A SunTrust Bank branch
moved out of the historic building at 7500 Wisconsin Avenue in February 2018. Despite the highly-visible location at the major intersection of Wisconsin with Old Georgetown Road and East-West Highway, the space has remained vacant for 31 months. Real estate firm KLNB has placed signage in the windows marketing it for retail or office use. The building has also been offered for sale, and has redevelopment potential with a 290' height and 5.0 FAR. I've always thought it was a prime location to install a giant TV screen and news ticker, if it ever was redeveloped.
Wouldn't a giant tv screen and news ticker be a major distraction to drivers, bikers, and pedestrians at what (at least in usual times) is already a pretty tricky intersection?
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved here that was the Bank of Bethesda building.
ReplyDeleteA very small footprint, and triangular shape, would make a 290’ tall building very impractical, unless this site is combined with others. It would be cool to see a dramatically tall “flat iron” building at this site though.
ReplyDeleteThe county seems adverse to cantilevered buildings at this time, so an expanded footprint seems unlikely. Such a small site would make any structured parking almost impossible, so 100% reliance on county parking decks or Metro access would also be required.
Ah, it's historic, which severely limits what redevelopment (interior) is permitted on this building. I definitely don't think it permits demolition.
ReplyDeleteI had thought this building wasn’t officially historic?
DeleteGuessing they want a lot of money for the building....
ReplyDeleteBethesda Urban Partnership should put their offices there.
ReplyDelete