Sunday, September 20, 2015

Bethesda construction update: New retail building on Bethesda Ave. (Photos)

The JBG Companies' new retail building project has slightly diverted part of the Capital Crescent Trail around the construction site between Bethesda Avenue and the CCT tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue. Coakley Williams is the contractor.

Formerly Thyme Square and the Blu Lounge, the structure is going to be replaced with a slightly larger retail building. This is part of a larger JBG project that will remake and revitalize much of the north side of Bethesda Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Wisconsin.







14 comments:

Susmita said...

The trail detour has created a very dangerous situation for bikers and pedestrians. I have unsuccessfully tried to contact someone at the construction company and the county. Do you think you could look into this? You may have more success than I have had.

Anonymous said...

In no way trying to sound combative, but in what way was it dangerous? I saw the reroute the other day and it seemed okay? Now I wanna go check it out again.

Susmita said...

They have taken over the "driveway" that bicyclists used to use to get from the tunnel under the Air Rights Building to the beginning of the CCT, apparently for parking. So the cyclists must go over to the sidewalk on Bethesda Ave and make a sharp right at the point where there is an electrical box and a telephone pole. Pedestrians coming down Bethesda Ave cannot see the cyclists and vice versa. A jogger ran into me last week and knocked me off my bike -- he was very apologetic and clearly believed it was his fault. I have also heard of others who have had near misses. Coming around the curve without any sight line is also dangerous, even at a slow pace. You really have to try it on a bicycle to understand.

Anonymous said...

What is the legal requirement for where the public CCT path needs to go? Do we know?

Anonymous said...

As a runner I have been very cautious there. The tall hedges use to be a problem now the fences. I don't get the black sheets they put on the fences. Without it you'd see through to what is around the corner. Other fences like this create problems for motorist vs. pedestrians like at Hampden and Arlington.

Anonymous said...

As long as it's temporary and leads to an improvement afterwards I'll happily deal with a slight inconvenience

Anonymous said...

I just tried it by bike and it's annoying but not too bad at all. We know it's there so we went slowly and it's ok. Can't wait to see an improved space there. It was a dump with the derelict building and crappy path through way. How long is this project supposed to take?

Anonymous said...

"[I]t's annoying but not too bad at all. We know it's there so we went slowly and it's ok."

Well, who do you think you are, Mister-High-and-Mighty-I-Can-Figure-Things-Out-By-Myself-Thank-You-Very-Much? We have St. Dyer telling us to tie our shoelaces so we don't trip and fall and crack our heads open. Some folks are just sooo ungrateful.

Anonymous said...

Yikes, 320.

Thanks to the rest. Walking anywhere here tends to become an adventure.

Anonymous said...

Yeah all this old infrastructure is hazardous. Can't wait for all the new sidewalk work that comes with the new development.

Anonymous said...

Wow a lot of people defending poorly thought out construction paths that could be improved fairly easy.

Anonymous said...

What do you suggest as an improvement? Maybe it's worth bringing to their attention.

Anonymous said...

Any ideas why the Reed street retail buildings and thyme square were left empty for so long? Prime location...

Robert Dyer said...

3:54: The combination of the recession and complaints about the JBG plan in relation to the plaza area there were two major factors in the delay. JBG has also changed their plans over that time. For example, there was originally going to be a new hotel on the site of the current office building just up from this site. Now that's going to be a new office building instead.