Sunday, May 12, 2024

Buyers brave storms to line up overnight for Bethesda townhomes


The rumors circulating among local real estate observers were true. Prospective buyers and investors, or representatives hired to take their physical place, indeed lined up outside overnight at the sales center for the Brownstones at Westbard Place at 5101 Ridgefield Road in Bethesda, where sales will officially begin this morning. Developer EYA held a preview event for the luxury townhome development yesterday. The event ended at 4:00 PM, but the night was just beginning for the tent and car campers.


Buyers seeking to secure one of the 101 townhomes with a sales contract and deposit this morning were milling around under the white event tent last night. What looked like the setting for an upscale garden party soon became a shelter from tempestuous weather. An electrical storm passed through around midnight, sending some retreating to their vehicles parked along Westbard Avenue. 


Flashes of lightning illuminated the construction site where the first 50 of the coveted homes will rise over the next two years. Thunder shook the land, a suddenly-windswept bluff with a commanding view of the majestic Kenwood community and a Whole Foods Market. The heaviest downpour of 2024 so far couldn't wash away the true believers, with visions of in-home elevators and rooftop decks dancing in their heads.


Two vehicles in a driveway on the development property had running motors. Others were parked in the bike lane on Westbard. One person appeared to be asleep inside. At 5:30 AM, another storm passed through. There was very little thunder, but the heavy downpours lasted for more than half an hour. Let's hope whoever's paying the campers - future homeowners, investors, Blackrock? - is compensating them sufficiently for this long, dark and stormy night.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Buyers should be prepared for non-stop traffic along River and Ridgefield Roads during their residence in those houses.

Anonymous said...

In case anyone is curious:

"New Townhomes from the $1Ms, Elevator Townhomes from the $1.3Ms"

https://www.eya.com/townhomes/bethesda-md/westbard-square

Robert Dyer said...

11:47: Thanks. There is a direct link to the website in the article, for those who want to quickly jump there without typing the URL.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Robert :-)

11:47 PM

Anonymous said...

Insanity! Who are these buyers??? Rental investors???

Anonymous said...

6:04 PM It would be interesting to have info on who the buyers are, including (especially) if they're investors or developer-types rather than people who actually plan to make these homes their primary residences. Hope it's the latter.