What would Warren Buffett do? Well, we know what the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board will do. The recent mega-downsizing of GEICO from its lush, longtime campus in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase to a modest office in Bethesda is quickly leading to a massive redevelopment of that land long feared by neighbors. Central to the plans to building luxury apartments and townhomes on the site is the removal of almost all of the large trees from the 29-acre campus.
"This includes trees that are over 50 inches in diameter; some have been there for more than 100 years," the Little Falls Watershed Alliance warned in a email. "LFWA opposes this large scale destruction of the trees as well as many other elements of the plan that will have a negative impact on the environment." Developer EYA is also seeking permission to remove trees from Brookdale Park, the organization said. LFWA is encouraging residents to email the Planning Department and County Council, and ask them to preserve the trees.
48 comments:
The last sentence is just preposterous and that's not a dig at the author. They are asking folks to email the council and planning board? It's just so unbelievable. That will do nothing. They do not want nor care for input from the citizenry whatsoever. Anyone remember the ruining of Little Falls Parkway? No one listened on that issue and even a local mayor weighed in and that did nothing. Lastly, I understand developing a site but those trees took 50-100 years to get that size and they will chop them down without blinking. Sad.
Don't most largescale developments require removing trees? Why is this project any different?
Surprised Robert now cares about the trees, when usually lambasting the moribund Montgomery County economy. Folks, are you pro-business or not?
A site steps from a Metro station and they're building million dollar townhomes.
It's like these people don't know there is an affordable housing crisis.
I have written to the Planning Board members listed and asked for the following: Try to retain at least 30 percent of the trees in the new development. Build a dog park area in the new development. Provide adequate parking for the residents in the new development. I reside in Kenwood Place Condominium, and the new EYA development is right next to our property with literally a couple of feet separating us. Those townhouses have garages for two cars, and there is next to no parking on the streets. I think the residents and guests are expected to park in the garage with the Giant on top.
We have had the new residents parking on our property - it's so much more convenient - until our fencing went up. EYA is not a good neighbor so far.
I've read that you can't chop down trees in you yard in Takoma Park.
They are preoccupied with becoming county executives so they'll do nothing.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/news/el-ejecutivo-del-condado-de-montgomery-marc-elrich-destaca-el-importante-progreso-del-plan-de-accion-climatica-durante-su-visita-la-escuela-secundaria-walt-whitman
They are bent on creating a down county ghetto.
That's no way to increase the tax revenue base.
Chop 'em down. Don't let other people dictate what goes on on someone else's property. Of course you want a dog park and public spaces you can use on someone else's land. The site is steps from a Metro, it should be densely developed. Let's love some families move in to some beautiful homes.
Trees are a renewable resource. They are also proposing some rather large improvements to the park, with enhanced pedestrian access from the new housing. EYA is proposing six and seven story buildings closest to the Metro, and still has three sites for future midrise development up to 100’ tall. My only beef with the new development is the fact that they are not extending three existing streets through the new development. All those existing dead end streets were planned for future extension to the northeast.
"Build a dog park area" Tip toe through the turd?
Trees remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen so you can stay alive and gripe.
Is the move to Bethesda actually “downsizing”? The Friendship Heights site is large but the building is small. How much floor space was used in the old building, and how much in the new building?
7:22: It's definitely a downsize, from 514,000 square feet in the former HQ building to 121,000 SF at the new Bethesda HQ office.
What is this obsession with Geico, my goodness.
Good on them for building multi-family housing. We need more of that and less $3 million dollar six bedroom five bath monstrosities that nobody can afford. A dog park would be wonderful too.
They started tearing down the facade on the main building today (in front of the circular driveway with a fountain that faces Willard Avenue)
Oh they know. Just don't care. It's all about the profit. No one is making them build more affordable housing. Just check the box for minimum requirements and move on.
I wonder why? And I bet they have no speed humps either.
Are you a tree service contractor?
The Metro Stop opened in 1983. The trees predate it by far.
Welcome to Twinbrook 2.0
Meanwhile in the adjacent neighborhoods they have placed "Street Sweeping No Parking Signs." The overhead dead tree twigs will rain down, during the next breeze, and will litter the swept streets once again. . .
Dog park? Despite the signs, people are still using the ball field at Bethesda Elementary School for that. What a disgrace.
There are ways to preserve trees instead of simply cutting them down: https://mymodernmet.com/nemawashi-tree-relocation-japan/
Developments can be different if they choose to be different.
They are trying to shoehorn multi-family housing in an already saturated area adding more traffic congestion exhaust pollution.
That's what the obsession is all about!
A new lawsuit has been filed to make the developer follow an approved 1999 concept with 800,000 SF of office space, lower 4 story high apartments facing Willard and a ball field. Another attempt to thwart logical development by Chevy Chase NIMBY’s.
This is all part of the NIMBY playbook. All of the sudden everyone cares about the trees, when a week ago nobody could care less. This was the same nonsense argument when Maret built their new athletic field in CC DC. If people actually cared about the trees, then someone would try to change zoning and other laws...however, it's all just a plan to try to block the entire project.
5:34: No one should really be surprised that the development is happening. This was under heavy discussion 20 years ago. As you say, "if people actually cared," they would have voted differently in the many Council elections since. They did not, despite knowing the potential implications, so it's too late to complain now.
My only surprise is that the whole thing isn't high-rise apartments, given the very close proximity to Metro. I have to defer to EYA in knowing what the market is right now, but is this yet further evidence that the demand for $2700-$3000+ luxury apartments just isn't there? The Mazza development was on top of the damn station, and they didn't build as many units as they could have, either. Shouldn't there be 20-story buildings at Metro stations? What happened to that vaunted "smart growth" and transit-oriented development?
Ghettos come in all colors even white, the original variety.
This ain't TP check your compass.
Westbrook Elementary is also an unofficial dog park.
Indeed it was but they were planning to build a hotel on the GEICO grounds.
Then, Covid came and messed up their plans so now we have plan B in effect.
@ 9:25 AM Ghettos are colorblind.
Compass provides Direction. GPS provides Location.
Is the old geico parking lot still open (are people able to get in there) or is it fenced off now? I was planning on parking there during the 2 month metro closure.
The trees rain branches and are past their lifespan. Can't have progress without change. Cut them all down!
Never a hotel. Sector Plan called for residential and at one time 2 or 3 low rise commercial bldgs along Friendship. Commercial no longer being built.
Geico parking is not available. The property is fenced off. There's meter parking along Willard. Don't know the time limit though.
They are fertilizing the lawn with earth friendly, biodegradable material.
They should start with the residential neighborhoods first to eliminate hazards.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/friendship-heights/geico-headquarters-friendship-heaights-development-lawsuit/65-c1a17f5f-33cb-4a44-a1d7-400f79915451
"Village Council Sues Over Broken Promises"
When will the county council show up, with hard hats and shovels, for a photo op session?
BTW The is a tent with occupants outside the gate waiting to move in.
And there's plenty organic material to shovel!
The natives are getting irked:
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2026/06/opponents-of-friendship-heights-development-take-their-cause-to-the-street/
4:05 - Again, won't do a darn thing. Nothing wrong with that redevelopment and it will happen. They even had a local mayor come out opposed to Little Falls Parkway nightmare and it did nothing. Heck, Comrade Elrich was even opposed. Protest all you want. It does nothing. It's nothing but pro forma.
Who is in charge of this County anyway? It is the theater of the absurd!
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