Thursday, June 16, 2016

Some concerned by removal of Bethesda Community Store sign (Photos)

Some residents living near the now-closed Bethesda Community Store feel the sign on the historic building should not have been removed. Those who have contacted me question whether a sign can be removed from a historic structure without review under historic designation guidelines. A source tells me at least one resident has been in touch with the Montgomery County Planning Department's Historic Preservation Office, where staff were reportedly surprised and not pleased to hear the sign had been removed.

You'll note that the sign was already gone when I filed a report on the marketing of the property at the end of May.
A "before" shot via
Google Maps

96 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what's the answer? Is the sign allowed to be removed on a historic designated building?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Everyone seeing this needs to contact planning board and their historic group and ask that they take all necessary steps to find out who removed this sign and demand its return. No one can alter a structure deemed historic without permission.
It's outrageous.

Anonymous said...

Why? What in the world would they do?

Anonymous said...

Yep, you can't modify a historic structure without permission.

Wrol said...

Out of curiosity does that mean every single little piece cannot be modified in a historic building? How does something like the hardware store get the United Bank sign added or Golden House? Did they have to request permission to remove the old signs and put up the new ones?

Anonymous said...

I would imagine, yes. Any original signage on the hardware store may have been gone before the histroic designation was made. Bottom line, if it's deemed historic, anybody doesn't have the right to remove or alter the structure without permission. It's pretty simple.

Anonymous said...

Historic designations are overused.

Anonymous said...

"when I filed a report"

Damn, Dyer, you just made me spit coffee everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Hey they also seem to have moved the historic barbecue wagon. It's about as historic as that Bethesda Community Store sign. Now if it had said "Browns" maybe we could argue over it.

Anonymous said...

I'm told by long time county residents that Bethesda Community Store sign hung there for many years even when the Brown family owned the store. Either way, it was part of the structure when the building was deemed historic and removing anything from that structure such as a sign, without permission, is a no-no and possibly constitutes a crime.

Anonymous said...

I see that one or more of us have been promoted from "lone troll" to "concerned residents".

Anonymous said...

"A 'before' shot via Google Maps"

What? I thought that, surely, you would have your own photo of this historic building in your prodigious archives. Or did you filter it beyond all recognition?

Anonymous said...

Other than just imagining so, does anyone know for certain / have a link to the rules?

Anonymous said...

Agreed

Anonymous said...

From the county planning board page FAQ:

Does designation mean that changes cannot be made to a property within a historic district?
No. Historic designation does not mean a property can never be changed. It is a way to manage change. Owners who wish to make exterior changes may file a Historic Area Work Permit (HAWP) application with the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) in Rockville. It is subsequently reviewed for approval by the HPC staff and acted upon by the Commission. New construction in a historic district is subject to the same review process. No permit is required for interior changes or ordinary exterior maintenance. The HPC does not review paint colors.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for helping provide research where it is often lacking. So I wonder whether modification of signage requires approval.

Anonymous said...

With a sign like that one, yes. How many corner store signs do you see around here today? Almost none. If the sign was there during the time the building was deemed historic then removing it requires approval.

Anonymous said...

Is there a rule you can point to that states that? Appreciate it thanks!

Anonymous said...

10:06 Are you incapable of looking anything up yourself?

Anonymous said...

No rule that states that. It's part of the structure at the time of designation so can't be removed without permit and/or approval. Period

Anonymous said...

So say a poster or ad or open/close sign hanging at the time of designation can't be moved?

Anonymous said...

11:04 How the hell are any of us supposed to know that? Call the historical society and find out if you need to know all the minutia.

#wingnut

Anonymous said...

Exactly. So no one here knows exactly about the signage either. It is all just guessing.

Anonymous said...

@1125 yup- pure speculation just like all the other nonsense Dyer "reports"

Anonymous said...

11:27 - If you weren't so pathologically ignorant, I'd have to insult your intelligence. But that would be too cruel.

Anonymous said...

These area some silly comments. The sign removed was part of the original structure and states the store est. 1924. Any sign advertising beer or bbq or anything like that would never be included cause that doesn't connect to the building's history. Let's focus on a possible crime rather than silly comments about a poster etc

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Proof that BB comes here to solicit ideas for their website? Indeed.

A new tactic in advertising. Ask a myriad of questions on Dyer's blog-story. Write your own story to answer those questions that no one else but you asked. Oh, and then go to Dyer's story and act like you're the bigs*it. Pathetic.

Anonymous said...

The old, legacy print media following Dyer's lead again. Did they credit Dyer's reporting, or just plagiarize as usual?

Anonymous said...

Since "old legacy print media" refers to a specific news site, will Dyer delete this comment, for the sake of consistency?

Anonymous said...

1:23 PM
If over 90% of your revenue is old legacy print, then it's an accurate description.

So, did they plagiarize Robert Dyer again or actually credit him?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

@ 1:30 PM - Looks like the same resident contacted both OLPM and Tarnation Bob. The former actually followed up on the story, whereas the latter did nothing.

#SnoribundDyer

Anonymous said...

Hahahahahahahha what a conspiracy theory.

Anonymous said...

Nailed it.

Anonymous said...

@ 1:28 PM - From where does Dyer's revenue come?

Mom's Social Security check?

Anonymous said...

Bethesda Mag's Steve Hull has been caught plagiarizing Robert Dyer...again.
It's unprofessional and unethical.

Anonymous said...

Dyer and his shill have this notion that their tipsters never, ever talk to any other sites.

Anonymous said...

@ 1:56 PM - Why don't you make that accusation over on BB, where someone will actually read it?

Or are you just a big fraidy cat

Anonymous said...

2:03 PM Most of Bethesda reads Dyer, so that's not an issue :)

Folks don't like plagiarism.

Anonymous said...

Dyer and his shill sure spend a lot of time whining about BB.

Whereas BB spend their time covering the news in Bethesda.

Robert Dyer said...

1:30: Their story - what you just quoted there - is exactly what I had reported hours earlier. You're darn right they'd better have cited my story - the sign was gone weeks ago, and they just happened to realize it after my report this morning? ESP, perhaps? You're still "Dumass material all the way."

Robert Dyer said...

1:45: Where does the compensation for other local reporters come? Who are the angel investors, and what conflicts of interest my they create? Please tell us what you've found out.

Anonymous said...

2:22 PM Actually, Hull waits for Dyer to break news and then he regurgitates it.
Like with this story...hours later.

Leventhal then retweet's Hull's vomit.

Anonymous said...

Steve Hull often has ESP...Dyer's stories come to him in a dream I guess.
Why can't he just source or give Dyer a hat tip at least?
Doesn't Hull understand citing other media outlets?

Robert Dyer said...

2:22: Only about 10% of their output recently has been Bethesda related. Successful website don't have to spam advertise for themselves in the comments section of their competitor's website. "Hey, 'Dyer' scooped us again. Let's write about it, and then spam advertise it on the comments of his article THAT BROKE THE STORY HOURS EARLIER WITH THE SAME INFORMATION."

Anonymous said...

Let's compare the two texts (one 630 words longer than the other) for plagiarism.

HOLY SHIT! A MATCH!

Both articles use the phrase "Bethesda Community Store!" Time to lawyer up Dyer.

Anonymous said...

The good news is that while Bethesda Magazine is busy debating this plagiarism here, you'll notice the "poop" other weird comments go away :)

Robert Dyer said...

2:35: Did the padded text of their report cause you to type TL;DR in their comments section, as you do here? Wait, you apply a different standard to their site regarding article length? I am shocked. Shocked.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like traditional legacy print mindset: My story is longer (with filler) than yours and I make more than you.

Anonymous said...

Well poop.

Anonymous said...

Dyer sure whines a lot about BM and SH and DR and AK.

Anonymous said...

It's funny by the way. Robert Dyer prides himself on being fast and first, which is amazing that he breaks so much news. But anyone after him he accuses of plagiarism, no matter where they actually heard it first. So in essence because Dyer is so good at being first, everyone after him is plagiarizing him. Everyone. No matter the circumstances. No matter the source.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Agreed.

Anonymous said...

Robert Dyer @ 2:41 PM wrote:

"Did the padded text of their report cause you to type TL;DR in their comments section, as you do here? Wait, you apply a different standard to their site regarding article length? I am shocked. Shocked."

Dyer's Shill @ 2:47 PM wrote:

"Sounds like traditional legacy print mindset: My story is longer (with filler) than yours and I make more than you."

Nope, the other site's coverage contains details that readers acually want to know, rather than incoherent rants or 15 photos of the same object from the same angle and distance.

And why won't Dyer disclose his source of income?

Anonymous said...

Why Bethesda Magazine's owner Steve Hull disclose his investors?

Why won't Hull disclose that he has investments in the businesses he covers?
Does the magazine really have millions in revenue?

A lot of disclosure needed!

Elm said...

Now, now.. everyone settle down.
I don't have a dog in this fight.

I did review both articles and verified the time stamps.
My scientific conclusion is that this was indeed plagiarism by the other writer.

Anonymous said...

Ha. Science. Facts.

Robert Dyer said...

4:47: "Sometimes it's better to wait" for the paid troll to post more spam about a competing website.

4:59: It's all the same information, just with a couple of names and quotes slapped onto the same information. Your mistake was to come in here later in the day to trash me, and try to boast about the later article and claim it is somehow a Pulitzer prize report. Give me a break.

"Details readers actually want to know..." Yeah, like my report on the renderings of what the Bethesda Community Store addition will look like, which hasn't been reported anywhere else. My report on the condo building replacing Steamers. My report on the hypocritical MoCo Council utility appointment this week. My exclusive on the bigger development WMATA wants to build at Grosvenor Metro. Etc., etc. STFU, moron.

Anonymous said...

"Competing website?" You're seriously putting yourself in the same category as BM, Bobby? Just compare this blog post to their article.

Robert Dyer said...

4:10: Same information, more words. Now compare my articles on the topics I mentioned at 10:23 above to their...uh...that's right, they didn't even cover those topics. You're seriously putting the glossy in the same category as me? "Just compare." Compare, punk!

Anonymous said...

What do you expect 4:28? They have those advertising sponsors to keep happy. They have to watch what they say.

Anonymous said...

5:51 is day-dreaming about the Dyer brothers again. Weirdo.

Anonymous said...

Steve Hull's staff is certainly obsessed with Dyer. Creepy.
And the comments get creepier when Hull's business dealings are discussed. No coincidence.

Anonymous said...

I like how on one hand Dyer pretends he's a real news site and on the other he tells his readers to "STFU" and calls them names in every post. Hilarious stuff.

Anonymous said...

6:26 AM Yes, he should ignore readers like other legacy media sites. Brilliant plan.

If you act like a child, you'll probably be treated as such.

If you're so offended by Dyer, move along. Your anonymous comments are much worse anyway.

Robert Dyer said...

6:26: Paid trolls are not "readers."

Anonymous said...

You've nailed it. That's why all these commentors treat Dyer so rudely.

Anonymous said...

No one is paid to read your site, Dyer. That doesn't even make sense you paranoid fool.

Anonymous said...

9:58 Are you at work? Then you're technically getting paid to read Dyer's site.

If someone's job was local media related, and to be thorough, they check other local media sites and read their stories, they would indeed be paid to read Dyer's site.
Or if your job was to check for mentions of the company/business you work for, and that search brought you to Dyer, then again, you are being paid to read Dyer.

Anonymous said...

Actually 10:52, that's not really accurate either. He/she is being paid to work but reading Dyer's site instead of working.

Anonymous said...

All these staunch blind Dyer defenders seem to be paid or whatever it is they say about the trolls too in exactly the same regard.

Anonymous said...

12:03 Then you are agreeing. Whatever the company's intention, they are, in fact, paying someone to read and post on Dyer's blog. Maybe it is the company's intention. Maybe it's not. Not my call.

12:04 I guess in the same context, it applies to people reading/posting anything here, positive or negative, while they are being paid to work.

Then there's the people who aren't working when they read/post. I guess we're doing it for free. We, meaning I can't be the only one not working during the day. Don't count the cardboard-cutout, Poppy, that's an entirely different category.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

2:31pm It's nice out. Get outside and get some fresh air.

Anonymous said...

I will have to disagree with the original statement. The payment is not for reading Dyer's site.

Anonymous said...

They may be getting paid while reading Dyer's site but not paid to read Dyer's site.

Robert Dyer said...

11:58/59: They aren't paid to read it, they're paid to post troll comments and spam links for a competing website.

Anonymous said...

Come on now you don't seriously believe that do you? Yeah they are trolls and there are legitimate commentors and there are supporters, but no one is being paid to post here.

Robert Dyer said...

5:05: Who else but a paid stooge would have the time to post all day and night, and be that passionate about some pretty unpopular politicians and a competing website? Even I don't comment that often, and it's my blog! Think.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

It's a standard practice by PR firms to disrupt sites that are seen as opposing whatever they're paid to push. It's unsavory, but it's their job to quell and marginalize/crush opposition to whatever crazy development plan they're pushing.

Then, there's Dyer's personal stalker/Bethesda blogger who's been obsessed with Dyer since arriving here from arlington in 2012. That nut is a whole other story, best left to psychiatrists and FBI profilers.

Anonymous said...

And there is absolutely zero hard evidence of any of this.

Anonymous said...
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Trawick said...

1:13pm lol...You didn't wait long to respond to a comment you thought was about you?
Get outside, enjoy the weekend.
Drop your obsession and hate of Robert for a few hours instead of refreshing Dyer's site all day.

Robert Dyer said...

Thanks for proving my point that only a paid troll would spend their summer Saturday afternoon posting nasty comments on a hyperlocal news site.

Anonymous said...

Did Dyer just call "Trawick" a "paid troll"?

Anonymous said...

So that's your hard evidence? "Only a paid troll would spend their summer Saturday afternoon...."

Anonymous said...

All these defending dyer posts are pretty much the same thing on the other end of the spectrum of obsession.

Anonymous said...

Except when they're not the same thing.

Anonymous said...

"Some pretty unpopular politicians"

You mean the ones whom the voters of Montgomery County keep electing, instead of you?

Anonymous said...

That would make them more popular than Dyer.

Robert Dyer said...

3:07: Not really - I hear the cemetery precincts came in strong Election night for the current Council.

Anonymous said...

Wait what? How many votes did you get compared to the winners?