One of the longest-delayed redevelopment projects in downtown Bethesda is back on, potentially under new ownership. Toll Brothers is asking Montgomery County for an extension to the preliminary plan approval it received from the Planning Board several years ago for 8008 Wisconsin Avenue. The proposed two-year extension would allow groundbreaking to begin as late as October 16, 2025. That would be more than a full decade after local real estate giant Douglas Development first attempted to redevelop the property, which includes the former Ranger Surplus store and Bethesda Valet on Wisconsin Avenue, and Dunmor's (a.k.a. The Beer House) at 8013 Woodmont Avenue.
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| Required public notification sign erected Monday at the site |
Douglas Development was making a big push into downtown Bethesda around the middle of the last decade, acquiring several new properties. 8008 Wisconsin was one, and the potential crown jewel was a development that would have been on the former Exxon, Pines of Rome and Tommy Joe's properties along Wisconsin, Hampden Lane and Montgomery Lane. But after Montgomery County officials interfered, demanding Douglas give them a chunk of the property for a bus rapid transit right-of-way, the 8008 project stalled out amid protracted negotiations.
The extended delay apparently ended up deep-sixing the project, which included a restaurant on the Woodmont side. Douglas ultimately sold the property to Toll Brothers in 2016, and switched its focus to updating the Shops of Wisconsin (where it brought a Target store as a hedge against the possible future departure of Trader Joe's, an unavoidable rumor once a second Trader Joe's was revealed as the anchor tenant up the road at 7900 Wisconsin), acquiring smaller properties around town, and on the Exxon/Pines of Rome project. That last project, too, ended up falling through the cracks, joining 8008 Wisconsin in "development hell."
Despite two very impressive and successful Bethesda developments, Hampden Row and Amalyn, Toll Brothers was unable to bring 8008 Wisconsin to fruition. The existing structures on the site have become eyesores and targets for vandals and squatters in the ensuing years. Now, Toll Brothers says an unidentified developer is prepared to purchase the site from them, and immediately proceed to redevelop it under the approved plan. For that reason, it is seeking the extension, to facilitate that transaction.
The extension request will be reviewed by the Planning Board. It is not yet on any published Planning Board agenda. Toll Brothers' request comes as the also-delayed Artena Bethesda project is getting ready to break ground directly next door at 8000 Wisconsin.
Robert, what's the status of the Exxon/TJ's property? I believe there was a senior living project that fell through- anything after that?
ReplyDelete10:25 - And the ridiculous bike lanes there that are never, ever used. I drive Mont. La every day and no bike is on those lanes. What's more, there's no turn lane anymore to go South on 355 so traffic is unnecessarily heavy there. Wait until that site is indeed finally developed.
ReplyDeleteI use those bike lanes every single day. Tons of people do, you’re probably just texting while driving.
DeleteI wish that there was some kind of a compromise especially in Woodmont Triangle. New buildings, amenities, etc are great, sure. But the charm of that side of town is disappearing and in a few years, will be gone forever. There are a ton of cities and suburbs across the country that do "save" the old and the charm but mix it with new, fancy, tall, etc. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteJAC, agreed. It's a danger that Woodmont Triangle will become Ballston- soulless highrise apartments.
DeleteThe Triangle used to be an urban village with many of the original buildings and charm intact. Now, the tallest buildings downtown are built in the Triangle.Look at all the empty new retail space at the Gallery buildings. Developers should be required to bring in high quality retail and green space at least as a benefit to the community.
10:25: The latest proposal, which is still going through the approval process, is for a mixed-use apartment tower:
ReplyDeletehttps://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2022/07/developer-unveils-latest-attempt-at.html
What is the address on Wisconsin Ave for the old Exxon Site, that will also include Pines of Rome and TJ’s?
DeleteShould turn Woodmont Triangle into something like One Loudon or Mosaic.
ReplyDeleteWhy does the county allow these derelict buildings stand for years empty. It leaves a couple of blocks of Wisconsin totally dark at night, encourages vandalism and is just a blight.
ReplyDelete11:13 - Very anti-car don't be fooled.
ReplyDeleteWon’t someone think of the two ton SUVs, what about their rights
DeleteThe Graystar project on the site of the Exxon gas station at Hampden Lane and Wisconsin Ave is also starting the development process. A sign has been posted that the site has applied for the voluntary cleanup program.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to pipe in and say that I see quite a few bikes on Old Georgetown every weekday on my commute varying between about 0515 and 0600.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply, Robert. It looks like that plan was approved on April 21st:
ReplyDeletehttps://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/7340-Wisconsin-Avenue-Sketch-Plan-Amendment-No-32020001A-MCPB-23-012.pdf
At least Artena Bethesda is ready to go !
ReplyDelete1:02 - sitting in vets park now having a bite of lunch it's tough to see the sun now blocked by apartment buildings with 3 million units.
ReplyDeleteWow 3 million units? Most buildings have less than 200! That must be some impressive engineering
DeleteI've started biking to work daily in downtown Bethesda now that the weather is nice. I'd hazard a guess that JAC neither bikes nor works.
ReplyDelete4:37 - leave the commenting to the adults please.
ReplyDeleteYet you remain bud
DeleteJAC @ 1:50 PM - It's kind of hard to take you seriously when you claim that the number of apartments between you, sitting in Veterans Park, and the Sun in the southwestern sky, is equal to three times the number of individual residents in our County.
ReplyDelete@5:34 - jac is just following the typical conservatives edict, lie, lie, and lie and to boast your false narrative. PAY NO ATTENTION TO LUNCH BOY IN THE PARK!
ReplyDeleteYou a writer for KJP?
DeleteI bet the developers of the Artena project will contract with the owners of the 8008 Wisconsin parcel, and use it for construction staging. Once the Artena is complete in about 2 years, that site could be redeveloped as approved for condos, with the proposed approval extension.
ReplyDeleteAnother option would be for Artena to acquire the much smaller 8008 property and simplify the design to share loading, parking ramps, utility connections, fire control rooms and even elevators and stairs to free up more space for rent paying retail tenants.
What bothers me most is for ten years that site could have had functioning businesses. Instead it sat empty and decaying. I hope the developers paid a fortune in property tax while they sat on that site.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 3:16 AM, 4:53 AM, 4:55 AM (1 of 2), 4:55 AM (2 of 2), 6:50 AM - Please be aware that the "web" version of this site does not show sub-threads for comments, so it is not clear to which comments you are replying.
ReplyDeleteThe other three Suburban Network News sites all show sub-threads on both the mobile as well as the "web" versions of their sites - I don't know why this one doesn't - it's confusing. Also the time stamps are different here - no dates, and the times are listed in Pacific Time.