Plans for a more than $1 million redevelopment of the former Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Md., are mired in design conflicts over stormwater systems, road geometry and traffic coordination as early infrastructure moves to review.
The first infrastructure work spans approximately 100 acres, with about 94 acres of disturbance, including the relocation of an 84-inch-diameter storm drain, reconfiguration of ponds and stormwater basin systems and rough grading with frontage work along Odendhal Avenue, according to site plan filing documents prepared by Rodgers Consulting.
RELATED
Procter & Gamble plans $1 billion Gillette R&D headquarters at Boston Waterfront site
Delivery of the project in the form of phased approvals
The project has received approval for the schematic development plan, which sets out uses, density and general layout, but requires a series of final site plan approvals before building permits can be issued, said Jasmine Forbes, a planner for the City of Gaithersburg.
“Due to the size of the project, these approvals are being submitted in phases linked to individual development blocks and infrastructure components,” he said.
Two of those final site plans are now under review, including an infrastructure submission covering stormwater systems and pond remodeling, as well as a separate plan for the project’s main internal road network, according to Gaithersburg’s planning department.
According to Forbes, basic infrastructure and road work is expected to precede vertical development on individual blocks.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new intelligent AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
Approved schematic development plan materials allow for up to about 1,600 housing units, approximately 470,000 square feet of retail and up to 750,000 square feet of workplace space, including life science and research uses, on the 102-acre site.
The mall, which opened in 1978 as a regional mall, closed in 2023 after years of declining leases, leaving a roughly 1 million-square-foot structure and surface parking slated for redevelopment.
County Review Flag Design Conflicts
Montgomery County Department of Transportation officials said key items must be addressed before the city can act on the infrastructure submission.
In written comments to the city, MCDOT officials said Gaithersburg “should not approve the site plan” until outstanding design issues, including coordination with a planned transit facility and the roadway geometry needed to support bus operations, are resolved.
Comments raise operational concerns, such as whether internal streets can accommodate 40-foot buses, turning movements at key intersections, and lane widths that may need to be increased to meet traffic standards.
Montgomery County is separately advancing the transit center, and the developer is expected to dedicate land for the facility. County officials said the design is in the early stages and will continue on its own review trail, although its footprint and access requirements already influence drainage and adjacent road alignments.
Designing the form of stormwater restrictions and next steps
The infrastructure effort is underpinned by relocating the 84-in. storm drainage, a system large enough to influence building location and development block configuration.
The former Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Maryland is shown before redevelopment. The regional mall closed in 2023 after years of declining leasing and is slated for a $1 billion-plus mixed-use transformation.
Source: G. Edward Johnson/Wikipedia – Used under CC 4.0
In response to the city’s comments, the applicant, Lakeforest Development LLC, said in a written response that future buildings on at least part of the site would be required to maintain a 25-foot setback from the pipeline alignment.
Review comments also noted constructability issues, including deep fence structures, large-diameter pipe connections, and drainage system geometry, in addition to the need for custom structures where standard state details do not fit the proposed pipe size.
The project is being led by WRS Inc., with Rodgers Consulting as the civil engineer on the current road and infrastructure plans. Gensler is attached as the architect for the wider redevelopment, in accordance with the approved schemes and related application materials.
A call made to WRS Inc. it was not returned by press time.
Forbes said infrastructure plans are still under review and no permits have been issued for the work. County officials said early work on the transit center is expected to include site preparation, including grading and filling an existing drainage pond to create a pad ready for future construction.
