They have asked the project designers to utilize brick or "local Bethesda stone" on the building facade, particularly on the Rugby Avenue side of the building. Currently, the facade is proposed as concrete and CMU block (concrete blocks).
Other recommendations include creating a new sidewalk from Rugby Avenue to the public parking garage adjacent to the station site, and providing 4 short-term bicycle parking spaces in racks in front of the station.
Staff is recommending approval of the project, with recommendations. The Planning Board is currently scheduled to take up the station project at its May 7 meeting.
The station will be located at 4823 Rugby Avenue, and is being developed by StonebridgeCarras. In exchange, the developer will be able to redevelop the prime real estate of the current, aging police station at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue. That site is very close to the Bethesda Metro station (and is virtually on top of the station platform deep under Wisconsin Avenue).
Rendering courtesy Montgomery County Planning Department
20 comments:
Oh yes please pretty this concrete box up a bit thanks!
So, how did you receive this information?
5:33: As I mentioned in the article, there is a memo from planners to the Planning Board.
Keep it as is. We don't need to spend money on needless facades.
Rugby is part of a quickly re-developing part of town. There will be additional condo/apartment buildings going up right there and a lot of people live the Palisades, Gallery, etc. already
Why make the police station look like a cinder block? Let's raise our standards a bit and make a signature building.
So is Dyer going to spend the rest of the day whining that Kraut "stole" this story, too?
This is a police station not a yoga studio.
Why change the character of Wisconsin Ave? We like the traditional police station. Many people chose their homes in Chevy Chase because the nice suburban police station is so near. Adding more apartments to the area will just crowd schools and roads.
@ 6:36 PM -
What is this "traditional...nice suburban police station" nonsense Do you really think that the purpose of the station is to make that block "look nice"? The current station is obsolete and does not serve needs of the Police Department.
If it were to be re-built in the same location, that would mean that there would be no police station in downtown Bethesda for several years.
Rockville converted their historic post office into a new police headquarters and it looks great. Totally renovated and modern inside. It fits in well with their downtown.
Why should our downtown settle for a cinder block police building?
Has any thought been given to using solar or even geothermal. As we have seen before, when we have a major weather or, worse, issue, we need a location that has lights and heat.
We see all these new buildings going up and not a solar panel on them. What's wrong with using solar? It does not hurt.
"Keep it as is. We don't need to spend money on needless facades."
Isn't the developer covering the tab for the new station?
"[W]e need a location that has lights and heat."
What??? So does every other building that has ever been or ever will be built.
I'm guessing they're talking about emergency\backup power?
I'm sure it has a generator.
Up front $$$$$$ unfortunately.
You chose a house because the police station is near? Do you spend a lot of time there?
This building maybe would fit in better in Westbard?
No, but I may choose not to buy a house because a police station is near - and a ghetto looking one at that.
Doesn't really matter what the station looks like as long as the police venture out of more frequently and put a stop to the assaults and thefts that have been multiplying lately.
I parked in that gravel lot for 10 years. Just can't picture a full access busy police station in that little spot.
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