While Chase demolishes the interior space of the new Wisconsin branch where Wells Fargo used to be, they've set up an ATM in the parking lot. You've got to give Chase credit for finding a location by Chase Avenue.
Montgomery County's moribund, job-shedding economy has clearly opened a vacuum in vacant retail spaces that banks are stepping in to fill - much to the chagrin of residents seeking new dining and shopping options. The bank takeover is yet another - if lesser - example of how the disastrous Bethesda Downtown Plan has failed the community. Like most sector plans produced by our corrupt Planning Board and County Council, it was tailored behind-the-scenes to a specific set of developers' plans - not to a vision of creating a unique and vibrant urban area like County leaders had in the 1980s and 1990s, before the Montgomery County cartel seized power in 2002 with their "End Gridlock" [insert hysterical laughter and car horn sounds here] slate.
WOW! In a "MORIBUND" economy we get yet another bank from the same institution. We really must be in "DYER" straights......
ReplyDeleteWow, a new bank is taking over a vacant bank, and this is somehow bad news, and worthy of another in the continuing Dyer reportage that Bethesda is doomed?
ReplyDeleteI guess you were hoping the former Wells Cargo Bank would become a cool new disco, but with a drive in window for non-county controlled wine coolers sales.
Chase is taking over a former Wells Fargo bank, following Wells Fargo's move to the new branch in Stonehall, which used to be a single-family home that was converted into an office.
ReplyDeleteThe east side of Wisconsin Avenue is being held as one or two story buildings because current zoning laws severely restrict development of land that is immediately adjacent to single-family homes. The TD Bank on Wisconsin Avenue, which used to be a BP station, is in this zone.
The TD Bank on Old Georgetown Avenue, which used to be a Shell station, is on a lot that is too small to be suitable for high-rise development.
The Sun Trust branch that was previously known as the Bank of Bethesda, moved to a high-rise building that used to be another BP station.
So we have...one bank, from a bank that is new to this area, replacing another bank. Three banks, including one relocated branch, replacing gas stations (or in a high-rise building that replaced a gas station). One bank in a building that replaced a single-family home. Excuse me, but this does not seem like a crisis.
In other bank news, Sun Trust is merging with BB&T. Still waiting for you to report that.
Let's get some more banks and Chinese restaurants. We're a little light in both.
ReplyDelete1:06 PM
ReplyDeleteYou may have stumbled on it. Money laundering is Montgomery County's new economic plan.