A scale model of Downtown Crown — the heart of Gaithersburg's new 182-acre Crown development — made its debut at Thursday morning's official groundbreaking ceremony, bringing to life the future vision of the property's main retail and dining corridor.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz were joined by city, state and Crown development officials for the ceremony.

Located along Fields Road across the street from Rio/Washingtonian Center, Crown will feature 2,250 homes — including single family, townhomes, apartments and condominiums — 350,000 square feet of retail, four distinct neighborhoods, parks, walking trails, a future transit stop for the Corridor City Transitway (CCT) and has set aside 32 acres for the potential future home of a Montgomery County Public Schools high school.

"Crown is located at one of the most strategic locations in the county, the heart of a major employment center," Katz said in a statement. "The housing it will bring to Gaithersburg is greatly needed for our future residents who we know are coming."

Related Coverage:

• Crown Construction to Open Thursday With City, County Officials (Oct. 9, 2012)
• Mayor Katz: Crown High School Would Help Overcrowding (July 31, 2012)
• PHOTOS: Artist Images for Future Crown Development (July 26, 2012)
• Mayor, Council Tout Plans For Crown Development (July 25, 2012)
• Vision for Crown Farm Development Seen by City (July 24, 2012)
• Report: Crown Farm Site Sold for $28M (July 18, 2012)