Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Demolition update: 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

Demolition operations appear to have begun at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, to my knowledge the largest structure to be demolished in the history of Bethesda. Some equipment is in place on the roof, and a debris/trash chute has been installed down the entire height of the rear of the building.

Can any of our resident construction/demolition experts share any clues as to what is going on with some of the windows? Some along the top floor on the western facade have an appearance like they are cracked or broken, but it also looks like there is a film over them. It is hard to tell from ground level, but they didn't look like that before.

4733 Bethesda Avenue is being removed to make way for the JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office and retail project.

Look at the windows along the
top floor of the building - they
have a jagged/cracked appearance
but don't necessarily look like
the glass is actually punched out





Notice the attachment along
the second vertical strip of
windows at the rear of the
building

74 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe the "cracked" glass look on the windows is actually just someone tried to peel off the window tint and it gave the impression from outside of jagged sharp glass.

Anonymous said...

Are there any rumors about the future occupant(s) of the adjacent retail site that's nearing completion? I doubt the building was built on spec; thus, there maybe a Tennant preparing to occupy the building.

Anonymous said...

@1149 check BM for any meaningful info like that

Elm said...

12:24PM: Here's the actual headline of the biggest story on Bethesda Magazine's site today:

"A Chevy Chase woman is going for an unusual record: Largest collection of donkey memorabilia"

IS THIS "MEANINGFUL" INFO TO YOU?

You can't make this stuff up.

No wonder Dyer's audience on his network of MoCo sites is surging.

Anonymous said...

"Surging" according to whom?

Elm said...

1:16 PM I'm looking at third party traffic data.

It's amazing...Dyer is the top local news source in Rockville and Silver Spring when I compare his traffic to the closest competitors in those markets.

Anonymous said...

Link, please?

Elm said...

1:29 PM There's no "link" directly to these reports. There are several third party analytics providers, google is your friend :)

I'm not doing your homework for you.

Give Dyer credit for building out much needed news coverage across MoCo.

Anonymous said...

#DodgingUnsignedDyer

Anonymous said...

My take away:

If you want donkey news, go to Bethesda Magazine.

If you want news about development, transportation, retail, dining and government, go to Dyer's sites.

Anonymous said...

^church

Anonymous said...

How do you know this?

Anonymous said...

3rdpartydata is notoriously bad. How obsessed are you that you are looking this up for a blogger anyway?

Elm said...

6:58pm It's worthy to see who is stepping up to cover the county since The Gazette closed. The data doesn't lie...Dyer's audience is surging.

Anonymous said...

8:30 PM - Let's see some of that "data".

Elm said...

9:44 PM I'm not doing your homework for you. It's publicly available info.

Give Dyer credit for building out much needed news coverage across MoCo.

Anonymous said...

6:35 again...I stand corrected, the Donkey post was about 7 stories down. I do notice though, they writers at that site don't berate or belittle or insult their readers

Elm said...

6:36 AM Yes, those Magazine writers (or bloggers to be exact...the publisher doesn't allow them to write for the mothership print magazine) come here and anonymously belittle and insult Dyer and his readers instead.

Enjoy your "meaningful" donkey posts.

Anonymous said...

Haha you're hardly doing 9:44's homework. You made an assertion based on data you won't provide.

Anonymous said...

It's a comment on a blog. The guy went and looked up something he was interested in. Why can't you do the same?

Elm said...

6:52 AM If Dyer reports something that doesn't align with your talking points, you call it a "conspiracy theory rant".

Bethesda Magazine sent a blogger to Brazil to cover the Olympics? I must have missed that byline.

Dyer has been breaking restaurant news all month across his sites. Check out Rockville Nights and EastMoco. Traffic is surging.

Now, when I want "meaningful" news about donkey collections or what Leventhal had for breakfast at the DNC, I can turn to Bethesda Magazine.
Of course, they didn't actually send someone to the DNC, they just reposted Leventhal's rants on social media.

Come on guys, you can do better.

Anonymous said...

"Traffic is surging"

Keep it up, and Dyer might bring home some free appetizers that he snatched from the latest restaurant opening.

Elm said...

7:44 AM What's your obsession with Dyer's coverage of restaurant openings? Jealousy that you're not invited? Would you rather he write about the opening without attending?

That would be like covering our local Olympians from the couch at home rather than in Brazil.

Anonymous said...

@ 7:06 PM - You don't understand how this works, do you? The person making a claim - Elm in this case - is the one who has the burden of proof.

Saying "I'm right until you prove me wrong" - is a logical fallacy, the "argument from ignorance".

Elm said...

8:16 AM What's the genesis of your hate of Robert Dyer?
Start there, and maybe Dyer's readers can help you take the next steps to sanity together.

Anonymous said...

"Genesis of your hate"

#ArgleBargle

Anonymous said...

What's really funny is that 8:16 AM didn't mention Robert Dyer at all. Perhaps "Elm" got momentarily confused about his own identity?

Anonymous said...

What are Dyer's other sites?

Where do I find links?

Anonymous said...

I understand quite well how this works. You are too lazy to look anything up. You have this air of entitlement where none exists. This is life. You want to know something, look it up.

The guy, "Elm" in this case, found something that sparked his interest and he looked into it. A good article is supposed to inform and inspire. I'm always finding things I want to know more about, whether it be here, CNN, ESPN, WaPo. So you google.

And as for burden of proof, he's a commenter on a blog. There is none. It's really up to the reader to accept or not.

No one asked me for proof what a million dollars weighs. No one is demanding proof of 7:44's claim that Dyer pocketed free appetizers and brought them home.

Elm said...

9:05 AM just time traveled from 1996 and is looking for Dyer's listing in Yahoo's directory of links.

Anonymous said...

In 1996, did Robert Dyer know of the lifetime of failure that lay ahead of him?

Elm said...

9:19 AM Who knew Robert Dyer would provide a leading source of digital local news for Montgomery County in 2016?

Dyer is satisfying the thirst for information in the news deserts of MoCo. Why does this one anonymous guy hate Dyer so much when he's providing great news coverage for county and City of Rockville residents? Makes zero sense. The Gazette isn't coming back folks.

Anonymous said...

"Elm" = Iraqi Information Minister

Anonymous said...

@ 10:44 AM - Link, please.

Anonymous said...

Many feel the same about Elm and Robert.

Anonymous said...

Exactly! Elm's claim has no supporting evidence.

Anonymous said...

@ 2:21 PM - except that Jesus also hates Elm and Dyer.

Woodmont said...

6:14 PM Dyer always breaks news and then updates us on the story.

For example, he has pursued the pedestrian safety issues in downtown Bethesda for quite awhile. Covering the problems with closed sidewalks and, most recently the unsafe crosswalks on Bradley Blvd. He followed these big stories to their conclusion and kept citizens updated
Great reporting and service to the Bethesda community!

Anonymous said...

6:14 PM is lying and making weird sweeping statements like that Dyer "never accomplished anything".
How does he/she know that? Have they ever met Robert Dyer? Ever even had a conversation with the man? How do you know?
I think becoming a leading source of local MoCo news is an accomplishment, right?

And, what are the "accomplishments" of other local media? Donkey collection stories?

I won't even talk about local politicians like Mr. Reamer. The Post literally said Reamer accomplished nothing.

Anonymous said...

You're right I have never met him. But when I ask his accomplishments, career, etc he refuses to answer.

Other local media don't run for office nor do they make claims against current office members.

Anonymous said...

So if Reamer accomplished nothing and Dwyer accomplished nothing, does that make these two men equally unaccomplished? The same man Dyer calls a moron?

Anonymous said...

7:46 PM The Post said Reamer accomplished nothing. He's squandered his time on the Council with foolishness so far.

Dyer is among the most visible and active citizens in the Bethesda community. I see folks turning to him all the time on here for help with local issues. Meanwhile, Reamer tours Bethesda from inside a bus..lol. Reamer needs to get out in the community more. Remember when he was confused where Bethesda's Metro station is located?

Anonymous said...

How come Dyer's most ardent defenders choose to remain anonymous, even on his own blog?

Anonymous said...

8:17 PM Nice sidestep to change the topic. I wouldn't want to try and defend Reamer either.

Anonymous said...

8:50 PM Smashburger's space is available for a sub-lease :)
I hope it sticks around, but it doesn't look good.

Anonymous said...

A lot of dodging and weaving, trying to change the topic off Reamer.

Remember, Reamer blew off the last debate against Robert Dyer last election. Always the absent representative.

Anonymous said...

Riemer beat Dyer by a huge margin, twice. But he was just one of five candidates for at-large seats on the Council, to do so. Why is #TeamBirdbrain so obsessed with Riemer alone?

Anonymous said...

The Post withdrew their endorsement of Reamer, citing a lack of accomplishments. Are you saying the Post is obsessed?

Robert Dyer said...

5:03: Is it his Wall $treet money machine? The questions that remain as to whether he was actually Obama's youth director in November 2008, as he boasted while campaigning? Whether he covered up illegal activity in the MoCo DLC until after he safely reelected in 2014? His many failures in office? His foolish mistake in getting involved in the hyperlocal media business? That he endorsed the government monopoly on liquor? That his own former chief of staff says the County's private sector economy under Riemer is moribund and stagnant?

Also, he's the only one who will be on the ballot in 2018 after term limits pass in November. #BabaBooey

It's easy to beat somebody when you have tens of thousands of donations from Wall Street crooks and their K street lobbyists.

Anonymous said...

Dyer is still stuck on Beerghazi. LOL

Anonymous said...

In the unlikely event that the term-limits initiative does pass, that will leave Riemer as the only candidate having any experience on the Council, thus increasing his chances of being elected.

Anonymous said...

7:07 AM Experience doing what exactly on the Council? The Post says Hans doesn't do anything. Throw him out too.
Maybe we'll get a working county again- you know, basic services like 911 operating.

Anonymous said...

Funny how #TeamBirdbrain are willing to cite "the old legacy print media" when they find one quote that they like.

Just wondering, what has the Post had to say about Dyer's qualifications?

Anonymous said...

#TeamBirdbrain should be the campaign slogan of the old incumbents- Leventhal in particular-...if they are allowed to run again :)

Anonymous said...

Anyone else considering running for a seat on the council?

Anonymous said...

@ 11:32 AM - Several other members of the Dyer clan, Robin Ficker, Janis Sartucci, Deborah Vollmer, and that anti-Smartmeter guy in Chevy Chase.

Robert Dyer said...

7:07: With every initiative he's headed up ending in failure, and now death in the case of the 911 failure, Hans Riemer clearly has "the wrong kind of experience."

Anonymous said...

@1:35 PM-- I meant: Are any of you blog commenters considering running for county council? It's an honest question.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I've got two unsuccessful runs to go to match Dyer's accomplishments. Then try again.

Anonymous said...

Riemer is in charge of the 911 initiative? Oh cool!

Anonymous said...

@ 6:21 PM - Plus his unsuccessful run for the General Assembly.

Anonymous said...

Funny, I don't remember any demands from Dyer improve the 911 system, before the 2-hour failure earlier this summer.

Dyer has nothing to offer besides 20/20 hindsight and Monday-morning quarterbacking.

I remember Giffords said...

6:40 PM Comes with the job. You can't just take credit for the good and pass the blame for everything bad that happens. That's exactly what this Council has done time and again: Silver Spring Transit Center, 911 disaster, etc.

Folks like Leventhal have been in their seat way too long. He was a young man when he first got it, believe it or not. Two terms is more than enough time to get things done.

On 911, for something that's literally life or death, they needed a proper back-up system when they switch to a backup. And why wasn't Alert Montgomery activated early on? Still lots of questions.

Robert Dyer said...

6:40: I'm not a councilmember, elected and highly paid to handle the basic day-to-day oversight of Montgomery County Government. The public doesn't even have the power and access to the information about these things that the council does. You're making a preposterous comparison. Have you taken action on the trash collection problems in the District yet? WHY NOT??!!! God, what idiots the Council employs to troll here. Your guys on the Council ****** up, and now 2 residents are dead - own it, moron.

Anonymous said...

If Dyer were elected, his drunken 2 AM press conferences would be a hoot.

Anonymous said...

It would be like if Trump were elected. #MakeMoCoGreatAgain

Anonymous said...

It would be hard to decide whose hairdo is worse.

Anonymous said...

But seriously that adult male ponytail though. I would vote for The Dyer.

Anonymous said...

If term limits somehow pass, then Hans Riemer will clone himself 8 times, and win all nine council seats!

Anonymous said...

#makemocogreatagain

Trump and Dyer will be great for us. I promise you.

Anonymous said...

Robert Dyer does remind me of Donald Trump!!!

Anonymous said...

Trump is the Kardashian of politics and all the mainstream media sees is ratings gold. - Bill Moyers

Anonymous said...

Trump and Dyer is a ticket I would vote for!!!!

#MakeMoCoGreatAgain

Anonymous said...

Robert Dyer is the opposite of unbiased and without agenda.