Future Plans for Lakeforest Mall Still on Hold

Gaithersburg councilmembers reluctantly agreed Tuesday to give WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments another three months to negotiate with the anchor stores at Lakeforest Mall before moving forward with a yearlong study of how best to use the land.

WRS, which owns the mall, originally was given 150 days to work out a plan in which it would then speak for the major stores at the mall, including Lord and Taylor and Macy’s, thereby making it easier to develop future plans.

Currently, WRS and representatives from the four stores each would have to approve any plans for the mall on Russell Avenue, where currently many stores are vacant.

Kevin Rogers, WRS executive vice president, told council members he had hoped to work everything out in 150 days, but said, “Business is messy. Sometimes it takes a little longer than originally expected.”

He explained, “We had all four anchors, but some funding fell through.”

Council members had planned to hire SmithGroup to complete a one-year special study area master plan for the mall. During that time, no zooming map amendments or development applications would be permitted so that the town could create an overall plan for how best to use the 103-acre site.

SmithGroup was one of 13 companies that sent in proposals for the study.

After listening to Rogers’ request for more time, council members agreed to put the study on hold for up to three months.

“I am extremely frustrated by the position that we are in,” said Councilman Ryan Spiegel.

While the council would like to work with WRS, “our job is to do what is in the best interest of the City,” he said.

Despite repeated requests for updates prior to the Feb. 18 meeting, “We heard nothing, crickets for over a month,” Siegel said.

He said he “will reluctantly okay a one-time only moratorium if and only if WRC will keep us informed.”

Council Vice President Laurie-Anne Sayles noted, “This is one of our last developable parcels of land in our city. We are looking forward to hearing good news.”

Councilmembers hope that the study they tabled would guide the them as to the best use of the land and appear to be in agreement to approve it when the new 90-day deadline is over.

They would like to see a mix use of retail, residential and commercial use, which would require rezoning of some of the eight parcels.

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