CONVERSION OF HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT BEGINS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The process of converting the former Catholic Charities-operated men's shelter into a restaurant space has begun at 4848 Cordell Avenue. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

An overhaul of the exterior and interior designed by the architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. will raise the building's height, add more glass to the facade, and modernize the overall structure. There will also be a public art mural on the wall facing the adjacent parking lot.

Heads up if you park in Public Parking Lot 28 though, as construction is taking up several parking spaces, including one handicapped space.

Bethesda House has moved out to White Flint.

SKYSCRAPING PUBLIC ART PIECE COULD BE COMING TO 4848 CORDELL AVENUE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

You may remember when I broke the story on December 2 about the proposed revamp of the homeless shelter at 4848 Cordell Avenue into a retail/restaurant space. The men's shelter is moving to White Flint. Those initial renderings have just been updated by Andrew Bzdega of the architectural firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. They include an intriguing new element, a two-story exterior wall transformed into a mural. It certainly would turn heads. Karr's firm is also responsible for the "windows on Woodmont Triangle" design of the new Norfolk-Cordell II building, which I am hearing highly-favorable feedback on so far.

I wonder if the painting shown is a stand-in for a final design, or the actual work planned. The design shown includes the Statue of Liberty, which is fine, but that is obviously not located in Bethesda. Do you think that - assuming the art theme remains a city skyline - it should feature Bethesda/Montgomery County/DC landmarks, or do elements from other cities make it more interesting, in your opinion?

All images courtesy of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.