Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Demolition permit sought for one of downtown Bethesda's last gas stations

TD Bank has requested demolition permits for one of downtown Bethesda's last gas stations, the Shell at Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue. They're also seeking a demolition permit from Montgomery County for the adjacent house at 4804 Moorland Lane. That house is currently used as office space.

The bank is going to place a small bank structure on this extremely valuable piece of property steps from the Bethesda Metro station, hardly an example of smart growth or new urbanism.

Worst of all, the loss of this gas station will leave only 2 Liberty stations and the expensive Exxon at Old Georgetown Road and Auburn Avenue. To get a sense of the potential impact on public safety and transportation, consider that this Shell station alone sold out of gas during two different weather events in the last few years.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess there's no way for citizens to protest a demolition permit? This is a real loss to the area, and what's going there isn't a good use of such valuable land.

Anonymous said...

Set up a phone and email campaign to TD and our elected officials. Utilize social media to voice our displeasure. I guess we could get some signs that called for a boycott of TD bank and picket. Hunger strike. Chain ourselves to the gas pumps.

Anonymous said...

This will happen in the Westbard area, too, once those developers get their way with the planning board. Say goodbye to the Bonds' 2 Citgo stations immediately, and then River Road stations will disappear, too. Evidently you should not have a car in Bethesda, but the transit system's inadequacies make it impossible for most people to live without one.

Anonymous said...

Usually agree with your comments on redevelopment but not this time. Gas stations don't belong in the center of urban areas. They're an eyesore and no one wants to live across from one. A high rise with a bank in the lobby would be fine for this space. Unfortunately this sounds like a standalone bank building which will not fit at all with the surrounding highrises.

Anonymous said...

Bad place for a drive thru bank (right next to our Metro station).

Planners want to activate a forest next to 270, but what about activating this prime corner with something better than a drive thru bank?

Anonymous said...

That gas station is surrounded by four highrise residential builidings plus a highrise office building. It presents a crater like look which really doesn't mesh. A drive thru will have the same crater like look. Not appealing at all. What's needed is a reasonably tall building that's built as close to the street/sidewalk as possible to fill in the empty space.

Anonymous said...

Exactly. With bottom floor retail to liven up that part of Woodmont.

Anonymous said...

Ugh. This should be a mixed use high rise building. Officially hating TD Bank.

Anonymous said...

The planners hate this too. They said they can't force them to build a high rise though. :(

Anonymous said...

Can we get a social media campaign going to protest this?

Anonymous said...

All; this is clearly as visible as the nose on all your faces. TD bank is "land-banking" this site for future development in the chess game of Bethesda growth. They (a Canadian enterprise) are in the process of buy and hold of this land simply for the future net value to their portfolio. This a not Texas Hold 'em its Real Estate Hold'em Bethesda-style.

Steve D. said...

"Anonymous said...
Usually agree with your comments on redevelopment but not this time. Gas stations don't belong in the center of urban areas.
6:13 AM"

You would be right, but we're talking about little ol' Bethesda here, not Manhattan.

G. Money said...

Bethesda doesn't need gas stations anymore, everyone has a Tesla now.

Anonymous said...

Definitely shouldn't be a bank anymore than it should be a gas station. Single story, that is.

Anonymous said...

#RethinkTDbank - let's do it!

Anonymous said...

Come on start #RethinkTDbank. It is a winning issue. Unites NIMBY and Smart Growth people. Don't make this a pro-gas station issue though. Keep it vague what you'd rather want there.

Anonymous said...

does greenhill own this property ?

Anonymous said...

Because journalists always "keep it vague".

Anonymous said...

The gas stations don't belong in a downtown core (good riddance they're almost all gone; who wants to live next to gas station spewing carcinogens all day? Apparently Dyer does), but neither does this crap new build.

Anonymous said...

Dyer let's get this going!!

Anonymous said...

Steve D, you would be right if little old Behesda were little anymore. There's no denying the demand for major growth in the county's supposedly "flagship" urban area.

Anonymous said...

"[T]he loss of this gas station will leave only 2 Liberty stations and the expensive Exxon at Old Georgetown Road and Auburn Avenue."

The Sunoco station at Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane is still open. Although that site is scheduled to be redeveloped in a few years.

When that one goes, there will be no gas stations on Wisconsin Avenue, between Ellicott Street NW and Nicholson Lane.

Anonymous said...

with all the Tesla's in Bethesda , who needs gas stations ?