Rockville's Mid-City Project, an ambitious federally funded Urban Renewal project, drastically transformed Rockville's original downtown, changed street patterns, leveled buildings, and permanently altered the social and commercial heart of the City. It demolished buildings with wide-ranging architectural styles and changed historic routes that had evolved over time from the 18th century. These were replaced by monolithic mid-20th century structures that embraced "modern" ideas about urban design and commerce. This virtual exhibit seeks to illustrate how this momentous change came about as the City sought to create a model modern County Seat for a growing population and permanently altered the face of Rockville.

"Unique Small City Urban Renewal Project Gets Underway"

Headline in an undated News release from New York Public Relations firm.

From the end of WWII through 1972, Rockville went from a small town in a largely agricultural county to a modern suburban community. The path forward was not always smooth, the project did not go as quickly as planned, and some of the new amenities did not last long. But the impact of the Mid-City Project, as it was known, is felt even today.

The Mid-City Project transformed Rockville’s original downtown. It realigned streets and tore down familiar buildings. Changes that have taken place in recent years make it hard to picture what Rockville looked like in 1970, much less before. Houses and businesses reflecting decades of architectural styles vanished and roads that dated to Rockville's earliest days shifted or disappeared.

This virtual exhibit provides some context for how this change came about. Along the way, you can explore architectural plans and maps, and see buildings that were lost to demolition.

Please use the buttons above or the many links below to see how Rockville went about "Changing the Map".

Why Did Rockville Want Urban Renewal?

From our vantage point in the 21st century, it is easy to question the motives, designs, and actions of the past. People are curious why the Rockville City Government chose to make such drastic changes to the heart of downtown. Many comments focus on the loss of historic buildings and architecture and the destruction of the character of the town. However, the progressive leaders in office in 1959 were not looking to the past; their view was to a bright future for Rockville with lofty goals of transforming the city into a thriving commercial center and modern county seat. Rockville had experienced rapid growth in the period following World War II; the population grew from 2,047 residents in 1940 to 26,090 in 1960.

The record-breaking population growth brought many new residents and new perspectives, but it was also a strain on many public services. On a Sunday in 1953, the tipping point arrived; residents awoke to a nightmare of no water. The City’s antiquated water facility had failed. In the wake of this disaster the Citizens for Good Government, a non-partisan political group was formed. With enthusiasm and an eye for the future, the CGG ran a slate for election and won. The new mayor, Dickran Hovespian, along with the rest of the council, had great plans for Rockville. In 1949, Congress had passed the National Housing Act, which provided federal financing for programs associated with urban renewal projects in American cities (Title I). This made it possible for areas that had “blight” to apply for Federal Funds to improve their cities.

From the perspective of the Mayor and Council at the time, the division of parcels in downtown Rockville made it all but impossible for the government to achieve its goal of a bright, modern City. The parcels were of odd sizes and shapes with various parking situations. In 1961, the Mayor and Council adopted a resolution declaring that there was a slum or blighted area in Rockville and that rehabilitation, redevelopment, or a combination was necessary. This began a 9-year-long program that changed the street layout and the look of the town center of Rockville. To achieve this, the City government declared itself to be an entity and purchased all the land so it could be divided and newly developed in a planned manner.

Timeline of Urban Renewal

(Click arrow at right to view the timeline)

Items in Purple are National or State events

1949 – The Housing Act of 1949 provided federal financing for programs associated with Urban Renewal projects in American cities (Title I)

1951 - George Washington Carver Jr. High School and Jr. College opens.

1954 – The Citizens for Good Government (CGG), a non-partisan slate of Candidates slate of candidates is elected. Their desire for improvements and modernization will lead to many of the changes in Rockville.

1954 – Rockville receives its first “All America City Award”.

1956 - Southdale Center (Edina, Minnesota) first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping mall in the United States built.

1958 - Harrundale Plaza (Baltimore, Maryland) oldest fully enclosed mall in Maryland and the second oldest in the United States built.

1959 - A study recognized that the central business area is losing business and traffic is frequently an issue

1959 - March - Congressional Plaza Shopping Center Opens

1959 - Elwood Smith Teen Center opens (today the building is the Elwood Smith Community Center)

1961 - Rockville applies to FHA for funds to develop a plan for Urban Renewal

1961 - Extension to the Grey Courthouse is constructed

1962 – Planners reveal the first plans for the urban renewal project that includes high-density housing, shopping district, and office space. Donald Coupard and Associates are the architectural consultants.

1962 - March - Dedication of the new Rockville City Hall

1963 – Appraisals are carried out on the 120+ properties that are impacted by Urban Renewal. Residences and businesses are both affected. In June the City purchases properties as a first step to consolidating parcels

1964 - Jefferson Street is realigned and opens to traffic

1965 – Richard L. Geddes [of Geddes Breher and Qualls] is appointed to create a master plan and leads the project with a new vision.

1965 - May 13 – Demolition begins. Five buildings were demolished by Ace Wrecking Company on that date and lots were cleaned up.

1966 - 22 buildings in downtown are demolished and 110 more are slated for demolition

1967 - Jefferson Street extended to Rockville Pike/ Hungerford Drive/ Veirs Mill intersection and work beings on the intersection in August. Construction of the new Monroe Street is started. The Beall Avenue extension is completed.

1968 - Carl M. Freeman and Associates are selected to design and build a residential complex later known as the Americana Center.

1968 - The Fair Housing Act goes into effect

1969 - August 12 - Ground Breaking for the Rockville Mall.

1970 - Segments of East Montgomery Ave, Commerce Land, and Bridge Street are closed and abandoned

1970 - March 12 - Ground Breaking for the Americana Center

1971 - July - The Americana Center opens in July with 289 units, 123 Garden Apartments, and 10 townhouses.

1971 - Rockville Regional Library, designed by Bethesda architect Stanley H. Arthur is completed

1971 - Disney World opens in Orlando, Fl

1972 – February 12 Rockville Mall opens with 3 stores. The 113 year old department store chain, Lansburgh, is expected to be the anchor store, but the chain goes out of business in June 1973.

1974 - 51 Monroe Street opens

1978 - Town Center Apartments open (Senior Living - 90 Monroe Street)

1983 - Rockville Mall reopens as "Rockville Metro Center" with a pedestrian bridge linking it to the Metro stop.

1984 – Metro extends Red Line to Rockville

1993 - 1995 Demolition of Rockville Mall - a section of the mall which connects to the Metro is left standing and is used as office space.

In the Beginning

Despite many positive changes by the government elected in 1954, the city continued to face persistent issues with the success of the downtown.

The communities of Twinbrook and Hungerford were among those being built at this time. More municipal services outside the downtown were offered; the Smith Teen Center opened, and the Civic Center Auditorium was under construction. New ‘strip malls' such as Congressional Plaza, on the land that once held Congressional Airport, were springing up advertising spacious parking areas and an impressive array of stores which were competing with the downtown shops. Locally and across the nation, the post-war years saw the development of the suburbs and a new more mobile car-focused lifestyle.

A 1959 study recognized that the central business area suffered from traffic jams, parking shortages, and the loss of retail establishments. The Master Plan from 1960 labeled the downtown area of Rockville a “separate planning problem in itself” and proposed that the area between Jefferson Street, Middle Lane, North Washington Street and Hungerford Drive be redeveloped.

In 1960, Rockville began to take action to revitalize the city center. The downtown was made up of a mix of old and new buildings on small, oddly shaped parcels with different owners, which made it difficult to create a cohesive plan. The City decided the solution was to purchase the lots and reconfigure them to create a new, modern downtown.

In January 1962, Rockville received an Urban Renewal Administration grant of $120,000 for preparing a preliminary plan. Meetings with the public were expected in the fall, with plans to be approved by March 1963 so work could begin. It did not go that quickly. On November 27, 1962, a public information meeting was held at the Civic Auditorium to give businesses and property owners, and residents a chance to see the preliminary plan for the development.

It was not until August 1964 that the plans for renovating the 46 acres received final approval. The city began acquiring parcels in September 1964. Between 1964-1969 they purchased 98 parcels of land and demolished over 120 structures. The first building demolition happened in May of 1965. This extensive razing allowed the city to reconfigure lots and create a new street layout, but it had long-lasting effects on residents and businesses. The intention was to “Create a new environment alongside the historic center” (Weiss, “Origins and Legacy of Urban Renewal”).

There were four main centers of activity in the Master Plan which was adopted in 1965:

1) A Public Square

2) A Linear Shopping Arcade

3) A Commercial Office Center

4) A Residential Block

The project was known as the Mid-City Project.

The Start of Something New

Before the new could exist, the old had to be removed, and that took longer than anyone expected. Some buildings were condemned and boarded up while other businesses continued to operate alongside their empty neighbors. Sometimes another displaced business would move into a vacated store. As buildings were torn down, empty lots marred the landscape. It took years to tear it all down, and years to build up the new modern center of the City. The images in the carousel show the City in 1968, five years after the project began and four years before the opening of the new Rockville Mall.

Read more in our blog on "Vanishing Streets"

The Effects of Urban Renewal

The results of the 1960s Mid City Project in Rockville were not all that its planners envisioned. “Getting into Urban Renewal was our biggest mistake. It took too much time,” said former mayor Frank Ecker in 1977.

The Americana Centre is one of the remaining success stories from the era of Urban Renewal. The Rockville Mall did not live up to expectations or revitalize downtown Rockville and its demolition began in 1993.

Today, Town Center is a Mixed-Use area with living, shopping, and dining all near the Metro. Fifty years later it incorporates many of the elements which planners sought to include during Urban Renewal.

Maps

The layout of Rockville changed as the City purchased and combined lots to give Rockville a new look and new purpose. Explore the maps that led to Rockville today.

Plans

There were several different plans considered before the ultimate "mall concept" was adopted. Explore plans of what could have been.

Photo Gallery

Before the City could buy the properties and resurvey the lots, they had them appraised. The appraisal photos offer a look at Rockville just before Urban Renewal.

Buildings

White and Black residents and businesses were displaced. Who were they and what happened after? Explore some of the stories of where people went after Urban Renewal.

All images and documents used in this exhibit are from the collections of Peerless Rockville except where noted.

Permission to use reuse images must be obtained from Peerless Rockville.

Visit the Research Page to find out how to share your images and memories with Peerless Rockville!

About Peerless Rockville

Peerless Rockville endeavors to tell a more complete and compelling story of Rockville, Maryland that brings an inclusive history of Rockville to the public. Our team of community professionals and volunteers are motivated to engage fellow residents in the history that exists all around them and cultivate the drive to learn more and educate others. Your contributions help Peerless Rockville preserve our City’s heritage, tell the story of its rich history, and nurture Rockville’s unique sense of place. There are many opportunities to support Peerless Rockville’s operations. To donate, click the link which will direct you to our website's donation page. Donate