Pulte Proposes Townhomes for Watkins Mill Site
Pulte Home Company has submitted a Sketch Plan application for a residential and commercial project on about 18 acres in Gaithersburg.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Residential
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Pulte Home Company submitted a Sketch Plan application for Watkins Mill Town Center: Phase II in Gaithersburg, covering about 18 acres. The application, designated SK-10486-2026, is under review by the City of Gaithersburg and has not received final approval.
Why it matters
The proposal would replace a previously planned life-science campus, reflecting shifting demand for development on the site. Gaithersburg residents would see new housing, limited commercial space, and road changes affecting nearby neighborhoods.
The Sketch Plan proposes up to 254 townhouses, 68 two-over-two units, and 14 live/work units on about 18 acres, versus 900,000 square feet of office space in 2005 approved plans. The application remains under city review, and final approval has not been granted.
The players
Pulte Home Company
Pulte Home Company is a major U.S. homebuilder that submitted the Sketch Plan application for the Watkins Mill Town Center: Phase II project.
City of Gaithersburg
The City of Gaithersburg is the municipal government in Maryland that is reviewing the Sketch Plan application for the proposed development.
The details
The proposal includes roughly 6,500 square feet of commercial, retail, or personal service space and a 10,000-square-foot community amenity area with a clubhouse, pool, and playground. Town Center Boulevard would be extended from West Watkins Mill Road to Parkview Avenue, with a second road along the railroad tracks intended to reduce traffic through the Parklands neighborhood.
Timeline
2005: Original Watkins Mill Town Center plans approved.
2022: Amended life-science campus development plan approved.
November 5, 2026: Pulte submitted the Sketch Plan application.
Market Landscape
The 2022 amended development plan had approved a life-science campus for this site, but declining demand for that space led the prior purchaser to abandon the project. The Pulte proposal shifts the site toward for-sale housing with limited commercial space.
Residents near Parklands and Watkins Mill Station could see changes in traffic patterns if the proposed road connections are approved. The project would add new townhome and live/work options in the area if the application advances.
The takeaway
Residents interested in Gaithersburg development can follow the Sketch Plan review as the City considers the application. Watching how the city weighs housing, commercial space, and traffic will show how the site is ultimately developed.
Further reading
Explore more Gaithersburg residential real estate coverage for context on local housing development.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.
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