The Capital One branch at 4708 Bethesda Avenue was on a list of the bank's planned closures for 2021, and now we know when. I'm told that as of 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 28, this branch will be permanently closed. Not only is Capital One massively downsizing its branch network in the region, but a new high-rise is also planned for the corner of Bethesda and Wisconsin Avenue. A Carroll Community Bank branch around the corner already closed, and Starbucks is going to move across Bethesda Avenue to 7200 Wisconsin.
That's ok three more will be opening soon I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThe approval process for the two highrises and the renovation and expansion of the Farm Women’s Market have gone a bit silent. I believe the negotiation of the counties portion of the cost of building the underground parking to replace the surface parking lots east of Wisconsin had just started when Covid hit. I wonder where that stands at this point? It’s seems like that would have been in the news if it was progressing.
ReplyDeleteGoody, just what Bethesda needs, more half-empty high rises with 'now leasing' signs posted in front or on the sides of the buildings. So MoCo covers a portion of the cost of building underground parking garages? What other costs of building high rises does the county cover, and what other subsidies does it contribute (eg. tax breaks)? No wonder Bethesda is starting to look like those cities in China with empty apartment towers. The CCP also subsidizes the building of those empty high rises. MoCo is just emulating the CCP, except that MoCo has no companies producing cheap junk for the US market to cover some of the costs. Now everything makes much more sense.
ReplyDelete9:07 AM Bethesda may become like Ballston. A soulless urban area with high rise apartments.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mont. County gets rid od Mark Elrich it will so much better.
ReplyDeleteHe has kept schools closed and micro managed many parts of Bethesda.
The entire Council is a bunch of spenders without regard to taxes.As long as the voters of MoCo go along with these fools they can't complain.
You deserve who you vote for.
Another comment I have.
ReplyDeleteWho are these Censors ? Do they work for the Chicoms ? Maybe they are rejects from Cuba or V Venezuela .
Free Speech ? HA HA.
Who dares to criticize Mont. County Dictators ?
10:31AM MoCo teachers didn't want to go back to school. Even after classrooms were made safe, much safer than any other essential worker or grocery clerk has it, they didn't want to follow the science and go back. Maybe next Fall?
ReplyDeleteElrich isn't going anywhere. He handily won last time, has wide support and has a record of saving lives to run on. The businesses that were closed aren't saying a word that I've heard. Flannigan's quietly went into the good night after decades. They did blame the streeteries for their closure but that's it. I don't see anyone running under the "pro business" banner winning anything.
High-rise residential housing adds density, and adds more vitality to the streetscape, and helps shops and restaurants thrive. Almost all of these new towers include grade level retail, restaurants or cafes, adding to the kinetic buzz of the streetscape. Most of these buildings replace surface parking with structured parking, removing unsightly cars from view. All of these new towers are much more sustainable than the buildings they replace, reducing energy cost and reducing their carbon footprint. Most include green roofs to cool the urban heat island effect.
ReplyDeleteOf course the new office towers, hotels and commercial spaces add gainful employment, and reduce suburban sprawl by developing density near transit. These new towers are required to provide a high percentage of affordable housing, and contribute funds for new schools and parks. Hundreds of new tax paying residents are moving into downtown every year.
Downtown Bethesda is far from being a soul-less urban area. It is considered by many urban planners to be one of the most walkable, pedestrian friendly urban environments in the United States. Within a short stroll, one can access 200 restaurants, cafes and bars, 500 retail shops and businesses, seven high rise hotels, five grocery stores, a library, a multi-plex movie theater, two performing arts theaters, multiple art galleries, dozens of urban plazas, two farmers markets, two art fares, a food fare, a free circulator bus system. Downtown will soon have a third entrance to the Metro, with six high-speed elevators, a new light rail station, and perhaps two new bus rapid transit stations. Downtown Bethesda is serviced by the Capital Crescent Trail, the most heavily used hiker-biker trail in the county, and is adding extensive separated bike lanes. A new 200 space two-level bike parking garage is being built adjacent to the CCT. Several county parking decks provide affordable parking for visitors.
Of course all new building take time to lease up or sell, but downtown Bethesda has one of the highest occupancy rates in the DMV. Both the 4747 Bethesda and Wilson office buildings were recently completed, and were nearly of fully pre-leased upon opening. According to a recent survey of housing cost within one mile of a Metro Station in the DMV, Bethesda has, by a wide margin, the highest median housing cost, of over $885,000 per unit. This is way higher that downtown DC and anywhere in Virginia. Condos and apartments in Bethesda are in very high demand.
10:27 Could not agree more. Bethesda is almost there now.
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