When I worked in Rockville MD as a Preservation Planner. this property was a major project for us. I began it life as a luxury hotel and later served as a hospital for the mentally ill. The hospital famously inspired the book and movie I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. The building was eventually abandoned until a developer purchased the property and worked with the city (and specifically my friend Anne) to rehab the building as high end condos with a major housing development behind the main building.
Sadly this weekend the building burned to the ground. It happens a lot with older buildings. Just as they are about to be reborn they are destroyed. Rockville has very few surviving structure that illustrate it’s long history. This is a tragedy for that community.
Katie alerted me to the news today. Here is a clip from the local news about the fire.
Oh no! I know that building and was really happy to see it being renovated!