Public meeting scheduled for new Bethesda hotel project on August 28

Developer StonebridgeCarras is holding a required public meeting providing information about its new downtown Bethesda mixed-use hotel project on Monday, August 28, at 7:00 PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (Conference Room A), located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. The project includes the site of the current 2nd District Montgomery County police station. StonebridgeCarras acquired that prime corner property across from Metro in a land swap with the County, which will relocate the station to Rugby Avenue.

The StonebridgeCarras project will include a 135,000 SF hotel and meeting space, up to 400,000 SF of office space, underground and above-grade parking, and unspecified "public and private amenities." It includes properties at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue, 7351 Wisconsin Avenue, 4630 Montgomery Avenue.

Despite the County's moribund private sector economy, tourist demand remains high for hotel rooms, according to a representative for the Marriott Corporation at last week's public meeting on the their new downtown Bethesda hotel and headquarters. He stated that the downtown Bethesda Hilton Garden Inn is always booked solid.