The Lauren is aiming to be the premier ultra-luxury building in town, with 29 units that have direct access elevators, private wine storage with in-house sommelier, vented fireplaces, standard high-end lighting fixtures and appliances, and - in some cases - roof terraces.
Amenities will include a wine lounge and theater screening room, rooftop terrace, concierge, fitness center, private underground parking (including a car lift if you want to work on your Bentley yourself), and guest suites.
TTR/Sotheby's, 1788 Holdings and Persimmon Capital Partners are the development team, and The Lauren was designed by Robert M. Swedroe architects and Akseizer Design Group (ADG).
 |
| You'll be right across Hampden Lane from Mike Isabella's new Kapnos Kouzina restaurant |
This building is actually going up at a rate of one floor per week. They pour an entire new level of concrete every Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see this building done. Is there any ground floor retail?
ReplyDeleteWrol, not that I am aware of.
DeleteWhat a wasted opportunity to link Bethesda Row - Bethesda Metro - Woodmont Triangle
Deletedang, what a missed chance to bring the two sides of Bethesda closer - especially with the metro being right in the center but oh so far apart.
Delete@ 3:43 PM - Blame the folks in Edgemoor. They're even bigger NIMBYs than the folks in Westbard.
ReplyDeleteNot sure Edegmoor folks really fought this, did they? It helps their property values, it's far enough away...
DeleteNot this project so much, but their fight against the original plans for the old Giant site had a chilling effect on the entire south end of Bethesda.
ReplyDelete8:23 PM: Please expound?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the "chilling" effect? Seems the Edgemoor residents use that Giant a lot.
DeleteThat space certainly could use a good sprucing up though. Such huge wasted space with their parking lot garage entry. And that Bethesda avenue block could really be cleaned up on the other side of Arlington.
3:16 AM, 4:22 PM - I was referring to the old Giant site on the east side of Arlington Road that became the Bethesda Lane development. Pressure from Edgemoor residents forced the developer to shrink that project to about half of the size that was originally proposed.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. It could have been so much more in that space. Bethesda Row could really have transformed larger and connected the neighborhood more than that bad gap now.
Delete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. It could have been so much more in that space. Bethesda Row could really have transformed larger and connected the neighborhood more than that bad gap now.
8:08 AM"
What gap are you referring to?
The Giant entrance to the parking lot if I recall is in the back towards the neighborhood and is just a big empty space with little parking, a big wall, and a garage entrance. That lot is a big long dead space. Also the shops on the Bethesda Avenue side could use some cohesion and sprucing up to make it as enticing to visit as Bethesda Row. Make that walking connection across Arlington a little more inviting and seamless and it might draw some more visitors.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThe Giant entrance to the parking lot if I recall is in the back towards the neighborhood and is just a big empty space with little parking, a big wall, and a garage entrance. That lot is a big long dead space. Also the shops on the Bethesda Avenue side could use some cohesion and sprucing up to make it as enticing to visit as Bethesda Row. Make that walking connection across Arlington a little more inviting and seamless and it might draw some more visitors.
3:22 PM"
The Giant parking lot is normally quite active in the daytime, so it isn't like that space isn't being used. I do agree that it isn't the most intuitive design. And you sometimes have to play chicken with delivery trucks when trying to exit onto Bethesda Ave.
As for more cohesion on that block, I don't see a need. One of Bethesda's strengths is having a great variety of building types and sizes. I don't think we want to roll out the same cookie cutter design everywhere. That said, some more compelling restaurant options might help to activate that block.
A bit of chicken and egg I guess. More compelling restaurants need more people and perhaps better design, and more people want better restaurants and a better looking area than that block, which is bridges by a busy road, block killing Giant wall of nothingness, and a big dealership on the other side.
DeleteThat Giant parking lot is busy, yeah, and also ugly and yeah definitely poorly designed usability and experience wise.