Thursday, December 01, 2016

Public meeting scheduled for St. Elmo Apartments project in Bethesda (Photos)

A public meeting regarding the Site Plan for the proposed St. Elmo Apartments tower will be held Wednesday, December 14, at 7:00 PM, at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, West Room A, at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. The Lenkin Companies development will include 210 residential units, 15488 SF of retail and restaurant space, and share a 10865 SF, 30' pedestrian plaza with neighboring apartment tower Bainbridge Bethesda. 

It will displace several businesses that are currently tenants on the property, including Vuk and Chef Tony's. Groundbreaking had been planned for late 2016 or early 2017, so it appears there will be a slight delay (site plans usually take about 6 months from when they are first submitted).
View of the proposed new
plaza from Fairmont Avenue
The plaza, which will replace the existing pedestrian area at the Bainbridge, will curve and feature a clock, as well as ground-level retail on both sides. Tables, chairs and plantings will remain as amenities. A site plan amendment for the Bainbridge will be required, and that is scheduled to be discussed at the meeting, as well. Bainbridge residents who have any input about the future of their plaza may want to attend, to weigh in on the topic.
View of plaza from
St. Elmo Avenue
While the address for the building is currently 4931 Fairmont Avenue, the lobby and garage entrances will be on the St. Elmo side. The loading dock will be on the Fairmont side, however. In its preliminary plan, Lenkin had proposed offering 220 garage parking spaces (more than is required), and 15% affordable units, again, more than is required. We'll find out December 14 if any changes are being proposed to the plan.

Renderings courtesy Lenkin Companies

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really hope they have some sort of pedestrian covered walkway while there's construction. I have to walk on Fairmont every day. Between the Cheval and this, pedestrians will have to walk in the streets just like when the Bainbridge and that building next to it were being constructed.

What is the law in terms of construction building needing to produce walkable pathways in Bethesda anyway? It seems like it's up to the discretion of the building whether they need to do it.

Robert Dyer said...

5:26: Councilmember Berliner continues to state publicly that his law prevents extended sidewalk closures. This is simply not true, as we have seen. There indeed is a requirement to post a sign about the closure, but the sidewalks are being allowed to remain closed for years at a time. If it was an enforceable law, the sidewalks wouldn't be closed right now.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad Berliner is gone after this term, Hans has one more to go.

Anonymous said...

Berliner will line his pockets as much as possible before he exits.

Robert Dyer said...

5:56: Hopefully we can prevent that third Riemer term in 2018.

Anonymous said...

Berliner can finally retire to his place on Rockville Pike. The guy left the area and his constituents long ago.
He does have way more energy than Reamer, so that will be missed.
#SleepyReamer

Anonymous said...

RD, you have my vote over that California phony, 5:56

Anonymous said...

We will prevent a first Dyer term in 2018.

Anonymous said...

"We." hahah

Andrea said...

Hopefully this creates a Bethesda Lane like space in the alley with restaurants, bars, and retail.

Anonymous said...

Berliner is likely to run for County Executive once he's forced out due to term limits, so watch out for that. Given his pattern of not living in the district he represents, I"m guessing he'll move to Frederick by that time.

Anonymous said...

Any update on this development? When are they slated to break ground?