GEICO moves into The Wilson in Bethesda (Photos)

Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters in over 25 years, but there's a new corporate logo on the downtown Bethesda skyline. As usual, it is a rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic situation, with GEICO moving "up the Pike" from Friendship Heights to The Wilson, the Class A office tower at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. It's great news for the property's landlord, but not so much for County revenue, as the insurance firm has downsized considerably from a campus of its own to a mere office.

Adding to the revenue hit is the moribund Montgomery County economy, amid which there is zippo demand for office space. No major corporations want to move here, so rather than welcome a giant new corporate tenant to the GEICO campus site at 5260 Western Avenue, the property will be redeveloped as all-residential. Developer EYA has proposed constructing 520 units in the form of apartments, condominiums, and townhomes. The Bethesda-based firm has extensive experience in constructing exactly this type of development on large sites throughout the Washington, D.C. region. 

Again, good news for wealthy people who want to live at the Friendship Heights Metro station. Not so good news for County revenue coffers, as we've seen that new housing generates more costs in services and infrastructure than it does in tax revenue. Ergo our structural County budget deficit, which was created and has persisted amid massive residential housing development countywide this century.

Montgomery County elected officials have known for years that GEICO would be vacating this prime property. Yet, even with a massive head start and time to develop a strategy, they were incapable of luring a domestic or international firm to the site. We have a County Council that cannot hit major league pitching when it comes to economic development, trying to compete with very smart leaders across the Potomac. Even now that Virginia has elected a Marxist governor, our own Marxist County Council is too wedded to their Communist ideals to take advantage of the four year break. Instead, MoCo continues to spin its wheels, while solidifying its collapse into a mere bedroom community for the booming job centers elsewhere in our region. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Fox 5 updates news ticker outside Bethesda studios (Photos)

Fox 5 has updated the digital news ticker on the plaza below its studios at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It now has improved graphics, and displays the current time and temperature. At least one Bethesda-Chevy Chase resident is not a fan, though. A computer print-out sign has been stuck to a barrel near the TV station reading, "Fox News is Russian Propaganda."

Fox 5 news ticker outside Bethesda studios begins streaming headlines (Photos)

The news ticker on the plaza below the Fox 5 studios at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda came online several months ago, but yesterday it began to actually display scrolling news headlines. Stories included the possibility that Montgomery County officials won't end the indoor mask mandate even if previously announced goals are met, and sports headlines such as the one shown here about the Washington Football Team. 

Bethesda welcome message on Fox 5 news ticker (Video+Photos)

After showing a test pattern initially, the news ticker on the plaza below the new Fox 5 studios in Bethesda is now activated for text display. A welcome message was scrolling across the screen Friday, referring to Fox 5 and sister station Fox 5 Plus. Of course, the legendary Dick Dyszel would know the latter as WDCA Channel 20. See the ticker in person at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, outside The Wilson.

Fox 5 news ticker installation complete in Bethesda (Photos)

The electronic news ticker on the plaza below the Fox 5 television studios at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda was activated for the first time yesterday. It is currently showing a test pattern of various colors. Soon, it will display news headlines.

Crane hoists equipment at The Wilson in Bethesda (Photos)

Drivers heading south on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda last night had to detour around a crane in the southbound lanes at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. According to the traffic control contractor hired for the job, the crane was hoisting steel and equipment at The Wilson office tower. 

A detour was set up along Hampden Lane, Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue to get drivers back onto Wisconsin. Work was completed before rush hour this morning to minimize traffic disruption.

Fox 5 news ticker installed in Bethesda (Photos)

We're not getting a Times Square giant video screen yet in downtown Bethesda, but Fox 5 has just installed a news ticker at the top of the structure on the plaza below its new studios at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. About a month ago, a blank strip was left around the top of the facades of it, and wiring and electronic connections were visible. Now the digital display has been installed. Eventually, passengers descending to - or emerging from - the Purple Line or Red Line (using the future south entrance at this location) will be receiving breaking news headlines on this wraparound ticker.

Grey strip at top, as seen on July 6

July 6

Ticker installed

New Fox 5 studio newscasts embrace Bethesda location

Fox 5's new location at The Wilson office tower at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue doesn't have a ground floor broadcast studio, but is already taking full advantage of the downtown Bethesda view. While Fox 5 is branded as a Washington, D.C. station, the skyline viewers were seeing this past weekend was that of downtown Bethesda, not the typical Washington Monument/U.S. Capitol tableau often seen in background graphics on D.C.-area news broadcasts. 

Yes, that is the Hyatt Bethesda hotel, the Chevy Chase Trust building, JBG Smith's new 8001 Woodmont, and even the roof of the historic bank building at the crossroads of Wisconsin, East-West Highway and Old Georgetown Road - among many others. It turns out that grand view of The Wilson and The Elm drivers see as they approach the Bethesda Metro Center from the north is just as impressive in the opposite direction.

Photos courtesy @MarinaMarraco on Twitter

Fox 5 sign at The Wilson lights up for the first time (Photos)

The new Fox 5 logo sign at The Wilson at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda lit up for the first time Thursday night. Now it can finally be seen after dark, although the lighting is around the edges of the letters and number, so it still doesn't jump out that much. Fox 5 has relocated up Wisconsin Avenue to the new Carr Properties office tower from its longtime Northwest Washington, D.C. location.

ProShares signage installed at The Wilson in Bethesda

Signage has been installed for another office tenant at The Wilson at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, ProShares. The firm is a provider of exchange traded funds (ETFs), with a portfolio of $58 billion in assets. ProShares joins Fox 5 in having logo signage on the building, but not at the top like you would commonly see in Tysons or Rosslyn.

Fox 5 sign installed at The Wilson in Bethesda (Photos)

A logo sign has been installed at the future home of WTTG Fox 5 at The Wilson office tower at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. It's not as high up on the building as I imagined the highest-profile tenant's logo would be. The sign is not yet lit at night, so it's very hard to see after dark at the moment. Fox 5 is scheduled to move into the new space soon this summer.