Olney Golf Park redevelopment could "shape the future of a community"

A major new development could be in the works for Georgia Avenue in Olney. The 22-acre property at 3414 Emory Church Road currently occupied by the Olney Golf Park has just hit the market for sale. A buyer could replace the expansive driving range with housing and retail. In the 1980s and 90s, that might have meant a strip mall with single-family homes behind it. Today, it's more likely to mean multifamily housing of one or more types, with retail facing Georgia Avenue.

The golf park site could expand in size, as
several adjacent property owners are
"amenable to sale"

The property is adjacent to a signaled intersection, has existing utility connections suitable for a variety of land uses, and is a half-mile from the InterCounty Connector (ICC). A Request for Proposal invites potential investment buyers to be part of a "rare chance to shape the future of a community." The property is in the Sherwood school cluster, although the RFP notes that the elite Good Counsel High School is also nearby. A new development could easily exceed the 22-acres now available for the right buyer, as the RFP states that the owners of the adjacent Barnes, Johnson, and Pathways properties are open to purchase offers.

MD Furniture opens in Wheaton

MD Furniture is now open at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. The affordable furniture showroom offers free delivery and installation of your purchases. Credit is approved without a credit check, and with no interest. Look for MD Furniture on Level 1 of the mall, outside of JCPenney. 

LA Fitness closing in Wheaton

LA Fitness is closing at 11010 Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. The gym's last day will be December 30, 2024. LA Fitness closed its Rockville location earlier this year. Although the chain was reported to have bounced back after the pandemic lockdowns, I notice that quite a few LA Fitness locations around the country are closing, or have already closed this fall. LA Fitness has locations in Aspen Hill and Silver Spring (for now).

Armed robbery in Glenmont

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in Glenmont Tuesday afternoon, December 3, 2024. The robbery was reported in the 2300 block of Glenallan Avenue at 2:30 PM Tuesday. That is near the Glenmont Metro station parking garage. A firearm was the weapon employed in the robbery.

Montgomery County police make 2 drug busts in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police brought in quite a holiday haul of cash and contraband in two Silver Spring drug busts Tuesday night, December 3, 2024. One was in the Northwest Park area, and the other in downtown Silver Spring. Officers with the police department's Holiday Crime Detail & Patrol were involved, 3rd District Police Commander Captain Jason Cokinos said. Police recovered drugs, two handguns - at least one of which had been reported stolen, and about $24,000 in suspected drug money. The suspects in both cases are facing felony charges.

Photos courtesy Montgomery County Police Department

Police arrest suspect in downtown Silver Spring assault

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in a November 17, 2024 aggravated assault in downtown Silver Spring. Around 7:46 AM that morning near the intersection of Georgia and Wayne Avenues, the suspect allegedly displayed an unspecified weapon, and assaulted an adult male victim. Police have arrested Ethan Bell, 23, of Gaithersburg.

According to Maryland court records, Bell has been charged with felony attempted 1st-degree murder, felony attempted 2nd-degree murder, and 1st-degree assault. He is being held without bond, pending a December 13 preliminary hearing in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

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.