Monday, September 19, 2016

Construction of Gallery Bethesda's twin tower to begin today

Construction of the second tower of Donohoe's Gallery Bethesda development is scheduled to begin today at 4850 Rugby Avenue, according to a press release from the company. The second phase of the project secured $60 million in construction funding from Pacific Life Insurance Company just a few weeks ago. A source has provided some additional details about what to expect this week, and in the coming months.

Today, construction crews will build a plywood wall between the Gallery Bethesda plaza and the Phase 2 construction site next door. On Tuesday, demolition of the existing structures on the Phase 2 site will begin; the triangular property is best known for the distinctive former headquarters of Miller & Long. Demolition is expected to take 5 months, and then excavation for the new tower will begin. Water will be used to control dust around the site.

The dog walk space at the Gallery will close during the construction period, which is expected to last about 22 months. Delivery of the new tower is expected in the fall of 2018.

Of interest to residents of Triangle Towers and the Palisades - construction will take place on weekdays between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. There will only be work on Saturdays if weather shuts down operations on one or more of the weekdays prior. If that occurs, Saturday work will be between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The new 17-story tower will hold 219 residential units, and 12,425 SF of retail/restaurant space. That latter space is expected to be more ambitious than the original Gallery, where the retail space has been primarily geared toward building residents, more than the greater public. Additional foot traffic will help to activate the already-finished public plaza between the two buildings, which features lighted sculptures commemorating the Twist and Shout nightclub that once stood on the 4800 Auburn Avenue site. Donohoe is aiming for LEED Gold certification of the new, smoke-free tower.

Donohoe Development is the developer, and Donohoe Construction will build the project. Vantage Management will manage the new tower, and already is the property manager at the Gallery. A final name for the new tower has not yet been announced.

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:32 AM

    "A source has provided additional details..."

    Does that make this article an "inside job"?

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  2. Anonymous5:43 AM

    Great scoop Dyer, thanks for keeping us all informed in the Woodmont Triangle. Wonder if the weather today will delay any construction? Not a good time of year to start digging.

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    1. 5:43: Yes, weather could delay work. They won't be digging for about 5 months, due to the demolition and site clearing that has to be done first. That will probably put them into a better climate for concrete pouring next year, although I will leave it up to those more knowledgeable about construction regarding how they plan these schedules.

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  3. Anonymous6:43 AM

    Yay more density in a downtown metro accessible location!

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  4. Anonymous6:59 AM

    And the police building construction is right there too. Think I'll avoid Rugby Ave for a while.

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  5. Good to see more development at the northern tip.

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  6. Anonymous7:52 AM

    Westbard is going to be so awesome when they get some nice buildings like this!

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    1. Anonymous2:51 PM

      Yes I can't wait for this next door!

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  7. Anonymous8:42 AM

    "Demolition is expected to take 5 months"

    o_O
    That's a very long demolition.

    "And the police building construction is right there too. Think I'll avoid Rugby Ave for a while."

    Brightview Bethesda should also begin construction next year as well.

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  8. Anonymous8:54 AM

    Looks great. Yes in my backyard!

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  9. Anonymous9:05 AM

    "5 months" to demolish a couple of one- and two-story buildings?

    Dyer is up to his eyeballs in bullshit, as usual.

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    Replies
    1. 9:05: That's "from the source" - I have a feeling someone actually involved with the project knows more about it than a manchild posting anonymous troll comments on a news website from his mom's basement.

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  10. Anonymous9:44 AM

    So, when another news site gets a scoop, it's from un-ethical "inside men" but when Dyer gets a source for his blog, it's just that, "a source"?

    ReplyDelete