Downtown Rockville was composed of small shops, homes, and apartments built as the City evolved over time. Mid-City Urban Renewal Project ushered in large, singular buildings: the Rockville Mall and Americana Centre Condominiums as the primary form of retail and residences in Downtown Rockville. Further, they displaced families and businesses, as buildings were purchased and demolished. As the years passed, people - owners, residents, and tenants - had to decide what to do or where to be as the time between demolition and construction stretched on. There were few intermediary options for the people who called downtown Rockville home or made a living there - they had to leave and find a new place to live or work. Ultimately, many of these residents and businesses never returned.
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In 1964, the City of Rockville began to send letters to businesses that would be affected by UR. They were informed of the approval of "the City of Rockville's Mid City Urban Renewal Project" and their eligibility for a relocation payment. The City paid moving and / or storage expenses (up to 6 mos. storage) in addition to the valued price of the property. The redevelopment was occurring in phases and if a business moved before the property was actually acquired by the City, they would not receive any funds. See a copy of the Villa Theater Relocation Letter here.
The revitalization came at the loss of many familiar and beloved institutions. Businesses that had been in Rockville for generations suddenly found themselves unable to survive. Favorite restaurants such as Roy’s Place and Maryanna Fine Foods closed. Although some reopened in new quarters, as Roy’s Place did to Gaithersburg, others moved from the city center or closed permanently. Stories of some of these places can be found on the Buildings page
Before the reconstruction of downtown Rockville could begin, appraisers needed to visit each site. These appraisal photographs help us reconstruct what Rockville looked like then. Photos of many of the downtown buildings can be viewed in the Photo Gallery. You can stroll (or scroll) through the downtown, or jump directly to a street.
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.