Max for Rockville

Max for Rockville Views, ideas, and thoughts about Rockville, Maryland.

I moved to Rockville, Maryland in 2001 with my wife Mary from California to accept a position with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. After ten years as an in-house consultant to the National Trust Historic Sites, I now head my own firm, Engaging Places LLC, to consult with historic sites, museums, and non-profit organizations across the country. Mary was the Executive

Director of Peerless Rockville, the historic preservation organization in town and now joins me in my consulting practice. We live in a 1960 split-level ranch in the Twinbrook Forest neighborhood of Rockville along with a dog, three cats, and occasional deer, foxes, and turtles.

Federal Cuts Are Reshaping Rockville’s FutureOne in five workers in Rockville are tied to federal employment. Source: RE...
02/15/2026

Federal Cuts Are Reshaping Rockville’s Future

One in five workers in Rockville are tied to federal employment. Source: REDI, "Impact of Government Restructuring," Feb. 2, 2026. The Rockville Mayor and Council met on February 9, 2026, when Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) presented a major economic briefing about how federal policy changes are affecting the city. The full reports — including the Economic Impact presentation and supporting materials — are available in the…...

One in five workers in Rockville are tied to federal employment. Source: REDI, “Impact of Government Restructuring,” Feb. 2, 2026. The Rockville Mayor and Council met on February 9, 202…

Rockville Council to Consider Updates to Tree Preservation RulesThe Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, Jan...
01/12/2026

Rockville Council to Consider Updates to Tree Preservation Rules

The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Key items include routine board and commission appointments, a community forum for public comment, and approval of several consent items, including a $309,000 vehicle purchase, the City’s FY 2025 financial reports, and an election-related agreement for a Drop Box at City Hall. The primary policy action is an ordinance updating the City’s Forest and Tree Preservation regulations to align with state law and improve administration....

The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Key items include routine board and commission appointments, a community forum for public comment, and approval o…

Rockville recently launched a redesigned city website with a fresh look and a more user-friendly layout. The home page n...
11/01/2025

Rockville recently launched a redesigned city website with a fresh look and a more user-friendly layout. The home page now highlights key services—trash pickup, water billing, affordable housing, and city jobs—making it much easier for residents to find the information they use most often. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the Mayor and Council page, which is far less intuitive and raises concerns about public access and transparency....

Rockville recently launched a redesigned city website with a fresh look and a more user-friendly layout. The home page now highlights key services—trash pickup, water billing, affordable housing, a…

The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, October 6, 2025, to discuss a wide range of topics—from arts and cu...
10/06/2025

The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, October 6, 2025, to discuss a wide range of topics—from arts and culture to historic preservation, state legislative priorities, and school planning. Several of these items directly affect Rockville neighborhoods, local businesses, and the city’s future development. Proclamation: Arts and Humanities Month (Agenda pages 32–37) Rockville will declare October as Arts and Humanities Month…...

The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, October 6, 2025, to discuss a wide range of topics—from arts and culture to historic preservation, state legislative priorities, and school plan…

Rockville's Rules of Decorum are now hold to allow more time for study and review. At its Leadership Planning Meeting on...
10/03/2025

Rockville's Rules of Decorum are now hold to allow more time for study and review. At its Leadership Planning Meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 8:30 am, the Mayor and Council reviewed the agenda for that evening and removed Item 11 Rules of Decorum and Protocol. The meeting began with the City Manager reviewing the agenda and when he came to Item 11 Rules of Decorum, Councilmember…...

Rockville’s Rules of Decorum are now hold to allow more time for study and review. At its Leadership Planning Meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 8:30 am, the Mayor and Council reviewed …

At its September 29, 2026 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council are considering adopting new Rules of Decorum and Pro...
09/29/2025

At its September 29, 2026 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council are considering adopting new Rules of Decorum and Protocols to guide behavior at public meetings. These rules are designed to keep meetings orderly, respectful, and productive — but it’s equally important for residents to know what they can and cannot do when they participate. What You’re Allowed to Do…...

At its September 29, 2026 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council are considering adopting new Rules of Decorum and Protocols to guide behavior at public meetings. These rules are designed to keep…

King Farm Farmstead recommendations for Phase 1 (cost est. $14.6 M). The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday...
09/27/2025

King Farm Farmstead recommendations for Phase 1 (cost est. $14.6 M). The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, September 29, 2025. Several significant issues are up for discussion, ranging from meeting rules to long-term planning for land use, transportation, and historic preservation. Below is a preview of the topics most relevant to residents and businesses. Rules of Decorum for Council Meetings…...

King Farm Farmstead recommendations for Phase 1 (cost est. $14.6 M). The Rockville Mayor and Council will meet on Monday, September 29, 2025. Several significant issues are up for discussion, rangi…

Rockville’s Mayor and Council is returning from its August break facing a packed agenda with decisions that could shape ...
09/01/2025

Rockville’s Mayor and Council is returning from its August break facing a packed agenda with decisions that could shape the city’s future for years to come. At the September 8 meeting, three major issues will take center stage: housing affordability and federal funding priorities, a complete overhaul of the city’s election code, and progress on Rockville’s ambitious Vision Zero traffic safety plan....

Rockville’s Mayor and Council is returning from its August break facing a packed agenda with decisions that could shape the city’s future for years to come. At the September 8 meeting, three major …

Like many in Rockville, I’ve been following the tragic news out of Central Texas, where sudden, devastating floods swept...
07/08/2025

Like many in Rockville, I’ve been following the tragic news out of Central Texas, where sudden, devastating floods swept through campsites and neighborhoods with terrifying speed. It’s a sobering reminder: even if we don’t live near a major river or the coast, we're not immune to flooding. So what are the chances that something similar could happen here in Rockville?...

Like many in Rockville, I’ve been following the tragic news out of Central Texas, where sudden, devastating floods swept through campsites and neighborhoods with terrifying speed. It’s a sobering r…

The next Rockville Mayor and Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m. Several agenda...
07/06/2025

The next Rockville Mayor and Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m. Several agenda items may directly interest residents and businesses, including a proposed development extension on Rockville Pike and new plans for the King Farm Farmstead Park. The meeting also includes updates on international partnerships and community celebrations. Complete agenda available online. …...

The next Rockville Mayor and Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m. Several agenda items may directly interest residents and businesses, including a proposed d…

The darker the color, the higher the rent. Est. median gross rent in Rockville, Maryland, 2019-2023 (US Census). At a re...
06/23/2025

The darker the color, the higher the rent. Est. median gross rent in Rockville, Maryland, 2019-2023 (US Census). At a recent Community Forum, Rockville residents spoke out about rising rents, neglected apartments, and fears of being pushed out of the city they call home. Their stories were powerful—and familiar. For many, housing costs are rising faster than wages, and longtime residents are finding it harder to stay in Rockville....

The darker the color, the higher the rent. Est. median gross rent in Rockville, Maryland, 2019-2023 (US Census). At a recent Community Forum, Rockville residents spoke out about rising rents, negle…

At the June 16, 2025 meeting of the Rockville Mayor and Council, more than two dozen residents—many of them renters and ...
06/21/2025

At the June 16, 2025 meeting of the Rockville Mayor and Council, more than two dozen residents—many of them renters and students—delivered passionate testimony on the future of our city during Community Forum. Three major themes were emphasized (note: the claims or facts are presented as given by the speakers and were not fact-checked for accuracy or context…...

At the June 16, 2025 meeting of the Rockville Mayor and Council, more than two dozen residents—many of them renters and students—delivered passionate testimony on the future of our city during Comm…

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