Thursday, June 01, 2017

As heavy rains continue, can baggies save foundation of historic Bethesda building? (Photos)

UPDATE 1:50 PM: A stop work order has now been posted at the site, and a citation has been issued for working without a permit.

There is no evidence that Montgomery County, or the Historic Preservation Commission, have conducted a site visit to the Wilson Store, now the subject of controversy after the building's foundation was exposed to the elements. The required foundation permit is not displayed on the premises, as would be required to start that excavation work, and there is no "stop work" order posted - as there would have been, had an inspector found that work started. Only the permit request notice remains posted on the building, located at 7250 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda.
"Baggie" placed alongside
part of building foundation
While many heavy rains have passed through the area over the last couple of weeks, residents who have asked a court to halt the planned relocation of the building to Middleton Lane have expressed concern that stormwater runoff is damaging its foundation.
Remnants of the latest
downpour on Wednesday
on the surface adjacent to
the Wilson Store
Now large "baggies" have been placed along some parts of the exposed foundation. It's unclear how effective they are in actually keeping water out. Other gaps remain open to the elements. The last remaining 19th century building in downtown Bethesda, the Wilson Store appears to be a low priority for Montgomery County officials and the County Council.





46 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:48 AM

    "There is no evidence that Montgomery County, or the Historic Preservation Commission, have conducted a site visit to the Wilson Store"

    There's no evidence you know what you're talking about. A simple permit search of the property shows multiple county inspectors visiting the site, most recently Vito Bellafiore on Friday, 5/26 regarding the "Demolition or Move Permit." Why are you blatantly fabricating stories just to find something to whine about, Robert?

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  2. Roald9:03 AM

    I hope they don't screw this up. We need to preserve our history!

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  3. 8:48: Where is the Stop Work notice, then? Conversely, if they have a permit, it too must be displayed.

    No fabrication at all. Nice try, punk.

    We have laws. They must be followed.

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  4. Anonymous9:23 AM

    This isn't just low priority for the County Officials and the County Council this is low priority for County residents but a few obstructionist NIMBYs. The overwhelming public opinion is that this structure has limited historic value and the fact that it has already moved once should make this most recent move a non-issue.

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  5. Anonymous9:37 AM

    Permits must be displayed for a certain amount of days, not in perpetuity.

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  6. Anonymous9:43 AM

    This is not the original foundation and it's not the one that will be at the new location. The gap between the structure and the ground is necessary to move the structure, and I doubt that the current foundation would get undermined as easily as you suggest.

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  7. Anonymous9:43 AM

    Freelance bloggers working from Frederick don't care much about historic buildings in Bethesda.

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  8. Anonymous9:47 AM

    9:33 - That's a delightful image.

    "Anyone who opposes this union, or this building move, speak now or forever keep you peace."

    {LIGHTNING STRIKES, BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS INCINERATED}

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  9. Anonymous9:47 AM

    @9:43 should they?

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  10. Roald9:57 AM

    9:03 Roald is not the real Roald, he is an imposter. Please delete him.

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  11. Anonymous10:02 AM

    9:43AM Maligning another local small business. Shame. Karma never loses an address.

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  12. 8:48: You were proven wrong. Just since my original story was published, an inspector has come out and posted the Stop Work Order and issued a citation. Robert Dyer gets results.

    9:37: Construction permits must be displayed throughout the work.

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  13. Anonymous11:02 AM

    He wasn't proven wrong. Now, there's updated info.

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  14. Anonymous11:12 AM

    I just walked by 10 minutes ago and work was still going on in side the structure.

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  15. Anonymous12:02 PM

    Exactly, Robert, as I said: county inspectors are regularly visiting the site. You can easily track their comings and going on the county's permitting site. Suggesting that "there is no evidence that Montgomery County, or the Historic Preservation Commission, have conducted a site visit to the Wilson Store" makes you seem either wholly uneducated of the process or a liar.

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  16. @12:02 PM

    No, Robert has an army of angry readers that he uses to dictate the future of this county and gets results.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Robert you're not very sharp. You are so hell bent on hating on the council that you get sloppy and don't do complete stories. Not smart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1:22: Is that how I ended up being the first news outlet to break this story, dumbass?

      The only number lower than your IQ is your testosterone level.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous1:32 PM

    The state of local journalism:

    Covering elected officials and our government with skepticism means you "hate" them.

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  19. Anonymous1:35 PM

    He doesn't cover them. He covers Robert Dyer lol.

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  20. Anonymous1:36 PM

    Dyer is Roald's dictator.

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  21. The Elon Musk of Bethesda1:45 PM

    The only thing lower than Dyer's IQ is the number of times he has been elected to county council.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous1:46 PM

    Keeping up with current events, do you believe in climate change???

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous1:37 AM

    This entire entry is inaccurate and wrong. Robert please do some research before you post.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous3:39 AM

    More "less of a man" insults from Dyer
    To him, slamming someone's testosterone level is a BIG insult.

    You know what that says about him.

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  25. 3:39: Yeah, it says that you are ultimately going to regret your role in this unprecedented cyberbullying and harassment campaign, as will your wealthy patrons. They will be brought down by your downfall, and their professional reputations (along with your UNprofessional reputation) will be in tatters after you all are convicted and sentenced to hard time. Enjoy the big house.

    1:37: Shut up, idiot. I realize your frustration that I had the scoop on this, but it's not worth posting a malarkey comment at 4:37 AM.

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  26. Anna Van Horn4:53 AM

    Threatening again? How silly.
    Low testosterone. Yup. Guilty. Female. Supposed to be low. What's your excuse?

    Cyberbullying? Surely you jest.
    Yup, that 3:39 comment is devastatingly criminal. I'll add it to the file.


    The female lion does ninety percent of the hunting.

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  27. 4:53: Bank robbers and embezzlers are "threatened" with prison, too. Probably a good reason to avoid a life of crime. Maybe you can plead insanity.

    Meanwhile, "add it to the file" that you are just one of the many identities of our resident paid troll, as you forgot that you posted that comment under "Anonymous."

    #Oops

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  28. Anonymous5:57 AM

    What's more likely, the council goes to jail, or Dyer moves out of the finished basement? Honestly, I am having a ton of trouble deciding.

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  29. 5:57: What's more likely, Hans Riemer doing a perp walk outside 100 Maryland Avenue, or a failed Planning Board nominee revealing how he affords to live in a brand new Silver Spring building with no job? Honestly, I am having a ton of trouble deciding.

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  30. Anonymous6:27 AM

    For your question, I will go with the Board nominee revealing how he affords to live in a brand new Silver Spring building with no job. Your turn! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous6:33 AM

    Do you help your mom with mortgage payments. #glasshouses

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  32. Anna Van Horn6:57 AM

    Oh, Robert. sigh. The comment wasn't mine. Only the defense of it @3:39 and the ones @ 11:02 and 10:02.

    I'll always claim my posts. No problem. I know who I am. I have the TRUTH on my side. No worries. Your threats don't bother me.

    Whatcha gonna do when I walk up and introduce myself?


    June 2, 1981 The Japanese video arcade game "Donkey Kong" made its U.S. debut.

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  33. Friends of Impotent Buttinski6:59 AM

    5:57 - Are you sure it's a finished basement?

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  34. 6:33: Do the developers help the failed Planning Board applicant with mortgage payments? #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmm

    6:57: So why did you refer to the testosterone comment as applying to you, if it wasn't you?

    6:59: I don't live in anybody's basement, dumbass.

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  35. Anonymous7:06 AM

    Hey Dyer - you don't need to be a Councilmember to report suspicious or criminal activity to the MoCoPD or the FBI. What's holding you back?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anna Van Horn7:28 AM

    7:03 AM Thanks for asking and taking an interest.
    1) because you use that against me all the time
    2) because you are "projecting" by choosing insults to use on others that you would find personally insulting.
    3) to get under your skin.



    Houseflies hum in the key of F.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous8:23 AM

    How does Dyer afford anything...
    #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmm

    (Previous one was deleted for some reason. Dyer wants to raise a question, I will raise a question. He may be right, but I may also be right)

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  38. 8:23: You haven't answered the question yet about the failed Planning Board applicant.

    "If you don't stop lying about me, I'm going to start telling the truth about you."

    ReplyDelete
  39. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is8:34 AM

    If you actually believe their is fraud and corruption, please use any of the following services to #LockThemUp

    http://montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/districts/2d/index.html

    http://www.pogo.org/report-corruption/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

    https://www.fbi.gov/tips

    These services should investigate the matters if you really believe the corruption is as rampant as you believe. I personally think they are highly exaggerated.

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  40. Anonymous8:35 AM

    I said i thought that was more likely. That was your first question. You never answered my first question, which is more likely, you move out of your basement, or the council gets locked up.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous8:59 AM

    8:35AM: I don't see either happening. I'll take NEITHER for $100.

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  42. Anonymous9:09 AM

    If it was true, it would be a career-making story, Dyer would have been all over it and would be dealing with national trolls, not just us local ones.

    If it was true, someone else would have picked up the story and run with it, and Dyer would be here, trashing them 24/7.

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  43. 9:09: Only the FBI can get the incriminating information needed to convict several Montgomery County officials, including several on the Council.

    #LockThemUp

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous9:44 AM

    Journalists don't let that stop them.
    See Woodward & Bernstein

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous10:09 AM

    Someone left directions for how to contact the FBI on a tip that the council is corrupt. Why not leave a tip if you are so certain??? It would make you a hero and if they really are bathing in corruption, the FBI arrests them, I will vote for you! You would be a hero for stepping up and helping save everyone's tax dollars from going to waste with their corrupt dealings. It is pretty selfish to not report this if you have all this evidence or make all of these claims.

    I do not believe that they should be locked up for corruption. Are they competent, that can be debated, but corrupt, I doubt it.

    ReplyDelete