Background
Rock Creek Woods is a suburban development consisting of 76 contemporary houses located roughly one mile north of Kensington. The homes, designed by Charles Goodman, were built between 1958 and 1961 by Herschel and Marvin Blumberg, merchant builders who headed up the Bancroft Construction Company. The subdivision consists of four streets that form a large, self-contained and wooded cul-de-sac tucked away at the end of a Connecticut Avenue service road.
The National Park Service listed the Rock Creek Woods Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The designation is primarily honorific and does not restrict private property owners from altering or demolishing their homes. However, it may provide property owners with access to state and Federal historic preservation tax credits.
In February 2026, residents of the neighborhood requested that Montgomery Planning study Rock Creek Woods for potential designation to Montgomery County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation.
Master Plan for Historic Preservation
Adopted by the County Council in 1979, the Master Plan for Historic Preservation is Montgomery County’s official preservation planning document. It includes all designated historic sites and districts. Designation of a property or entire district signifies that it has been thoroughly researched by preservation specialists and reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board, and approved and adopted by the County Council. Once designated, a site or district is protected under the Chapter 24A of the County Code, Historic Resources Preservation.
Designation in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation:
- recognizes significant architectural and cultural sites and districts;
- protects buildings and neighborhoods from demolition;
- manages exterior alterations to resources;
- provides owners with information on care, restoration, and preservation; and
- qualifies owners for local historic preservation tax credits.
Next Steps
Montgomery Planning will evaluate Rock Creek Woods for designation as a Master Plan Historic District starting in Winter 2026/2027. This website will be updated with future community engagement meetings, timelines, and public hearing dates.
Staff contact
John Liebertz
301-563-3405
Email