A Rockville developer is expected to move ahead with plans for a proposed retail building at The Blairs shopping center in downtown Silver Spring now that the Montgomery County Planning Board has approved its request for a slightly bigger building.

On Thursday, the board approved the request by the Tower Cos. to increase the density of its proposed one-story building from 5,400 square feet to 7,350 square feet. Company representatives said during the board’s meeting that they expect the building to house retail businesses, an animal hospital and outdoor gathering spaces.

The site of the proposed one-story building is in the parking lot across from District Taco in the shopping plaza, near the corner of East West Highway and Colesville Road. The shopping center is home to a Giant supermarket, Mama Lucia and Crisp & Juicy. In addition, a handful of residential buildings surround the area including The Pearl and The Blair House.

Bill Kominers, an attorney with the Lerch, Early & Brewer law firm representing the Tower Cos., told the board the proposed building was originally designed for a restaurant tenant. He did not identify the restaurant but said that it backed out at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

"Upon reviewing it once more today and aiming to offer suitable alternatives, Kominers expressed a sense that the building required a bit more space to better meet the applicant's needs."

He remarked that discussions regarding the lease are currently in progress with a potential tenant for the animal hospital.

The Blair Strategic Blueprint

The proposed building is located within a section of The Blair Strategic Blueprint, which proposes the 20-year redevelopment of the area encompassing the existing shopping center, office buildings and several residential buildings owned by the Tower Cos. According to planning documents, the plan calls for 450,000 square feet for commercial uses. It also calls for 3,375,400 square feet for residential uses — or a total of 2,800 residential dwelling units, 1,690 of which would be new. The board approved the Blairs Master Plan in 2013.

As outlined in the planning documents, the developer's suggested structure is intended to be "temporary in nature," given its placement in an area designated for a future residential development and green space, which will be authorized through a forthcoming Site Plan. The documents also indicate that the temporary building can be removed at any time, as decided by Tower Cos.

Commissioner Mitra Pedoeem confirmed with the developer that the building in question would be of a temporary nature.

“Most likely, I assume you’ve been considering for a while that investing [money to construct it] is worthwhile. So, in the end, the final design might be adjusted … but at this moment, it seems logical to include it,” Pedoeem remarked. “It’s a stunning structure. I truly appreciate the work you’ve done.”

Planning Board Chair Artie Harris expressed that witnessing the developer's long-term vision for the property was truly “incredible.”

Harris remarked, "It's quite fascinating that you're prepared to put significant resources into a temporary fix, as it demonstrates your dedication to long-term goals."

The meeting did not cover a timeline for the interim building's development. Gary Abramson, a partner at Tower Cos. mentioned in the company's plan amendment application, has not commented on the plans or the project's timeline in response to Bethesda Today’s inquiry.

In discussing the future of the site, the development team said bringing the full master plan to fruition was dependent on market conditions.

“During the meeting, Mohammed Hamidaddin, the director of construction at Tower Cos., expressed, ‘We are highly committed to executing the master plan at the earliest opportunity, contingent on market conditions. Constructing buildings that remain unoccupied doesn’t benefit us, the community, or anyone else for that matter.’”