Demolition continues at the future site of the St. Elmo Apartments, next to the Bainbridge Bethesda apartment tower on both St. Elmo and Fairmont Avenues. The project is not near the groundbreaking stage, however. Additional approvals are needed from the county, and other structures on the site are still occupied by businesses that are in full operation, and will have to be demolished at a later date.
Once again you are incorrect sir. The St. Elmo project is fully approved for a project that is about 16 stories tall that was approved well before the new Bethesda Downtown plan was enacted that allows taller buildings. They are entitled to build that project if they choose. They are currently seeking approval for a taller building that adds about 4 or 5 floors to the previously approved design. They have not yet been fully approved for this taller building.
ReplyDeleteAt a recent meeting with the Design Advsory Panel, they stated that if they can’t get the taller building entitled, they will simply build the original design. The developer pointed out how they felt the new design was better, but clearly were willing to move forward on the smaller project if the DA P and Planning Board did not agree. The design review board was very critical of the proposed 40’ separation between the new and adjacent tower, compared to the zoning required 60’ tower separation. The DAP indicated that the much taller building exaberrated the narrow gap.
I suspect the site clearing is intended to speed up the construction schedule so they can start excavation of a very deep parking deck and building foundations.
The 16 story plan was fully approved in May of 2017 and the new 22 story plan has received preliminary approval in December of 2018, but still needs final site plan approval and certified site plan approval before they can pull a building permit. Demolition permits can be requested at any time without any approval of the proposed plans.
ReplyDeleteAnother building bringing zero amenities to the downtown. Should be nice apartments though, but what is the point of the Bethesda Plan?
ReplyDeleteAnother building demolished as a result of the Regal Cinemas closing. Thanks Riemer!
ReplyDelete12:56: How was I incorrect? Your explanation does not contradict anything I said in the article. I've reported on the pending plan amendment, which is obviously the project the developer wants to build, and that has not been approved yet. Moreover, some businesses are still operating on the site.
ReplyDeleteYou implied that additional approvals are needed for the site, but it it is true that the developer has a fully approved site plan (for a smaller building) in their back pocket, so if the planning board disagrees with their larger building, they will still proceed.
ReplyDeleteYour article seemed to say that the demo seemed odd in that they didn’t have an approved plan, and tenants are still in place. Maybe just semantics, but I thought that perhaps you were unaware of the fully approved plans and that the developer has already indicated he is willing to scale back if the planning board pushes back.
By the way, I’m not a big fan of the very deep, narrow and tall buildings in the Triangle District. It’s too bad the planners did not consider creating additional public streets through the long blocks to create a more urban street grid. There would be more opportunity for daylight and views, and more visible retail frontage. These pedestrian walkways can only do so much...
Dyer is partially correct. Even though they have begun demolition, it will take them about a year getting the necessary permits from DPS before they could begin excavation and vertical construction even assuming that they use the existing site plan, have financing in place, signed a gc, and are fully designed.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if we don't have a repeat of 7340 Wisconsin Avenue, which still sits cleared and vacant, despite an approved site plan.