Is the long-delayed Artena Bethesda development finally going to get underway? We've seen the closure of the Saphire Cafe, a request for demolition permits for the cafe and tiki bar, and some minor vandalism on the property play out over the last 15 months. Now another sign: the Montgomery County-owned Public Parking Lot 43 will permanently close "on or about" June 9, 2023. Also part of the Artena site are the former Sir Walter Raleigh Inn/Bruce Variety building to the left of the parking lot, and the Golden Needle tailoring shop on Wisconsin Avenue. Not part of the site is Bethesda Chocolates.
The woman who owns the chocolate store site has some bucks. I'd love to know whether she's playing hard to get or what. If my memory is correct, that building alone isn't large enough for a major renovation/building to be constructed in its place. Better move would be to sell and make even more money allowing the new development to expand that entire site. Lastly, that building will look really strange next door to a monster multi-use building not to mention easy parking gone. By the way, how in the world could that chocolate shop be remotely profitable? Good question.
ReplyDeleteIt’s profitable because she’s extremely smart and retail isn’t the only customer. Wholesale sales and renting the upstairs of the building out to the builders who built the building next door for several years and perhaps renting it out to the builders that will be building this project.
DeleteGreat, another way to make parking nearly impossible.
ReplyDeleteDang. Another way to make parking impossible.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the Artena breaking ground soon. It will be great to demo all those vacant buildings. I am curious whether the construction will include the Toll Brothers condo tower on the north end of the block. It seems smart to build both at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI also see the the large glazed retail space in the plaza near Trader Joe’s is now being fitted out as a Luxury Nail Salon. Too bad it’s not a cafe or restaurant in that location with outdoor dining under the large covered roof. I was hoping it might become a Shake Shack. I guess there still is a small vacant retail space in the plaza adjacent to the Trader Joe’s entrance.
Too bad the cute orange building is gonna be torn down. It was once a very cute school. Apparently the students took part in painting parts of the building.
DeleteAnother three dozen-plus parking spaces erased.
ReplyDeleteFantastic news if the project is finally breaking ground.
ReplyDeleteArtena Bethesda is one of the more exciting Apartment Projects in the Till. If this means it is closer to breaking ground, that’s great ! Although it won’t be for the NEW Apartment Building next door though……….they are so close to each other the construction noise will be an issue…………for the current tenants there.
ReplyDelete...and 5 1/2 levels of parking added under the Artena added...
ReplyDeleteThe Artena steps down to be a one story podium adjacent to the chocolate shop, so it will fit right in and appear to be embedded in the base of the new building, only a few steps from the 8100 Woodmont Plaza.
I wish they had some seating in that plaza by the way. Seems odd that JBG Smith has not included any at all. That plaza would be a great place to sit and relax and eat some chocolate or better yet, chocolate ice cream.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the links to the old post on Bethesda Chocolates. Interesting about all the nay saying seven years ago. It high end but if I want chocolate and something hot at the same time, I have gone there. It seems they have low but steady numbers. For something cold and chocolate I go down the street. That place is funner and seems to be doing very well.
Learning
"Funner?"
ReplyDeleteOf course. It has "Children are welcome and expected to go nuts" vibe. And they carry Milka.
ReplyDeleteLearning
The sixty-four dollar question is:
ReplyDeleteHow are they going to populate all the high rise monstrosities that keep sprouting randomly in the crime infested Bethesda?
They'll be filled by empty nesters who sold their houses for lots of $$$ and downsized, people who have their employers pay for their housing (military, government) and Airbnb type hotel rentals.
DeleteYes, military and government housing stipends are famous for being able to afford downtown Bethesda. Absolute genius take.
DeleteMeanwhile trash is becoming a health hazard at the Indigo Crossing Apartments. Where does this issue rank on your list of community concerns?
ReplyDeleteWholesale can be done anywhere. She paid $2.2M for the building in 2013; presumably she either wasn't offered enough that it made financial sense to move the operation or she simply didn't care about the $$ and wanted to remain. It's not a huge deal - the shop isn't as ugly or as big of a sore thumb as Woodmont Grill/Tastee Diner custerfudge.
ReplyDelete@3:50 -- Bingo. Who are all these throngs of people builders anticipate will occupy the thousands of apartments saturating the landscape? If you *really* want crime to flourish, overrun the area with high-density dwellings. There's no conceivable way to rent/sell them all without lowering the asking price substantially, which necessarily brings with it the threat of a younger, more transient, less stable/established/consistent/community-oriented pool of residents.
ReplyDeleteWhat areas of MD are left that have stuff to do and aren't crime-infested? Potomac Park Plaza maybe?
ReplyDeleteDo you really believe developers would build a 21 story high apartment building with 441 units if their marketing folks didn’t believe it would lease up? Most buildings in downtown Bethesda are 90-95% leased.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very long distance from acknowledging that rates of some crimes (including carjacking) have gone up in Bethesda significantly over the last few years (I don't have the statistics), to calling this area "crime-infested."
ReplyDelete11:16 - The natives among us would fondly remember that building as what is was originally, Sir Walter Raleigh restaurant which was, at the time, among the best places to eat in town.
ReplyDeleteSurely the "crime-infested" comment was tongue-in-cheek. Someone can't seriously be that lacking in perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe're merely 'crime ridden,' not quite 'crime infested.' We need to continue to emulate Silver Spring to get there. But not-to-worry, our "elected officials' will see our degradation is complete.
Delete@8:01 - Would you tell that to Tastee Diner? Not!
ReplyDelete7:39 - Huh?
ReplyDelete