Developer Foulger-Pratt has revised the design of its planned high-rise at 7126 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, in response to concerns from next-door neighbor The Seasons. The wing of the building that is to be adjacent to The Seasons, which is also a high-rise apartment building, will now be 10' back from the property line on the second-through-sixth floors. A corresponding change has been made to the same wing on the Miller Avenue side of the building.
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| Bethesda Avenue design "before" |
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| Bethesda Avenue design "after" |
Foulger-Pratt's attorney, Heather Dlhopolsky, writes in a letter to the Montgomery County Planning Department that it is "the Applicant's understanding that the representatives of The Seasons are now supportive of the project and its accompanying revisions." The changes have reduced the total gross floor area of the project, and will therefore reduce the amount of the required Park Impact Payment to Montgomery County. With windows now facing west on the affected lower floors, the new design is also more pedestrian-friendly under the "eyes on the street" theory.
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| Miller Avenue "before" |
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| Miller Avenue "after" |
7126 Wisconsin Avenue incorporates several lots, including the current or former homes of Vace Italian Delicatessen, Starbucks, Lance's Beer & Wine, Carroll Community Bank and Capital One Bank. When completed, it will hold up to 335 residential units, up to 9000-square-feet of retail space, and underground parking. The project revisions will be reviewed by the Bethesda Design Advisory Panel today, and - tentatively - by the Montgomery County Planning Board at its March 7, 2024 meeting.
Renderings courtesy SK+I Architecture/Architect: Andy Czajkowski
MoCo Planning Board will pop the Champaign 🍾 ! Just what Bethesda needs, shut down local businesses, rip down the attractive building Starbucks used to be in, and put in yet another mammoth mixed use building with outrageous lease costs that will be 25 to 30% empty. #nosuninBethesda #bethesdanowqueens
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, but I don't see much of a difference between the "before" and "after" designs.
ReplyDeleteI remember feeling sorry for the residents of the Crescent Plaza Condo (on Woodmont) when the behemoth building went up next door, blocking off the view for several stories of the Crescent units. And I'm guessing ppl in those units have/had no recourse.
Omg, won't anyone think of the vacant dilapidated 1-story buildings!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's insane that some people actually wish Bethesda was "moribund" and economically stagnant.
Crescent Plaza had it worse than usual. The highrise apartments weren't just built next door, it wrapped around part of Crescent.
ReplyDelete8:14 AM No kidding! 2:30 PM
ReplyDeleteI'm still amazed the planning board approved the solaire next to crescent plaza,.as designed.
ReplyDeleteUnless crescent folks just didn't care.
2:30 PM "Unless crescent folks just didn't care." I doubt they had a choice, no matter how loud and strong their protests.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is big.
ReplyDeleteY'all must be new to Bethesda. The Solaire completely changed its massing during design phase to appease Crescent folks. That's why it's only a 4-floor building along Woodmont in front of The Crescent.
ReplyDelete