The
EuroMotorcars showroom at 7020 Arlington Road, a downtown Bethesda landmark for decades, has been demolished. A new dealership structure will be built on the property after the demolition is completed. The dealership remains open for business during the demolition and construction.
MoCo's Nighttime Economy is amazing!
ReplyDeleteOne night a building is standing, the next night it's on the ground! It's a miracle!
Thanks for posting. Do you have a rendering of what they are building? I can’t seem to find any info at the MoCo planning website. I believe they did not get approval of the massive extension of the parking deck with a new glass clad, mutiny-story dealership that extended all the way to Arlington, and a new linear internal drive on the north, and a two story mixed use building at the corner. I believe they just settled for a more modest replacement of the existing dealer, but I can’t seem to find any approved plans or renderings.
ReplyDeleteI can’t find anything either. Renderings would be much appreciated, mr Dyer if you have any.
DeleteThey weren’t granted permission or decided not to go after the big renovation? What a shame either way.
I believe they proposed a surface parking lot for most of the Bethesda Avenue frontage, except for the corner, and a car wash near the Bethesda Crab House. The county insisted that they line Bethesda Avenue for the complete frontage, and their proposal was not approved.
ReplyDeleteI walked into the remaining dealership portionon Bethesda and they were clueless about the new construction, and seemed to be pissed that they were corralled into what they referred to as temporary offices. They said there was some new elevations floating around, but could not find them.
I wonder if the county approved some backdoor plan to allow their big new dealership if they preserved the one story buildings on Bethesda. Now that a new two story Audi dealership was approved for the former Goodyear site, I wonder what might become of the corner, where they used to park the previously owned cars. I’m sure the county was not pleased with a used car lotta a key intersection in Bethesda Row.
I have always wondered why the approval process for remodeling and many new projects don’t include a chance for public input. The large projects in downtown Bethesda often involve density credits, and therefore Design Advisory Panel review and Planning Commission review, often for sketch, preliminary and site plan approvals. Both of these review bodies post submitted plans and allow public input at their meetings. But many smaller projects somehow just get built with no chance for public input. Like the Ourisman Honda remodeling or even the new Audi dealership. Why is public input not allowed for all new construction or major remodeling of commercial projects in MoCo?
The new design means no more blocking Arlington Road to unload cars. That's a good thing.
ReplyDeletelol..it opened weeks ago and Dyer already reported on Leo & Liv.
ReplyDeleteGood that others are catching up. Better late than never.
@11:47 Are you sure they won't have car carriers blocking Arlington Road? I heard the reason they didn't use Bethesda Ave for it is that the road can't support the weight of the trucks. Or will they have a loading area within their property instead?
ReplyDeleteBreaking news!
ReplyDeleteI walked into the Ourisman VW dealership and a salesman told me the former CVS at the corner of Wisconsin and Bradley is being remodeled to become a large new Ourisman Jeep/Nissan dealership showroom. No service, just sales. Service will be on Butler Road and combined with existing facilities the service VW and Volvo. Building permits in the window of the former CVS state they are constructing a new vehicular elevator connecting the lower level parking and main level showroom/sales area.
Seems like a good fit for an awkward retail space at the southern end of downtown. It will be nice to see all the glass storefronts opened up and some shiny new cars and trucks on display. Like most drugstores, the former CVS had so many windows covered with opaque decals that the corner was very unappealing. Jeep usually does a fun showroom, with funky outdoorsy themes and branding. It’s a Jeep thing.
"Like most drugstores, the former CVS had so many windows covered with opaque decals that the corner was very unappealing"
ReplyDeleteThis really irks me. I know it's so that they can maximize the use of the floor area by having more products on display, but it really kills the street presence.
The whole idea of being able to see in, and see out from the store is somehow lost on drugstore planners. I know margins must be thin, but I would think the increased exposure to the interior of the store would help offset the lost of a few store shelves the back up to the storefront.
ReplyDeleteDrugstore design is extremely formulaic. Nobody takes a chance on a nice open design, when they can showcase three more racks of potato chips. Many communities require a high percentage of glass storefront windows along walkable areas, that drugstore designers immediately block with opaque and generic decals.
Remember the good old days of counter seating serving ice cream and soda fountain drinks, prominently displayed in the drugstore, with a knowledgeable pharmacist that was happy to answer questions? Now all we get is row after row of dandruff shampoo and cheap toy cars. Really makes you want to become a pharmacist. Hope you like counting pills.
6:29 AM Robert broke the story on Ourisman coming to that old CVS space many, many weeks ago.
ReplyDelete7:52 AM Agreed. Same applies to the Giant on Arlington Road. It's a missed opportunity to not have better windows into the store from the street.