Tastee Diner assembles team to protect their property interests during Marriott HQ construction

Downtown Bethesda landmark Tastee Diner will have a front row seat for the imminent excavation and construction of the new Marriott headquarters and hotel at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue. Deep excavations that go right up to the property line can sometimes be too close for comfort, and tower crane overswing agreements have to be worked out with adjoining property owners. To that end, the ownership of the diner is retaining a team of professionals, to watch out for the best interests of the property during the construction.

The diner will be represented by the law firm of Silver, McGowan & Silver, P.C. Local architect Steven J. Karr, AIA, is being retained as the owner's representative, agent and project gatekeeper. Rogan Stearns, P.E. of Stearns Engineering will be the consulting structural engineer, and the geotechnical engineer for Tastee will be Gerry Davit, P.E. of Professional Consulting Corporation.

Karr will play a key role in assisting Tastee's legal representation in negotiating a Support Structure and Crane Overswing Agreement with The Bernstein Companies and Boston Properties, who own the Marriott site. He will also review project plans, and coordinate with both Tastee's attorney and the Marriott project team throughout the excavation and construction. Karr will also monitor any physical impacts of the Marriott work on the Tastee building and property.

Tastee Diner is located at 7731 Woodmont Avenue, at the rear western corner of the Marriott site. Marriott actively sought to assemble the diner and Woodmont Grill properties into its headquarters site, but the plan was scuttled after the latter declined to sell.