Monday, August 29, 2016

Collection at Chevy Chase revamp heads to Planning Board September 8

The Chevy Chase Land Company's reconfiguration and makeover of its Collection at Chevy Chase retail/office development will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board on September 8. CCLC's plan will reconfigure parking and retail areas to be more inviting to pedestrians, replace existing public art on the site, and create 3 new park/plaza areas designed to attract patrons. The field of view from Wisconsin Avenue will now go deeper into the property, ostensibly drawing passersby on that busy state highway into the Collection.

Parking and vehicular circulation will be downplayed in favor of shared roadways, which in theory will slow drivers who will have to navigate around pedestrians and bicyclists on the same interior streets. The actual parking infrastructure, like parking ticket machines, will be relocated to the interior of the property, to get rid of the "gated entry" feel that today is the first thing that greets arriving customers. Finally, steps will be taken to better connect the Friendship Heights Metro station with the Collection.

Planners are recommending approval of the project, with some conditions.


Renderings via Montgomery County Planning Department

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This feels like putting lipstick on the pig, rather than fixing the problem. Here's what I would do:

1. Replace the 2nd-rate Giant with a better anchor (like Whole foods or Trader Joe's.
2. Ditch the paid parking, which makes everyone avoid visiting the shopping center.
3. Abandon the luxury store orientation, replacing with higher traffic stores (like H&M or REI)

Anonymous said...

@816 why would Whole Foods go there? They have a flagship store literally across the street...

Anonymous said...

Cam down, Whole Feeds was a figurative example. The point is a higher quality anchor than Giant. It always seemed odd to pair 5th Avenue-style retailers with a Giant. To make things worse, this particular Giant feels small and dated.

Anonymous said...

Trader Joe's is a better grocery store than Giant? Go on...

Anonymous said...

A Stew Leonard's would be awesome, but the space might not be big enough.

Anonymous said...

They can't abandon paid parking next door to a Metro. Most of the businesses stamp the parking tickets. It is good to hear they are doing this.

I also agree it would be great to have an REI etc. instead of the Collection stores.