Bethesda construction update: 2nd District police station (Photos)

The floors of the future Montgomery County 2nd District police station at 4823 Rugby Avenue in Bethesda are looking much more complete than in my last update. There's still a long way to go here.

Groundbreaking for new Bethesda 2nd District police station

Montgomery County officials, and dozens of uniformed police officers, joined developer StonebridgeCarras and project partners to break ground on a new 2nd District police station Wednesday. The station at 4823 Rugby Avenue will replace the dilapidated downtown Bethesda headquarters, that opened when Chief Thomas Manger was in the first grade in 1961.

StonebridgeCarras, as part of a land swap with the County, will now be able to redevelop the prime real estate the existing station sits on at Wisconsin and Montgomery Avenues. With Douglas Development's sale of its 8008 Wisconsin property, StonebridgeCarras is establishing itself as one of the commanding players in post-recession downtown Bethesda development. StonebridgeCarras principal Douglas Firstenberg toasted the firm's second major public-private project partnership in downtown Bethesda at yesterday's ceremony.

Montgomery County
Department of General Services
Director David Dise speaks with
StonebridgeCarras principal
Douglas Firstenberg after
the ceremony

Firstenberg predicted similar results for the coveted police station site, promising they would "take one of the great corners in Montgomery County and really bring a trophy building." "We had a challenge," Montgomery

Montgomery County Executive
Ike Leggett meets the press
after the groundbreaking

County Executive Ike Leggett recalled. "The challenge was to find a way to convert a property the County owned in this area," and also get a replacement for the existing but crumbling police station. Leggett exhorted the crowd gathered to give police officers "a round of applause. They've done a wonderful job." Referring to StonebridgeCarras, Leggett proclaimed, "I am delighted with this partnership."

Montgomery County Police
Chief Thomas Manger is
interviewed; at far right
is Bethesda Urban Partnership
Executive Director David Dabney

Following Leggett to the podium, Manger referred to the dough-heavy spread of food at the side of the tent and joked, "It was tough for you to not make a cop-and-donuts joke, and I thank you for that." Describing the deplorable and non-functional condition of the current 2nd District station, Manger noted that crime victims often have to talk to detectives in the public lobby of the station. "There's no place to take them to talk." The chief vowed that wouldn't be the case at the new station, which will even have meeting space for community use.

Thanking 2nd District commander Captain David Falcinelli, Manger said he also wanted to show his appreciation for "the cops who work in the Bethesda district," who've had to deal with the decrepit conditions of their current headquarters. Acknowledging the sizable police presence at the groundbreaking, Manger hinted at the many years it took the County to finally deliver this long-promised facility. "I know why they are here," Manger said. "They want to make damn sure" the station finally gets built.

StonebridgeCarras' Jane Mahaffie predicted the new station would be completed by next year.

Woodmont Triangle neighbor Heckman's Delicatessen provided the food for the ceremony. Click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail:

New rendering of the
future station on Rugby Ave.

Rendering of Montgomery County
Ford Explorer Police Interceptor
leaving the police station

Project partners 

Internal rendering of
station layout 

Where the station meets
the existing parking garage
behind it 

Police motorcycle and
construction vehicle share
the stage

L-R: Dise, Firstenberg, Councilmember
Marc Elrich, Manger, Leggett, Council
President Nancy Floreen, former
Gaithersburg Mayor and current
Councilmember Sid Katz

Jane Mahaffie of StonebridgeCarras
introduces Leggett

County Council President
Nancy Floreen 

Firstenberg (center-left) speaks
with Montgomery County DOT
Director Al Roshdieh

Construction of new 2nd District Police Station set to begin in Bethesda

Developer StonebridgeCarras has requested the initial construction permits from Montgomery County to start work on the new 2nd District Montgomery County Police station in downtown Bethesda. Located at 4823 Rugby Avenue, the new station has been designed by the architecture firm of Michael Baker International.

The station will replace the aging one at the corner of Wisconsin and Montgomery Avenues, where StonebridgeCarras will have a prime transit-oriented property to redevelop right near the Bethesda Metro station.

Planners think Bethesda police station design could use some sprucing up

The design of the future 2nd District Montgomery County Police station was criticized by a number of readers a few months back, for what they felt was a plain and boxy design. Staff at the Montgomery County Planning Department have now made some suggestions for improving the exterior appearance of the building in a memo to the Planning Board.

They have asked the project designers to utilize brick or "local Bethesda stone" on the building facade, particularly on the Rugby Avenue side of the building. Currently, the facade is proposed as concrete and CMU block (concrete blocks).

Other recommendations include creating a new sidewalk from Rugby Avenue to the public parking garage adjacent to the station site, and providing 4 short-term bicycle parking spaces in racks in front of the station.

Staff is recommending approval of the project, with recommendations. The Planning Board is currently scheduled to take up the station project at its May 7 meeting.

The station will be located at 4823 Rugby Avenue, and is being developed by StonebridgeCarras. In exchange, the developer will be able to redevelop the prime real estate of the current, aging police station at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue. That site is very close to the Bethesda Metro station (and is virtually on top of the station platform deep under Wisconsin Avenue).

Rendering courtesy Montgomery County Planning Department

NEW BETHESDA POLICE STATION PROPOSAL (PHOTOS)

The latest proposal for a new 2nd District downtown Bethesda Montgomery County Police station was introduced yesterday by developer StonebridgeCarras. A new 4-story station would be built on the currently empty lot at 4823 Rugby Avenue. In exchange, StonebridgeCarras would be able to redevelop the site of the current aging police station at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue, a prime piece of property near the Bethesda Metro station.

These images are not final renderings of the architecture or facades, but just a preliminary design. They were created by the architecture firm Michael Baker International.

Renderings courtesy Michael Baker International, Architect
All rights reserved