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. The Mayor and Council believed that a revitalized downtown was important to the future of Rockville and they looked toward urban renewal as a solution for the growing problem.

In 1962, a preliminary Urban Renewal Plan was drafted with goals to: prevent the spread of blight, permit the rehabilitation and redevelop commercial areas. The impact on the city would be significant with the total renewal area encompassing some forty-six acres in the heart of downtown. One hundred families and individuals, along with 150 businesses, were relocated from the Mid-City area. Roads that had served the city for generations like East Montgomery Avenue, Commerce Lane, and Sarah Street were rerouted or abandoned.

The Rockville Newsletter from December 1962 promises that the preliminary plan will include "Dramatic Changes". Many of the changes, intended to improve traffic flow and provide more uniform lot sizes were welcome. This was the City of the Future and what Montgomery County deserved for its county seat.

In June 1963, a publication called the "National Capital  Area Realtor" published an article called "Rockville... a city with a plan". The plan was a five-year restructuring of downtown which would "more than double the amount of retail floor space, [and] increase the available office space by 50%". The retail plans included a major department store, which was "wished for by many residents". Other proposed amenities included a regional library, restaurants, and a theater. 

The "five-year plan" proposed in 1963 took more than 5 years. The original architect for the project was replaced.  The architect whose plan was finally accepted was Robert L. Geddes, Dean of Architecture at Princeton University and partner in Geddes, Brecher, Qualls, and Cunningham. 

The final plan called for 4 major centers of activity: a public square, a linear shopping arcade, a commercial office center, and a residential block. The century-old courthouse complex, which had been slated for demolition at one point, was preserved in this version.