Lakeforest Approval Shapes Gaithersburg Neighborhood Future

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission approved a final site plan for Phase 1 of the Lakeforest redevelopment on July 15, clearing another step in the remake of the former Lakeforest Mall property at 701 Russell Avenue. The approved phase is limited to infrastructure work — storm-drain improvements and reshaping one stormwater management pond — but it advances construction sequencing for one of the city’s largest redevelopment projects. The broader plan, led by WRS Inc., would replace the former mall and its parking lots with housing, retail, streets, green space and a rebuilt transit center on roughly 102 acres. City project pages show Phase 2 is still under review and has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing. ### Which approval just happened, and what does it actually cover? The July 15 approval covered Site Plan Application SP-10031-2025, listed by the city as an infrastructure site plan for the Lakeforest redevelopment project. The Planning Commission agenda for that night identified the application as a final site plan for 701 Russell Avenue in the MXD, or mixed-use development, zone. Phase 1 includes storm-drain infrastructure and the reshaping of one of the site’s stormwater management ponds, according to the City of Gaithersburg’s project page. (gaithersburgmd.gov) That means the latest action did not approve the full buildout of homes and shops; it approved early site work needed before later vertical construction. ### How big is the full Lakeforest redevelopment? The 102-acre redevelopment was approved for up to about 1,600 dwelling units and about 1.2 million square feet of non-residential uses under the rezoning and sketch plan the Mayor and City Council approved on April 17, 2023, by a 5-0 vote. (gaithersburgmd.iqm2.com) The city’s master-plan page shows the policy framework for the site was adopted earlier, on August 16, 2021, after Planning Commission approval on July 21, 2021. (gaithersburgmd.gov) Current public descriptions of the project say WRS Inc. plans a mixed-use district with housing, retail, restaurants, entertainment, office space, parks and transit connections. Reporting in July said the redevelopment budget was about $1.2 billion and that demolition of the former mall was underway this summer. ### What parts of the neighborhood come next? (gaithersburgmd.gov) Phase 2 would build Street One, Street Two and Lakeforest Boulevard, according to the city’s latest status update. Those roads matter because they establish the internal street network for the future neighborhood rather than the mall-era pattern of large parking fields and superblocks. A separate application, SP-10278-2026, has also been filed to confirm whether several proposed housing types qualify as “gap housing” under the Lakeforest Master Plan. (dcnewsnow.com) The city page describes those as 4-story stacked gap units, 4-story back-to-back gap units and 3-story duplex gap units. ### What has already been promised for housing, retail and transit? Public project descriptions say the plan calls for about 1,600 homes, including rental apartments, workforce housing, townhomes, stacked duplexes and condominiums. (gaithersburgmd.gov) MoCo Show, citing the city update and project materials, reported NVR is expected to build about 600 for-sale homes, while other partners would build rental communities. Retail plans described in recent coverage include a 140,000-square-foot Home Depot, a 23,000-square-foot Sprouts Farmers Market and a 15,000-square-foot Landmark Theatre. The redevelopment also includes a relocated Lakeforest Transit Center intended to connect with Ride On routes and the planned MD 355 Flash bus rapid transit line. ### Where can residents weigh in now? (dcnewsnow.com) The City of Gaithersburg says Final Site Plan Application SP-10084-2025 for Phase 2 is under review and that a public hearing has not yet been scheduled. Residents can send comments by mail to 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877, or by email to planning@gaithersburgmd.gov, according to the city’s project page. The city’s meeting portal and Lakeforest project pages are the clearest places to watch for the next hearing date and application updates. (dcnewsnow.com) As of the city’s July 30 status update, Phase 1 had been approved, Phase 2 remained pending, and the separate gap-housing application was on file for review. (gaithersburgmd.gov)