Of course, the increased flooding we have already been experiencing in Montgomery County over the last decade is in large part due to the massive development approved this century by the County Council. This is the same reason we have an overpopulation of deer and even wandering bears in the downcounty, as these animals have been forced out of their forests that have fallen to the chainsaws and bulldozers of our supply-side, trickle-down, voodoo economics County Council. The same Council that swears by the Laffer Curve - but only when it applies to their developer sugar daddies.

The reckless decision by the Council could have ramifications in the 2026 elections. Councilmembers Evan Glass and Andrew Friedson voted for the ZTA to increase impervious surfaces in flood danger zones, and they are both running for County Executive. One of their opponents in the Democratic primary is their colleague, Councilmember Will Jawando, who did not vote for the ZTA. Jawando could now use this scandal as another point to differentiate himself from his Reagan Democrat rivals. And Councilmembers running for reelection will have to answer to voters who might raise the topic on the campaign trail, to explain why they voted to put their current and future constituents at greater risk of flood damage and death. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Sangfroid Distilling seeks waivers for distillery in Takoma Park

Sangfroid Distilling's plan to transform a former bank building at 6950 Carroll Avenue in the City of Takoma Park has run up against two snags. First, the old 1927 bank building is situated across lot lines. A building permit cannot be issued until the two lots are consolidated into one, which requires approval of a preliminary plan. Sangfroid is asking the Montgomery County Planning Board for a waiver that would allow approval of a record plat for the new consolidated lot without the approval of a preliminary plan. It is also seeking a waiver to allow the planned addition to the bank building to rise to 35', in an area where the height limit is 30'.

The Planning Board will take up both requests at its meeting tomorrow, July 17, 2025. Planning staff are recommending approval of both waivers. Their report indicates that they have received no public correspondence in favor of, or in opposition to, the waivers requested.

Car thieves strike again in Takoma Park

What is happening on New Hampshire Avenue, folks? The crime-palooza that has seized the busy corridor since June 29 keeps going and going. Today we're going back to Takoma Park again, where car thieves stole yet another vehicle parked at a gas station. The theft was reported to Takoma Park City police on July 6, 2025 at 7:02 PM. It took place at a gas station in the 6400 block of New Hampshire, the very same block where a vehicle was stolen from a gas station on July 1.

Photo courtesy Takoma Park Police Department

Robbery at bus stop in Takoma Park

"Fight back!"

Oh, no, not again! Serious criminals continue to hone in on New Hampshire Avenue, which has been experiencing a crime spike since June 29. Here we go again, with another robbery in Takoma Park. This one was reported during broad daylight on July 5, 2025, at 4:22 PM. It took place at a bus stop in the 6900 block of New Hampshire Avenue.

Car stolen from Takoma Park gas station

If they're not carjacking them at the pumps on New Hampshire Avenue, they're stealing the ones parked overnight. Another car has been taken from a gas station on New Hampshire, this one further south in Takoma Park. Takoma Park City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at a gas station in the 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue at 4:06 AM Monday morning, July 1, 2025. That's very close to the D.C. line.

Takoma Park City budget would close shortfall without raising property tax rate

The proposed FY-2026 budget for the City of Takoma Park shows a projected shortfall of $2,000,000. However, the budget draft does not recommend an increase in the current property tax rate of 55.22 cents per $100 of assessed value. Instead, it proposes using unassigned reserve funds left over from the federal American Rescue Plan Act via a series of transfers to close the gap.

No increase in City staff is budgeted for in the draft. The budget would maintain the current level of City services for residents. You can review the proposed budget, and associated documents, on the City website.

A second public hearing on the proposed budget will take place on Wednesday, April 16, at 7:30 PM, in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium. Community members are encouraged to attend the hearing and sign up to speak. Remote comments are permitted via Zoom, but to comment virtually, registration is required by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Comments are also accepted at every Wednesday meeting of the City Council. At public hearings and meetings, public comments are limited to three minutes each.

Knife-wielding assailant attacks in Takoma Park bank parking lot

A man wielding a knife suddenly attacked a bystander in the parking lot of a Takoma Park bank on December 23, 2024, Takoma Park police report. The victim was in the parking lot of the Capital One bank at 1181 University Boulevard at 6:40 PM, when they were attacked. Police say no motive for the attack has yet been established. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police describe the suspect only as a "male."

Takoma Park proposes new regulations on apartment fees

The City of Takoma Park is seeking to regulate the application of new fees and fee hikes on apartment leases. An administrative regulation that could take effect January 15, 2025 would prevent the creation of new fees for services or amenities that were previously included within the monthly rent payment. Existing itemized fees could still be charged, but could not be raised. See the draft regulation for the full list of proposed changes. Written comments on the proposed regulation should be submitted to the City Clerk at: clerk@takomaparkmd.gov. The deadline for receipt of public comments is Monday, December 30, 2024.

Turn restrictions ahead on University Blvd. in Takoma-Langley area this month

Track installation activity for the Purple Line on University Boulvard E. continues to ramp up as the holidays approach. Two new turn restrictions will be implemented to accommodate the work later this month. On or about December 17, 2024, north and southbound traffic on West Park Drive will be limited to right turns only at the intersection with University Boulevard (MD 193) for approximately five weeks. And beginning on or about December 20, 2024, north and southbound traffic on Carroll Avenue will be limited to right turns only at the intersection with University, also for approximately five weeks. 

Police called after assault at restaurant in Takoma Park

Takoma Park police were called to a restaurant during lunchtime on November 26, 2024, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at Tijuana's Mexican Cafe at 949 University Boulevard E. at 12:40 PM. Police say that the victim was assaulted by an unknown male, whose description has not yet been released by detectives. 

If you have any information about this incident, or can identify the suspect, text an anonymous tip to the Takoma Park Police Department via tip411: Send a text to 847411, type the word “TPPDTIP” before the message, and refer to Case #240056772.

Purple Line traffic shift on MD-193 in Takoma Park set for December 9

A Purple Line-related traffic shift on University Boulevard E. in Takoma Park is scheduled to begin on or about December 9, 2024. Traffic will shift to the outer lanes of University between Carroll Avenue and 14th Avenue, leaving two lanes operating in each direction. The shift will allow creation of a Purple Line work zone in the center of the roadway, for the purpose of track installation for the future light rail line. 

Work may take place between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays, and weekends, as needed. Watch for signage and flagmen when traveling through the work zone.

Strong-arm carjacking in Takoma Park

Takoma Park police responded to a report of a strong-arm carjacking early yesterday morning, November 10, 2024. The carjacking and assault were reported in the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue at 4:46 AM Sunday. A similar incident at a similar time of day took place on November 5 at 4:06 AM, when five male juveniles assaulted a driver and carjacked his vehicle in the 700 block of Ethan Allen Avenue.

Paid parking coming to Takoma Junction parking lot next month

Get ready to start paying for parking at the Takoma Junction parking lot at 201 Ethan Allen Avenue next month. Metered parking will operate using the ParkMobile app beginning in mid-November, the City of Takoma Park says. The parking fee at Takoma Junction will be $1 per hour, with a maximum of 2 hours parking permitted. 

Paid parking will be enforced between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Parking in the lot will be free on Sundays. No overnight parking will be allowed.

Maryland fugitive captured in Takoma Park

Takoma Park police "came into contact" with an individual who was wanted in another Maryland jurisdiction on October 15, 2024. The encounter took place in the 1100 block of University Boulevard at 12:50 PM that afternoon. An officer ran the subject's name through a database, and discovered they had three outstanding warrants in Prince George's County. The subject was immediately taken into custody.