A construction permit request has been filed with Montgomery County for 8001 Woodmont Avenue - a curious request, as that property is part of The JBG Companies' 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project. That project would demolish retail and office structures on Wisconsin Avenue, and the Autodentz and parking garage on Woodmont Avenue north of Fairmont Plaza, and south of Bethesda Chocolates. The permit request mentions it is for a "multi-family dwelling high rise," with a building area of 422,373 SF.
This is yet another sign that
JBG is moving forward at last on this delayed project, which is supposed to be
anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store. What doesn't make sense is, why isn't the permit for constructing the high-rise useing the 7900 Wisconsin address? Isn't that the address of the high rise the permit is for?
JBG has already requested demolition, and
sheeting-and-shoring, permits for the project, one of the more-promising in downtown Bethesda.
"What doesn't make sense is, why isn't the permit for constructing the high-rise useing the 7900 Wisconsin address? Isn't that the address of the high rise the permit is for?"
ReplyDeleteThis actually isn't out of the ordinary. The project fronts both Wisconsin and Woodmont. I've seen permits requested using multiple addresses even for the same project.
JBG's prior project just across the street was originally named "4900 Fairmont," but was changed to 7770 because the condo project on the other end of the block (now called Cheval) was originally called 4990 Fairmont.
"useing"
ReplyDeleteLOL
For such a serious journalist who breaks stories bigger than the WaPo, you'd think you would be better at spelling and editing. You're a hobbyist blogger.
ReplyDelete12:46 PM is a troll.
ReplyDeleteA troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion.
That describes Robert Dyer perfectly!
DeleteWhat's all that brown smoke around the building? Are the lower floors on fire? Not a good sign.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I would like to reference an excellent example of good journalistic integrity. Instead of poor sources...here's what Bethesda Magazine used in their story about Marriott:
ReplyDelete“Marriott International's selected site for its new headquarters in 2022—located at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue—is sufficient for its current plans for both its corporate office and hotel project,” a Marriott spokesman said in a statement Tuesday provided by the Maier & Warner public relations firm to Bethesda Beat."
Now as much as you bash Bethesda Magazine...that report has some meat on the bone as opposed to your typical "according to my source" (the Cookie Monster, your Mom, Marriott?).
I'm OK with overlooking your style and writing style as I understand your not a professional journalist. I only reference the above in hopes maybe it'll get you to second guess immediately responding to all criticism with your oh so high and mighty, I'm always right attitude.
Pardon my two errors below...you're not your and your boss and writing style as opposed to your style and writing style.
Delete4:32: A professional journalist doesn't put logic and common sense aside, and just accept a press release at face value. They're pretty desperate to prove they didn't get scooped over there, I understand.
DeleteI would strongly dispute the idea that Marriott doesn't want the diner site. They have been pursuing it for months, as recently as Friday. Two parties saying, "I don't need this property," and "I don't need to sell," is just standard, smart negotiating position in a real estate deal. If Marriott said they desperately wanted it, the asking price would just go up further. And to not sell to Marriott, the owner would be making a huge financial sacrifice for..what, exactly? Who would leave $5-7 million on the table just to say, "I took one for the community. I kept the diner open." Marriott can't show their cards yet, because this whole corner depends on getting the Woodmont Grill. Without that, the diner site isn't worth $7 million to them.
The problem with your logic here Robert, is that you wrote the two parties agreed to sell and even put out a number sourced to some unnamed "source", when in fact negotiations are ongoing. You're "source" was wrong and you won't admit it. So now you're playing this game, 'well they're still hashing it out' to try to walk back you're original, incorrect report. Just man up and admit your "source" is wrong and move on rather than try to double down on this cooked-up idea in your head that you had a major scoop, when in fact you were wrong.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Robert's logic, anyone can report that some major property in Bethesda was "sold," cite unnamed sources (Kenneth Buttons on Facebook) and it's a scoop, even if the property hasn't been sold.
ReplyDelete5:32: My story says a source told me they've agreed, it doesn't say it "has been sold." Until Bernstein acquires the Woodmont Grill, nothing is going to be executed or sold. Those negotiations with Woodmont Grill are still "ongoing." No sale will close for several years. Competitors who are frustrated are of course going to use the secretive nature of a major real estate deal to claim my source is wrong because...even if there is an agreement, nobody can say anything at this point. Try getting JBG to tell you Trader Joe's is the anchor of the project in the article above. That's not the way real estate negotiations work.
ReplyDeleteWhy would I say I'm wrong, when there's no tangible evidence I'm wrong at this point? I have not written an article stating anything has definitively happened; I've passed along what a credible source told me.
The owners of Pizza Pass, Bethesda Barbecue Co. and Quincy's all told my competitors they were not closing, and at the time, the resident troll attacked me for not "admitting you were wrong," and demanded I update my reports. All 3 closed, just as I reported.
5:34: Who is "Kenneth Buttons?" Never heard of him. I have 3 people saying they've agreed for $7 million, and none of them are named Kenneth Buttons.
Robert, when another magazine says that a source (WITH A NAME), has stated something, whether it is a lie or not, you say it's fake news. Attributing a quote isn't fake news. You're wrong. Fake news is saying that someone is running a child trafficking operation in a pizza parlor! Stop already...
ReplyDeleteActually, Robert Dyer's style of reporting is closer to fake news here. No attribution with a big claim and hope that it comes true.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they're paying an option, maybe 1M-2M, while they negotiate. That could be the reported purchase differences of $5M and $7M. Usually neither side is obligated to buy/sell. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn't and another buyer comes in and it starts all over again.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, with it being part of a larger plan, if all other pieces of the plan come thru, this will likely also.
It's never a done deal until the papers are signed.
7:21: Bethesda Magazine was the one that kept writing about Pizzagate, not me!
ReplyDelete7:22: 2 troll comments in 2 minutes - pace yourself, swine. My competitors are fake news every day, yet you never criticize them. Embarrassing.
7:24: That's true. By definition, there will be contingencies in any deal related to the Marriott project.
"Pizzagate" was fake news. However the attack on Comet Pizza that resulted from it, was quite real. Bethesda Beat did not report the former, only the latter.
ReplyDeleteNice little distortion there, Dyer.
7:46: Speaking of distortion, Comet Ping Pong is not in Bethesda, or even in Montgomery County. So why were they even talking about it?
ReplyDeleteDyer is just like Trump, calls legitimate news "fake news" if he doesn't like it or they #scoop him. Dyer, you're a birdbrain!
ReplyDelete8:44: "There's no deal - yet!" Gripping stuff. I am like Trump in being a winner, while you're stuck behind a keyboard typing toddler insults and picking up Hans Riemer's dry cleaning. SAD!
ReplyDeleteRemember, Robert...Hans kicked your ass last time and will do it again. If he's limited by terms, the next guy or gal will kick your ass all the same in the election. All you do with your nastiness is ensure you'll never be elected.
Delete@Dyer
ReplyDeleteYou're hero Trump:
a) Didn't win the majority of votes so he is in fact a loser
b) is the biggest failure in American political history, and he has not finished failing yet
Hopefully he'll be impeached soon to spare him the embarrassment of failing even more. The only silver lining is that his constant failures include implementing the most idiotic policies ever proposed by a president.
9:13: If he was the "loser," why is he in the Oval Office desk chair?
ReplyDeleteI think your point "b)" is actually a great description of Hans Riemer's Council career.
#HelplessHans
8:07: The cemetery precincts came in strong for Riemer in 2010 and 2014. Let's hope the pending lawsuit can remove the illegal voters from the rolls, and poll watchers keep away the rest, so we can have a free and fair election in 2018.
DeleteRobert, you can't comprehend why the Pizzagate CRIME might be news in Bethesda? You're simply trying to make a point, right? You can't really be that ignorant.
ReplyDeleteEveryone in this area was interested in what transpired at Comet Ping Pong and how it could happen anywhere. I'd just been there with the kids and drive past it all the time. My Bethesda neighbors were all talking about it. It was news and Bethesda folks are interested.
9:41: There are a lot of stories "Bethesda folks are interested in," but don't have anything to do with Bethesda - and they therefore do not belong in a Bethesda publication. The real reasons they ran it were 1) exploiting it for cheap clicks in Google News, and 2) there is an undisclosed relationship between Bethesda Magazine and Comet Ping Pong, which would probably be a more interesting story than a lame recap of "what the Washington Post already wrote about Pizzagate yesterday" scraped onto "Morning Notes." Embarrassing.
DeleteComet Ping Pong is less than 3 miles from Bethesda Row. Montgomery Mall and White Flint are much farther than that.
ReplyDelete"Africa begins at Western Avenue." -Robert Dyer
10:09: I'll remember that when I write about something in N.W. Washington and you say it's "not Bethesda.'
DeleteLast time I ate at Comet Ping Pong was about a month ago. Last time I ate at Montgomery Mall, I was probably in high school.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Leventhal infamously boasted that he goes to Virginia to dine, because there were no 5 star restaurants in Montgomery County. A sitting councilmember boasting he is taking his money out of the county during the worst of the Great Recession - shameful!
DeleteRobert, you miss the point. An unusual and frightening crime happened at a place just down the street from and popular with Bethesda residents. People were rattled and concerned.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are only interested in "Bethesda" and not the people of Bethesda.
That's a darn shame and very disheartening.
The cemetery precincts came in strong for Riemer in 2010 and 2014
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have to explain that one. Where are the cemetery precincts results? What kind of proof do you have to justify your statement?
That's why people tell him they'll use his quotes on signs at rallies.
ReplyDelete