New Town Center Takes A Cue From The Past

Replacing a '70s era shopping mall that was intended to revive the city's downtown, the new town center of Rockville, Maryland returns to urban planning's roots.

1 minute read

November 25, 2006, 5:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


Rockville Town Square is a new $360 million redevelopment project that aims to give the Washington, D.C. suburb a vibrant mixed-use downtown.

"The design of the 15-acre pedestrian-oriented town square project -- which has wide basket-weave brick sidewalks, large trees, islands of flowers, and colorfully painted residences overlooking a fountain and benches in the town square -- is modeled after Italian piazzas."

"In the early 1970s, [the city's] first urban renewal plan included the behemoth mall that was torn down 25 years after it was built. ''In the first case.'' Mr. Chambers said, ''we created a place that everyone had to drive to, and once they got there, they had to stay indoors.''

''Now we're using the experience of the last several thousand years,'' he said. ''We're not separating uses in our communities from one another. We're bringing them all together.'' "

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

4 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

5 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

6 hours ago - Cities Today