Another bump has appeared in the long and winding road to redeveloping the square block bounded by Wisconsin, Norfolk, Woodmont and Fairmont Avenues in downtown Bethesda. The recently-unveiled 7820 Wisconsin project has hit a snag that will require a brief delay, and a new public meeting to be held. A new land acquisition on the block requires a revision to the project's sketch plan, so the holdup is not related to any of the issues discussed at the original public meeting on the project.
The developers will submit a new sketch plan to Montgomery County. A new public meeting will then be held in about two months or less.
"A new land acquisition on the block"
ReplyDeleteWhich site?
Additional site area on that block should make for a better plan, and potentially a larger building with more units, ground level commercial space and a more cohesive green space. As I recall, at the last meeting, they did not have control of the southwest corner of the site, but perhaps that has changed. One interesting idea was shown on the architects website, that showed an L shaped base, with a leg on Wisconsin, and a tall open space for the park below. It seemed like a nice idea to provide shaded cover for a potion of the site, that could be used to cover a stage, or to support a large temporary movie screen for movies in the park.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to see that this project is being refined. Combined with Marriott, this flanking tower could create a nice gateway to the Woodmont Triangle from Wisconsin.
Do you mind sharing what the new land acquisition is? Did they buy that newish 4-story building?
ReplyDeleteSeems like an odd spot to build the tallest structure in the downtown.
ReplyDeleteIf they could assemble the whole block, it would make sense to orient to Wisconsin and allow the whole Woodmont frontage to be an extension of the park, rather than the one sliver on Norfolk.
Is the hardware store owner with the toilet car going to get his black box theater as part of this?
I believe the building at the southwest corner, containing Reddz Trading, was not acquired by the County to be used as an expansion to Veterans Park. I believe the developer of the high-rise might have cut a deal to a acquire it to expand his site area, and hence revising his approvals.
ReplyDelete