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GAITHERSBURG, Md. - A growing fight is unfolding in Montgomery County over newly released school boundary options tied to the long-awaited Crown High School project. Parents in Gaithersburg say the latest proposal from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is "unfair," leaving their neighborhood at a disadvantage while shifting the new school’s benefits elsewhere.

The concerns intensified after MCPS presented four revised boundary scenarios during a virtual meeting Monday night. Parents say each option pushes Gaithersburg students into already overcrowded schools—or allocates the brand-new Crown High School primarily to more affluent communities.

Parents say new options sideline Gaithersburg students

Parents who spoke with FOX 5 say they were shocked by how drastically the new draft options differ from earlier expectations.

Parent Monica Bassi argued that Gaithersburg families helped fund Crown through development impact taxes but may not see the benefits.

Another in-person public meeting on the issue was scheduled for Tuesday evening at Gaithersburg High School, where parents say they plan to confront district officials directly.

MCPS: Crown should serve as a temporary holding school

MCPS confirms it is formally recommending that Crown High School open not as a comprehensive high school, but as a temporary holding school. Under the plan, the Crown campus would house students displaced during major renovations at three aging high schools: Magruder, Damascus, and Wootton.

One option presented Monday would assign Crown High School primarily to Wootton High School students during their renovation.

District leaders say this strategy would save an estimated $273.8 million, shorten construction timelines by about seven years, and help address long-standing challenges in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), which faces a multibillion-dollar backlog.

Community pushback: "We paid for this school"

Families in Gaithersburg argue that their community’s rapid growth and tax contributions justify opening Crown as a neighborhood high school - particularly since many of the proposed scenarios redirect their children to overcrowded campuses farther away.

"I want my two daughters to go to the high school that's in walking distance from them that we've paid for that they deserve," said parent Dana Riddell.

"Crown is the closest high school to my kids, so it's going to take them over 270. So, my concern is also the options - put them in a school that's going to be overcrowded," said Bassi said.

Others worry the district is making promises it cannot guarantee.

"My big fear ultimately is they're going to promise using this as a holding school for ten to fifteen years to go fix three separate high schools that they don't have funding for," said parent Tyler Hammock.

Questions over enrollment data

While MCPS cites county-wide declining enrollment as a major driver behind the holding-school proposal, Gaithersburg leaders say the district is ignoring strong population growth in their city.

Parents point to data presented by Gaithersburg’s mayor, including major employers—such as AstraZeneca—expanding in the area and bringing thousands of jobs.

"AstraZeneca is investing over two billion here. We have the Lake Forest development that's coming. People are going to be moving in here. Jobs are being created here. Growth is concentrated up county in Gaithersburg. And that data is being blatantly ignored," Bassi said.

Some parents say MCPS should go back to the drawing board.

What happens next

The district will hear questions and public comments Tuesday night at Gaithersburg High School. MCPS emphasizes that this is only a recommendation—not a final decision.

The proposal now heads to the County Executive and County Council for review, triggering one of the most significant phases for public input.

Upcoming Boundary Study Engagement Sessions

More information can be found online.

The Source: Information in this article comes from Montgomery County Public Schools and previous FOX 5 reporting.

Starvin Marvin’s Pizzeria & Grille has announced that it will close after 38 years in business, bringing a close to a well-known local brand with deep roots in Gaithersburg and Frederick. The owners shared the news in an emotional social media message titled “The End of Our Era,” saying they are ready to step away from the pizza business after nearly four decades.

The original Starvin Marvin’s opened in Gaithersburg in 1982. The Foundas family purchased it in 1987 and quickly expanded, opening a Wheaton location in 1990. That restaurant operated for a few years before closing, but the Gaithersburg shop remained a neighborhood favorite for decades. In 2009, the family opened a second location in Frederick, which later became their sole restaurant when the Gaithersburg store was sold in 2012 to two longtime employees who wanted to take ownership of the place where they built their careers. A representative from the Gaithersburg store shared that it will remain open.

In their announcement, the owners reflected on the generations of families who dined with them and the many regulars who became like family. They shared memories of team meals inside the restaurant, school and corporate catering events, and the pizza eating contests held during Frederick’s Fourth of July celebrations. Many of the familiar faces behind the counter were relatives, including their children and cousins, as well as friends who grew up alongside them.

Supporting the community has been a hallmark of the business. The owners said they took pride in helping local schools, churches, and little leagues through discounts and donations, especially since their own children were involved in many of those activities over the years.

The Frederick location is expected to be sold in mid December, when a new pizzeria concept will take over the space. The owners plan to share an exact last day of operations when it becomes available. They also noted that the Starvin Marvin name will retire with them for now. They said the legacy of the brand feels tied to their family, but they are preserving the option for the next generation to bring it back one day.

Quoting Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way,” they thanked the Frederick community for its support and encouraged customers to stop by in the coming weeks to enjoy their favorite meals one last time and to say goodbye.

Big Pharma makes an even bigger footprint in Maryland: AstraZeneca, a heavyweight in life sciences, is expanding its Gaithersburg presence with a $2 billion facility, set to amp up job numbers and cling onto an existing employee base. Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich raised glasses on Friday to toast this investment, which is set to churn out clinical trial molecules, according to Montgomery County's official announcement.

The facility is not just another building. It’s a major play to keep Maryland a key player in the biotech game. "This landmark investment strengthens the U.S. medicine supply chain and accelerates the development of life-saving therapies," Gov. Moore told attendees, touting Maryland as a leading life sciences state. County Executive Marc Elrich not only patted the state's back but also zeroed in on talent, community, and the innovation ecosystem as magnets for AstraZeneca's decision.

Here's what the Gaithersburg expansion means in digits: 100 new jobs on board, 400 roles retained, and an estimated 1,000 construction jobs in play. The gears are expected to turn at full steam by 2029, with the city of Gaithersburg giving its blessing to expedite the setup. Rep. April McClain Delaney threw in her two cents, saying, "This historic investment is fantastic news for our communities, businesses, and workers along the I-270 Technology Corridor," in a statement noted by Montgomery County's press release.

AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot added to the choir, underscoring the company's allegiance to Maryland's economy and noting the rare disease portfolio coming to the American shores for the first spell. As the state's largest biopharmaceutical employer, the company reflects the synergy between a global outlook and Montgomery County's international identity and diverse talent pool.

On the economic front, County Council President Kate Stewart highlighted the boon this investment will be to advances in medical treatments. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation's board chair, Elana Fine, expressed exhilaration over this move and the strength of the County's life sciences ecosystem. This new Gaithersburg facility, following on the heels of a recent $300 million cell therapy facility in Rockville, is poised to make use of state-of-the-art AI and automation to boost advanced manufacturing and set the pace in technology within the County.

Peterson Cos. is moving forward with its long-anticipated redevelopment vision for Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg with Schematic Development Plan (SDP) that details how several portions of the Washingtonian Center could be reshaped over the next decade. A new Traffic Impact Study (TIS) submitted with the plan provides the most detailed look yet at what’s being proposed, including the demolition of the current Kohl’s building and the construction of multiple new residential communities around the lake. Renderings and a map, courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg, available below.

According to the TIS, the full redevelopment program across four project sites would introduce approximately 490 multi-family residential units, 23 single-family attached homes, and 44,000 SF of retail anchored by a new grocery store. The redevelopment is planned in two phases, with Projects 2–4 targeted for completion by 2028, and Project 1 following in 2032.

Project 1: Kohl’s Redevelopment: The most transformative piece of the plan involves demolishing the 97,000 SF Kohl’s building along Washingtonian Boulevard. In its place, Peterson Cos. proposes a mixed-use building with:

For traffic modeling purposes, existing vehicle trips from Kohl’s were subtracted from the projected trip generation, since the redevelopment replaces a pre-existing use.

Project 2: Northeast Lakefront Multifamily Located on the northeastern edge of the Rio Lake, this currently vacant parcel would be developed with:

This site sits near the boardwalk, Boomerang boats, and the walking path that wraps around the lake.

Project 3: Northwest Lakefront Multifamily On the opposite side of the lake, a similar vacant parcel on the northwestern edge is slated for:

This section of the property is currently open land between the lake trail and Rio’s northern surface parking areas.

Project 4: New Townhomes Between Old Sodexo Building and Marriott: A smaller redevelopment site between the Sodexo office tower and the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center would bring:

This site sits just west of Rio’s office core, tightening the connection between the hotel, the nearby corporate buildings, and the lakefront amenities.

Phased Timeline Through 2032. The redevelopment will unfold over two major phases:

Phase 1 (by 2028):

Phase 2 (by 2032):

If approved, the SDP would mark one of the most significant changes to the Washingtonian Center since its original development. The influx of nearly 500 new apartment units, paired with townhomes and a grocery-anchored retail hub, signals a shift toward a more residentially integrated, walkable Rio Lakefront.

The city’s review process is ongoing, and additional public meetings and materials are expected as the SDP advances through Gaithersburg’s planning pipeline. Per the City of Gaithersburg, “At the moment a public hearing has not been scheduled for this application. Comments on this application may either be mailed to 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 or emailed to planning@gaithersburgmd.gov .” Photos below courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg and Peterson Cos.