Nothing in the plan jumps out as being significantly different from what was outlined at a public meeting on November 30. The question of whether or not Community Paint and Hardware should be relocated, to allow a larger footprint for the building on Wisconsin Avenue, doesn't have to be answered until the site plan phase.
Planning staff is recommending approval of the sketch plan with conditions.
7 comments:
That building really breaks up the continuity of the block's design. Does it still hold any value? Get rid of it!
I appreciate historical preservation but this is just an old building. The memories still live on without it.
Really hoping this new building has better continuity and connection to Bethesda Row. How great would it be to have a new theater with an entrance be on the backside of the building to the little grassy area right next to the independent theater!
While the Landmark Bethesda Row cinemas show independent and foreign films, they are not "independent theaters". They are part of a chain of 58 cinemas nationwide.
I was being lazy and meant independent movies moreso than the theater being independent. ;)
The Planning Board has already approved 290' for the site, in the new sector plan, making them quite possibly the tallest buildings in the county. After the sector plan is approved (hopefully with the additional densities), Carr will come back for an amendment to the sketch plan.
Perfect location for Marriott.
@8:18pm
It definitely would be, but it's still not enough space even if they build out to the maximum allowed 878,610 SF of commercial space. Marriott needs about 1 million plus, even more when they move Starwood to the area. Downtown Bethesda has an extreme shortage of large blocks of Class A space. There's no room for even medium sized businesses who want quality space. White Flint/North Bethesda is their best bet since there's a plethora of options available: North Bethesda Center, Pike & Rose, and the White Flint mall site.
JBG is building their own office project on this block, so if Marriott could lease the entire block it could work. But there's no telling when the Apex replacement building would be complete, since it has to coordinate with the Purple Line, which itself won't be complete to at least 2022.
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