Yes, senior housing. It appears that Sheridan Development is going forward with its original age-restricted housing plan, likely because River Road was not urbanized in the Westbard sector plan passed earlier this year by the County Council. Therefore, the Washington Episcopal School site did not receive the urban densities that Equity One and Capital Properties enjoy under the plan.
My analysis: The signal studies were delayed just long enough to find out if the sector plan would allow a higher-profit, denser, non-age-restricted tower on the site. It did not in May, and - boom - here we have the signal study, and the project is speeding forward as senior housing after all.
If successful, the proposal will split the WES site into two lots, one remaining with the school, and the other becoming the Sheridan project site.
The Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights, representing communities around the WES site, has pressed for both the traffic signal, and keeping vehicle access open from both River Road and Little Falls Parkway. WES, in contrast, wants to gate its access points to secure the school campus. That scenario would likely lead to cut-through traffic in Kenwood and Somerset, neighbors have warned.
Planning staff is recommending that the Landy Lane access to the campus be open during morning and evening "peak periods" for student drop-off and pick-up. They acknowledge that SHA is the only entity that can greenlight (pun intended) a traffic signal on River Road. But they are suggesting the Board make a Phase 2 traffic study a requirement for WES, and that they force the school to "contribute to its installation."
A forest conservation study shows that 3 specimen trees will be removed for construction of the senior housing building, which will have 121 residential units. Originally 97' despite towering over adjacent Kenwood homes, the cruisin'-for-a-term-limits-bruisin' County Council thumbed their noses at Kenwood, and gave the project yet another tiny bonus boost in height through the sector plan. It will be interesting to see what the results on the term limits ballot question will be in the Kenwood voting precinct in November.
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| The original building design; compare to new design at top |
Note also that the design of the building has radically changed from the original rendering, losing the nifty Watergate-esque curves on the right side of the facade, and taking on a much boxier form. Boo. But perhaps appropriate, being located near a self storage building that screams "WE SELL BOXES," part of the County Council's sad legacy of neglect in the 20816 zip code.
Planning staff is recommending approval of the project.
Renderings via Montgomery County Planning Department
15 comments:
"...a self storage building that screams "WE SELL BOXES," part of the County Council's sad legacy of neglect in the 20816 zip code."
After all these years, Dyer suddenly noticed that Westbard is a s**thole?
No it isn't. You're saying that to piss off Dyer and be a jackass.
Well, you got the latter part right.
Don't know about the former, but given that he's run the site for years, I guess Dyer is used to it and laughs too.
Let Westbard rot. The county should reject all planned development there. Salt the earth.
East Montgomery County!
Give me your tired.
Your poor.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
I am the Westwood Development!
6:40: That was a recent building, built after today's "End Gridlock Team" were elected in 2002. They expressed no concern or desire to address the Westbard sector plan until developers wanted it. The era of self-storage was their legacy here, because that's where they placed the bar. Neglect is not a justification for urbanization, however.
Why do you keep posting that silly picture of a sign that looks like it was hand-made by a 4 year old...surely you've got better stock photos than that?
We love that sign! It's become a Dyer mainstay.
I thought the "we sell boxes line" was amusing - I chuckled.
That Box Store has been there since at least the 1990s, you Birdbrain.
Dyer's Logic:
- Planning Board and County Council propose new Sector Plan to bring plenty of new, high-quality retail, green space, and residences to Westbard.
- Dyer says Westbard is great "as is" (i.e. a run-down, industrial district) and joins the irrational/racist/ageist/selfish/dishonest "SaveWestbard" movement.
- Dyer criticizes Equity One; accuses of them of corruption and illegally meeting with a government official
- Dyer protests with Westbard NIMBYs in protesting Equity One while trespassing on private property
- Westbard sector plan passes
- Dyer calls Equity One redevelopment with Giant as anchor as "a win for Equity One and the community"
- Dyer complains that Westbard is "neglected"
"Neglect is not an excuse for urbanization."
Whatever that means.
11:08: You're obviously someone like the County Council who needs a tourist-style bus tour of "Westbard." That building is a 21st century addition to River Road.
"The Maryland State Highway Administration has completed an analysis of the intersection of River Road and Landy Lane in Bethesda, and says a traffic signal is not needed there at this time...My analysis: The signal studies were delayed just long enough to find out if the sector plan would allow a higher-profit, denser, non-age-restricted tower on the site. It did not in May, and - boom - here we have the signal study, and the project is speeding forward as senior housing after all."
Hogan's Heroes give Dyer a wedgie again!
3:12: Your comment makes no sense. I've never advocated for a signal there - how is SHA's decision a setback for me, idiot? Second, it was the developer, not SHA, that delayed the study. Third, the decisions are made by career professional employees, not Hogan. You're still "Dumass material all the way."
Dyer @ 7:21 sounds just like Donald Trump in last night's debate.
Robert, I thought this Landy Ln light was supposed to divert local traffic from Westbard Avenue once a short road is constructed?
I would think a large senior housing project would create alot of vehicular traffic including moving trucks, buses, employee cars, vendors, etc What a congested mess this will be with a McDonald's across the street to top it off.
God help any walkers or bikers trying to cross the street there. USE THE OVERPASS!!!
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