Residents who visit Rio Washingtonian Center say the lakeside park is more than a shopping destination, it’s a daily routine, it’s a walk in nature, time at the playground, and for some, the reason they moved to the area. Now, a plan from the center’s own developer to add hundreds of apartments there has sparked pushback from the community.
Reopening the public record for a new development
The Gaithersburg City Council voted this summer to reopen the public record indefinitely on Peterson’s proposal, which would bring up to 500 apartments and about 43,000 square feet of retail space to the Washingtonian Center, spread across four buildings. The vote effectively pauses the project, giving the developer time to revise the plans based on public input before the review process restarts, including a new public hearing.
What residents and visitors are saying 
“Because I walk in this area every single day, every single evening, and it’s so peaceful and joyful and it’s back to nature,” said Elena Kornilova, who lives near Rio. “And it took like 20 years to mature like this. Why destroy something that is already built.”
Daphne Williams, a Montgomery County resident, said she was walking specifically to enjoy the wooded section of the park when asked about the proposal.
“I really love that forested area over there. In fact, we just walked that way for that exact purpose. I wanted to walk by the trees and enjoy that,” Williams said. “So the thought of that being gone and all buildings makes me sad.”
Not everyone opposes new construction outright. Felix Angel Astro said, “I’m okay with that, just don’t take away the merry-go-round.”
Lydia Bustamante said overcrowding, more than development itself, is her main worry. “If there’s buildings, I don’t go to Rockville because of it. I don’t go to Silver Spring because of it,” Bustamante said. “I just think it’s overcrowded, just too many people. And there’s not a lot of, you know, space, open space.”
What the city of Gaithersburg is doing
As of July 1, the city had received 206 public comments on the proposal. Samuel Copeland of the city’s Planning Department told the council that the Planning Commission’s review that day included extensive discussion “on traffic access, pedestrian safety, parking access, architecture and open area.”
Council member Jim McNulty said he supported giving Peterson another chance. “If there’s an opportunity for them to create something that’s going to work better than what’s before us, I’m supportive of basically tabling the project … and reopening the record,” he said. Mayor Jud Ashman then called the vote: “All in favor say I … and now reopen indefinitely.”
The city declined an interview request, and Peterson Companies said on a statement to MCM news that: “they understand how important the lakefront amenities and surrounding green space are to the community” and “they remain focused on preserving those experiences as the plan evolves.”
For now, Rio’s carousel, trails and lake remain unchanged. But Peterson is expected to return with a revised proposal and a new public hearing, giving residents another chance to weigh in.
