House demolished at Edgemont II site in Bethesda (Photos)

The single-family home at 4885 Edgemoor Lane in downtown Bethesda was demolished this weekend. This is the future site of the Edgemoor II condo tower, near the Bethesda Metro station. Some grading work has been done on the lot in preparation for groundbreaking and excavation.

Clearcut! in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The oxygen level in the area behind the Bethesda Metro station just went down, and the carbon dioxide level has increased significantly. Large, mature trees and bushes have been clearcut at 4885 Edgemoor Lane in preparation for construction of the Edgemont II residential high-rise.

Due to exhaust-churning buses regularly entering and exiting the Woodmont Avenue-level bus bays, this is already one of the worst air-quality areas in downtown Bethesda. Every tree counts at this location.

Signs of future development at prime property across from Bethesda Metro station (Photos)

One of the last single-family home holdouts in the downtown Bethesda central business district happens to sit on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in town. The owner appears to have passed away some years ago, and the estate has just taken significant steps toward redeveloping the property. 4885 Edgemoor Lane sits on a corner with Woodmont Avenue, right across from the Bethesda Metro station.

The estate filed documents on April 21 that allow Equity Residential to represent them, and to proceed with redevelopment of the property. They've also received a preliminary review from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, regarding the environmental conditions of the property, including cataloging trees on site. It is listed as being in the Little Falls watershed.

The Planning Board draft of the Bethesda Downtown Plan suggests a height limit of 150' for the property, but that could change in the final plan when it is passed by the Montgomery County Council. Currently, the property is improved with the single-family home, and a garage. It is surrounded by other high-rises, including The Metropolitan, The Christopher, and The Chase.

View from the steps of
The Christopher

Panoramic view
(click to enlarge)