Friday, September 30, 2016

Cheval Bethesda sales launch event suggests demand for downtown condos is up (Photos)

How hot is the condo market in downtown Bethesda right now? That's been a recurring question since the Great Recession. If the turnout at last night's sales launch for the Cheval Bethesda condos is any indication, the market is heating up.

An estimated 400 people passed through the two-hour event for the new Duball, LLC-developed project, held at Black's Bar and Kitchen. Given the miserable weather outside, it was a night for the serious condo shopper - or the seriously curious - only. So that was an impressive turnout under the circumstances (there are only 72 units available in the building).

Guests previewed floorplans, and even got a sneak peek at a 360 degree view from the 17th-floor penthouse of the Cheval, thanks to a VR headset. They also enjoyed an open bar and a selection of appetizers from the popular Woodmont Avenue restaurant.

Attendees had the first bid on the future condo units, which range from the $700s to over $3 million. Because the project has been designed as a condo from the beginning, the units tend to be more spacious.

The architect was in attendance, as well as many representatives of Duball and McWilliams Ballard, which is handling sales. Above-street parking floors will lift the lower units enough to avoid them having views of the public parking garage wall next door out of their nearly floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ultra-luxury touches will include optional heated floors, Thermadors, Shaker-style walnut cabinets by J. Suss, and private terraces.

The floorplans and 360 VR views unveiled last night are now available on the updated Cheval Bethesda website. A sales gallery is located at 7706 Woodmont Avenue. The Cheval is now under construction at 4960 Fairmont Avenue, on the corner at Old Georgetown Road.





A prospective buyer
uses VR headset that
gave attendees a
preview of what the
view would be from
a Cheval penthouse




9 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:22 AM

    Free food and drinks is a pretty big driving factor to weather the weather.

    Is there first floor retail?

    Interesting there is no underground parking, it's all above ground? It would be really interesting to hear the developers talk about above ground versus under ground parking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 5:22: As I understand it, the above-ground parking was a way to deal with a limitation of the site - the County parking garage next door. Putting parking on the lower levels will put the lower occupied floors above the level of the wall along the property line there.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous7:56 AM

    5:22 Building parking below grade is a lot more costly and takes longer to build. The developer had plenty of height to work with (it will be the tallest condo building in Bethesda) so it wasn't worth the extra cost. Plus, as Dyer mentions, above-ground parking has the added advantage of a decent view in every unit, which is far more important for condos than rental units.

    The project will have 7,000 SF of artist incubator/retail space.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:06 PM

    Great view of the top deck of the County parking garage (I remember getting stoned here in high school) and the TD Bank.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:50 PM

      Lions Gate has the same problem. Ugly ass parking garage views. Drags down values too.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous8:09 PM

    ALSO A GREAT VIEW OF BETHESDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    HURR HURR HURR

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:17 PM

    It's urban living. If you want views of green fields and suburbia, go up county.

    This place will have great views.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:18 AM

      Why is everything such a knee jerk extreme reaction? I'm 7:50. Cheval will be nice I'm sure. The Lions Gate has great units too. But those facing the garage side have a much worse view and one side drags down values.

      Delete
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    ReplyDelete