Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-01-19
Rockville Parking
Strang'ling Gro1Uth
By Ronald HI. Nessen
Staff Reporter


solution to the downtown parking enigma, outlying shopping
ceners providing parking spaces for almost 1000
being planned or built.
None of the many solutions proposed has received
jorty support from the interests involved and town
officials hint that they may eventually give up trying to
solve the towns central business district parking problems
feeling there's trying to help those who won't help
themselves.
Rockville Officials the Board of Trade property owners
leasing merchants agree on lust one point bic big
problem exists In August Of last year planning consuan
Mathew Witensein declared that Rockville is Crucial
point in its of central commercial and industrial
He only two alternatives The must be used to
good advantage the central business district will
"strangle."
Rockvies central business district was built before the
automobile became the dominant factor economy
toners of downtown stores able walk to the shop
ping from their cose-in homes
However, after World War II the ring of subdivisions
that sprang up around Rockville shifted the concentration
of population from the center to the fnges of the city,
Shoppers living the sections could reach the central
business district only by automobile The downtown
chants apparently didn't fully comprehend the trend and in
the main failed to provide adequate customer parking
New Shopping Centers
Now shopping centers on the frnges the city, with
plenty of parking space, threatening to drain all but
trcke of customers away from the congested downtown
town law requiring all commercial property
ers to provide square foot of parking space each
square foot of floor space does not apply to existing build
ings unless they rebuilt extended
AS far back as November, 1853 when the parking
problem first seriously considered the Board of Trade
felt IF Rockville know it today to continue the
principal retail business serving the central portion
of the County steps must be taken Immediately to provide
adequate off-street parking program
City Manager John MARYLAND says simply, Its been
recognized fact for years that We need parking"
Priority Areas Cited
In 1858 the traffic committees of the Mayor and Council
and the Board of Trade agreed the two downtown
most urgent need Of customer parking The block bounded
by East Montgomery Perry Jefferson and Monroe des
gnated priority number one The triangle formed by East
Montgomery, Perry, Commerce. and Bridge called pr
ority number two.
Since the priority designation, proposal has followed
proposal simple elaborate The Mayor and Coun
Gil that of the ideas has with enough popular
support to warrant execution.
Bond Issue Sought
Receiving attention has been the suggestion that
the town buy the portions of the lots fronting the
South side of East Montgomery Avenue between Perry and
Monroe for parking Most of the lots Deep running the
entire distance of $50 feet between Montgomery and
Jefferson
The deepest building however is 10 feet long, meaning
the rear portions of most of the lots unused The block
contains 121 1882 square feet only 6332 square feet
covered by buildings.
Most of the property on the block would be will
ing sell to the town. at minimum price of So
Some have asked S. and at least has asked
Mr. MARYLAND states that quarter of million dollars
including $4,000 for paving, would finance the acquisition
establishment of parking lots in the priority block
$250000 bond ISSUE carried for 80 years. would cost
$4,000 annually to service. The priority block pays
the town only $500 yearly in real estate and property taxes
1853 the Board of Trade recommended that the town
acquire the parking lots by floating bond issue to be paid
off from revenue of parking district tax.
The Board opposition Although there may be
some initial opposition the establishment of such
dures in the Rockville this opposition would quickly
disappear it did in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Montgomery
Hills and Bethesda, where similar parking projects have
been instituted by the County government"
The opposition least caution, there, all right
even from town officials
Town Attorney David Cahoon advises that the town
lacks 1.-THE specific statutory authority to create park
ing district but could grant such to itself because
of home rule provisions. The town does however, have
the power condemn land for parking lots he says
Manager MARYLAND says he would hesitate to recon-
mend bond issue costing per year to maintain than
the tax revenue from the block improved.
IL l.. 10 Nnaf