The former Ranger Surplus storefront at 8008 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda has been vandalized again. It is part of several parcels that were assembled for redevelopment first by Douglas Development, and then Toll Brothers. The project was held up repeatedly by the Montgomery County Council, who demanded land be donated to the County for its bus rapid transit boondoggle, and the mixed-use redevelopment has stalled out for nearly a decade. As a result, the site continues to vie with the former Steamers site to be the biggest eyesore in downtown Bethesda.
No doubt that this project needs to proceed with demo and construction, or at least properly buttoned up and secured.
ReplyDeleteThe project has been fully entitled since December 7, 2016, so yes, nearly seven years! The ground level needed to be pulled back to allow room for the future BRT station, but the upper floors cantilever out to the Wisconsin right of way, and are not impacted by the BRT.
I still contend the developer should work with the Artena neighbor to the south, and consolidate excavation. They could even work together and share the parking access ramps and service areas with the Artena, save a ton of money on double retail int walls, and create a much better retail space at grade, benefiting both projects. Maybe even use the same contractor to build them both at the same time for different owners.
It would be great for these two properties to merge. At a developers meeting they said it wouldn’t happen since they would have to go back and redo their designs from scratch. Makes total sense though.
Delete
ReplyDeleteSo here is the rub. The county government it contributing to urban blight in it's mini Manhattan. I am not sure what the law is in Mont Co; but in my little town they also used Blight laws in their favor to get properties that they wanted.
Learning
This blog is so ridiculous sometimes. If the ROW isn't expanded, e.g. along Arlington Rd., then you complain. If the ROW is expanded, e.g. along Wisconsin, you also complain. If something does get built you complain developers got their way. If something doesn't get built you complain that the council is anti-business.
ReplyDeleteElrich is a disaster
ReplyDeleteAs a famous man once said
ReplyDeleteEverything Woke turns to S h@@@@@T
How is it "woke" to force the closure of a series of local businesses in favor of the promise of yet another gigantic apartment/condo/co-op high-rise? If you have in mind to respond something along the lines of, "I don't see anything getting built there b/c the wokes have blocked it," I'll reply by sharing that "wokes" would 100% of the time choose making use of the current, vacant structures over having them left abandoned, deteriorating.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, --Surprise!-- you don't know what you're talking about.
The County should require the developer to remove the current structure to street level. This vacant structure is unsafe and encourages crime.
ReplyDelete@3:49 PM SPOT ON! Be Damned if you do, be damned if you don't. This is what you get from the wannabe entitled.
ReplyDelete"The wannabe entitled."
ReplyDeleteAnd yet you make pilgrimage to read the latest, so Robert must have *some* redeeming qualities, even by your venerable standards.