Bethesda construction update: Bethesda Avenue retail/restaurant building (Photos)

Construction is mostly indoors now at the new retail building on the former site of Thyme Square and the Blu Lounge on Bethesda Avenue. Formerly known as 4735 Bethesda Avenue, the new structure will be part of the JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office/retail project. The office tower portion of that will be constructed on the site of 4733 Bethesda Avenue next door, where the existing office building is being demolished.

The tenants of this building remain top secret, but here is the latest information I've been able to find out:

This is not being built on spec; there are up to three tenants going into this building. There will be one-to-two restaurants, and one retail tenant, and the rooftop terrace will be utilized for dining. Windows have not been installed along the first floor because the ground floor tenant will have their contractor build out the custom openings they have in mind. There are plans to create a park/plaza setting alongside the building for pedestrians and cyclists coming off of the Capital Crescent Trail here.

Finally, one other interesting engineering aspect to this building - it has 50' piles beneath it that are designed to help support the future office tower. All of the feedback I've been hearing on the architecture of this new building, both in comments posted here and from pedestrians passing by it, has been unanimously positive.

Asbestos removal to begin at doomed Bethesda office building today

Asbestos removal is scheduled to begin today at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, an office building slated to be torn down to make way for a more modern one. The asbestos project will continue through November, according to a State of Maryland document.

The demolition of of 4733 Bethesda Avenue is part of a major redevelopment project on that block by property owner The JBG Companies. In addition to a renovation at JBG's Artery Plaza building next door at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, which included a new entrance and demolition of an arch at the future World of Beer restaurant, a two-story retail/restaurant building with rooftop dining feature will be part of the 14-story 4747 Bethesda Avenue office tower. Construction of that smaller building is nearing completion now.

4747 Bethesda Avenue
(Courtesy JBG/Shalom Baranes Associates)

4733 Bethesda will likely be the tallest structure to be demolished in the history of Bethesda, by my recollection. If you recall a taller one, you can post it in the comments below.

The new office building will have 280,000 SF of office space, and 7000 SF of retail. Shalom Baranes Associates is the architecture firm. Given that Shalom Baranes is also designing the redevelopment of 7272 Wisconsin Avenue adjacent to this, there's a real opportunity for a cohesive reimagining of a major portion of this square block.

Bethesda construction update: JBG Bethesda Ave. retail building (Photos)

There are more details on the facade of the new retail/restaurant building under construction at 4735 Bethesda Avenue. As I reported previously, the structure is shown in renderings as having a rooftop restaurant space.

Rendering of the building
posted along the construction
fence at the site

The tenant remains unknown. One rumor had Dean and Deluca moving in. Dean and Deluca's corporate office declined to respond to an inquiry regarding the property. A JBG leasing representative also declined to comment recently, when asked who the tenant might be.

Bethesda construction update: JBG retail building on Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

Columns are now in place at the construction site of a new retail building being built by the JBG Companies at 4735 Bethesda Avenue. Here is a new rendering of what the final structure will look like, courtesy of MV + A & Morris Adimi Architects:

The perspective in this rendering
is similar to the above photo.
Courtesy of MV + A & Morris Adimi Architects,
All rights reserved

The future tenant of this building is currently unknown. It will be 23,632 SF in size.

Bethesda construction update: New JBG retail building on Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

Now that demolition of the former Thyme Square/Blu Lounge building is complete, construction can begin on its replacement. Developer JBG Companies is putting up a new retail structure here at 4735 Bethesda Avenue, as part of its makeover of Bethesda Avenue between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues.

Demolition of Thyme Square/Blu Lounge underway in Bethesda (Photos)

Contractor Coakley Williams has begun demolishing the "old Bethesda" throwback building at 4735 Bethesda Avenue, formerly home to such tenants as Thyme Square and Blu Lounge. Developer JBG Companies is replacing the structure with a new, larger and more modern retail building.

This is part of a block-length makeover of Bethesda Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue by the development firm, which will include a surface route for the Capital Crescent Trail once construction begins on the Purple Line, a new office building to replace the existing one at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, and a revamped 7200 Wisconsin Avenue with new restaurants and retail.

Several readers have said that the slight detour of the CCT required for this demolition has some sightline safety issues, and has resulted in at least one jogger-cyclist collision, which fortunately did not result in serious injury. Good warning to take extra care here, and be aware of your surroundings, whether you are a pedestrian or cyclist passing through this area.

Here is a panoramic
view of the demolition
(click to enlarge):