Sunday, May 03, 2015

Westwood Shopping Center doubles number of public events for 2015

One of the positive developments since developer Equity One purchased the Westwood Shopping Center has been the introduction of property events. Last year, it was a big deal to have events for the first time at the shopping center in my lifetime. Previous owners Capital Properties and Dr. Laszlo Tauber did not program events, even as other firms like Federal Realty do this regularly at properties large and small. Such events are not only positive for retail patrons, but also for the businesses in the center.

Now that events are here, Equity One is roughly doubling the number being scheduled for this year compared to 2014. Here's the list of what's planned through October:

Mother's Day at Westbard
May 9, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Pet-a-Palooza
June 13, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Westbard Sidewalk Sale
July 11, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Electronic Recycling Day
August 15, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

School Supply Drive
August 15-21

Fitness Day
September 19, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Fall Festival
October 17, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Stay tuned for details on each event as they become available.

Westwood Shopping Center
5400 Westbard Avenue

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That parking lot is sooo inviting.

Robert Dyer said...

It definitely is, compared to the experience of dealing with the gridlocked garages in downtown Bethesda. You must get around by magic carpet or teleportation, I assume.

Anonymous said...

Dyer's blog will fade ..... #DeadMall

Anonymous said...

@ 1:43 PM -

Do you realize that there are other modes of transportation available in downtown Bethesda besides cars and magic carpets?

Steve D. said...

"Do you realize that there are other modes of transportation available in downtown Bethesda besides cars and magic carpets?

6:46 PM"

Camels? They're a little temperamental.

Anonymous said...

I am happy with the way the mall looks.

Anonymous said...

Mr.Dyer

Did you get a chance to see the planning board briefing on april 30? The planners announced to Chairman Anderson that now the westbard sector plan has a lot of community support. They can spin anything!

Anonymous said...

8:13 PM I've been waiting for them to pull out the old "everyone loves the plan, except for a small vocal minority" line that planners and PR firms love to use.

Problem is, a vocal overwhelming *majority* are against the current plan.

Robert Dyer said...

8:13,6:15: Indeed, their claim is completely inaccurate. There was no actual resident speaking in favor of the plan at the November meeting. And only one of the handful who praised the plan at the April meeting actually lived in the plan area (Kenwood). The others were from neighborhoods adjacent to downtown Bethesda, where they would be unaffected by the impacts of what they are endorsing.

Anonymous said...

Robert, Your reporting on the Westbard sector plan has been honest and accurate. I am very disappointed in the planners, who appear to have a vision very different than those in the immediate community and, as a commenter above observed, "spin" the data.

One especially concerning occurrence (as you pointed out) was the difference in the verbal presentation of the plan on April 22, which focused on building height reductions to 50' on some parcels, versus the actual plan-- which emphasizes 75' building heights through much of the sector.

Also concerning is that "small scale" photos ( ~ 45' - 50') and language ("urban village") are emphasized by the planners in communicating with residents-- suggesting a lower density result than is actually planned. This miscommunication does not appear to be accidental.