Some are disappointed that the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board's much-touted plans to expand Veterans Park onto this block of Norfolk at Wisconsin appear to be fading. Others knew that, like the Council and Board's promises of "large, green parks" at Bethesda's border with the Town of Chevy Chase, it was another empty promise to gain community support for passage of the Bethesda Downtown sector plan. The idea was impractical given the physical barrier of Woodmont Avenue, which will only increase in traffic volume over the next two decades, as the state of Maryland allows every Wisconsin Avenue construction site to have use of a curb lane as parking and storage space.
Others are sure to be disappointed that the multiple owners on this block were unable to reach agreement on one larger project, despite many discussions and efforts to do so. We still need a large development site to hold a replacement movie theater for the downtown, which has seen several major restaurants close and record numbers of parking garage spaces empty in the Bethesda Row area since Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 closed two years ago. The Council declined to make a replacement theater a requirement in the Apex Building redevelopment, despite having full authority to do so. It also didn't require the developer to build the Capital Crescent Trail. We're in luck - the hive mind of the Council will be back in session this morning to begin work on your next tax increase. Let's see of any of the new Councilmembers push for an investigation into the $7 million in public funds embezzled under the last Council, and covered up until after election day in conspiracy with other County officials.
Donohoe has another mixed-use residential tower nearing completion in the Woodmont Triangle. Gallery Bethesda II is expected to open later this month on Rugby Avenue. The lower height of 7800 Wisconsin should at least provide some variety in the skyline, for those concerned about the wall effect of having 29-story buildings next to each other.
Not your best journalistic effort as I hear plenty of sour grapes over your election loss in this article
ReplyDelete5:10: Considering I'm the only journalist writing about the corruption among our County elected officials, this by default is *the* best journalistic effort out there right now. Let's get Burt Macklin in here to interview everyone associated with $7 million embezzled from taxpayers, including the past executive and Council, and then charge them with lying to the FBI when they lie to Burt.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this not happening? Why is the Post not bringing all of its "democracy in darkness" power to bear on this investigation? Even in Prince George's, the scandal wasn't about embezzling money from the taxpayers. By the way, where is Amazon/MoCo cartel operative Jennifer Barrios? She hasn't published an article in days. A vacation reward for a job well done for the cartel, or an operative who's job is done? Did she apply for a job with the Council? LOL
The Post actually killed democracy in MoCo by spreading darkness instead of news about the candidates and election, and being tools for the cartel with Blair and Floreen.
You're in no position to talk about journalism in that context.
The county will never improve if all constructive criticism is met with "just sour grapes" type comments.
ReplyDeleteDyer is right- where is the open space, movie theater and other ammenities the downtown needs?
"The Post actually killed democracy in MoCo by spreading darkness instead of news about the candidates and election, and being tools for the cartel with Blair and Floreen."
ReplyDeleteBut Blair and Floreen lost.
Anyway, I thought the subject of this article was the proposal for the Union Hardware site. How did we manage to get so far off-topic?
when you elect democrats this is what you get.....
ReplyDelete"The state of Maryland allows every Wisconsin Avenue construction site to have use of a curb lane as parking and storage space."
ReplyDeleteNo more love for Larry Hogan on this blog. LOL
7:12 AM You're angry at someone pursuing public service?
ReplyDeleteYou failed to report that the Design Advisory Panel at their meeting last week, had many of the same concerns that you have raised. The lack of a coordinated effort to develop the entire block and the implementation of an expansion of Vetrans Parkas suggested in the sector plan.
ReplyDeleteI happen to favorthe idea of expanding the park to the west by acquiring those two story buildings. A much larger triangular park would be much better than the other options that bifurcatie the park into two sections by expanding to the east across Woodmont. That sound like a fatal accident waiting to happen. The developer even suggested a nice wide arcade along the south edge of his site could create a great pedestrian link between a larger Vetrans Park and East Bethesda. It would be nice to se a singular tower on the site if possible, but it sounds like the land owners are not very friendly. The total combined block area is 200’ x 200’.
In fact the DAP denied any fiindings or recommendations until all land owners get together with the the planning department to see if they can work together.
Would love if the planning board would try to extract something from the developer that benefits the community.
ReplyDelete"By the way, where is Amazon/MoCo cartel operative Jennifer Barrios? She hasn't published an article in days"
ReplyDeleteYou mean since yesterday 12/3?
Has anyone brought barrios up to speed that there was a county council election?
Delete"The downtown has seen record numbers of parking garage spaces empty in the Bethesda Row area since Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 closed two years ago."
ReplyDelete[citation needed]
"The Council didn't require the developer to build the Capital Crescent Trail"
What? The new trail tunnel will open long before the Purple Line station opens.
"Let's get Burt Macklin in here to interview everyone associated with $7 million embezzled from taxpayers, including the past executive and Council, and then charge them with lying to the FBI when they lie to Burt"
It's going to be hard to conduct a criminal inquiry if you keep demanding that a fictitious person be involved in it.
Everyone should shop at LL Bean for their holiday shopping needs. BEAN FANS IN DA HOUSEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteEl Beaner. LOL
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteApparently the "Bethesda plan" is Ballston redux.
For those of you new to the area (Welcome!) Ballston is the part of arlington with bland soulless residential high rises.
BEAN FAN IN DA HOUSE! I'm doing all my shopping at LL Bean too! Their location at Pike and Rose can't be beat! Visit today!
ReplyDeleteBEAN FANS IN THE HOUSEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOoooo
ReplyDeleteWHERE MY LL BEAN FANS AT!?! Much luv brotha!
ReplyDeleteRobert: I'm trying to understand your perspective on development, government regulation, & spending. Are you in favor of development or opposed to development, you seem to be both? Are you for or opposed to goverment regulations, you seem to be both? Are you for or opposed to more government spending, you seem to be both?
ReplyDeleteBased on what I have read on this blog, I think Robert is in favor of dense and tall development when very close to Metro stations, but not at sites that are more distant from transit. I believe he favors non-residential construction to attract new businesses over dense multifamily residential or mixed use construction as he believes it places more burden on our overcrowded schools. I believe he broadly supports road and bridge expansion over transit expansion.
ReplyDeleteDid I get these right?