Assault at Little Falls Library in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Little Falls Library at 5501 Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda Thursday afternoon, June 16, 2022. The assault was reported at 2:07 PM. An emergency mental health evaluation was requested related to the incident.

Little Falls Library to reopen July 29, Bethesda Library to close August 6

The long-delayed reopening of Little Falls Library in Bethesda will finally happen on Saturday, July 29, at 10:00 AM. Now the Bethesda Library will close for a similar renovation on Sunday, August 6, at 5:00 PM. Bethesda's renovation had to be pushed back until Little Falls was ready.

Davis Library reopening April 8, Little Falls Library could reopen in May

Little Falls Library

The Davis Library in Bethesda, now undergoing renovations, is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 10:00 AM. Little Falls Library - where renovations have been set back by a damaging flood in December - could open as early as May, according to County Department of General Services Director David Dise.

I went by both buildings in the last 48 hours, and it appears both are getting new shingles on their respective roofs. Flood remediation work at Little Falls is finally compeleted, Dise said. Little Falls branch manager Kenneth Lewis reports that carpets are now being laid, and the trench that was dug to replace the broken 4" water main is now being filled in. Dise said the staff at Little Falls will likely return a month earlier than the opening.

Little Falls Library reopening now postponed until Spring 2017, Davis on target for Spring

 While the Montgomery County Department of Libraries has yet to detail an itemized list of the damage to the Little Falls Library caused by a burst pipe last month, they are now saying the planned January opening is being pushed back to Spring 2017. In recent days, a trench has been dug down the incline from the street level up to the rear parking lot grade to the left of the building. A large pipe could be seen in the trench.

Meanwhile, a second Bethesda library closed for renovations - the Davis Library - is also on-track for a Spring opening. New flooring is down, new restrooms are completed, and the first floor of the building has been repainted, according to Anita Vassallo, the former manager of the library.

Flood postpones Little Falls Library reopening indefinitely

The flood at Little Falls Library in Bethesda a week ago will indeed delay the planned reopening of the building. Montgomery County's Department of Public Libraries says the January opening has been postponed indefinitely.

While MCPL staff declined to answer my inquiry the morning after the flood, they now say the cause was a burst 4" fire main pipe, which deluged the lower level and mechanical room of the library. They say the building's electrical and mechanical systems were damaged, but do not address whether new carpets, furniture, etc. had been installed yet.

It sounds like nearby residents will continue to be without a library for some time. The Davis Library in Bethesda remains on-track for a February reopening. Both libraries have been closed since July for renovations.

Flood at Little Falls Library in Bethesda

Early last evening, firetrucks could be seen in the parking lot up behind the Little Falls Library at 5501 Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda. Large utility trucks were parked in the driveway that leads up to the library and Westland Middle School. Men in safety vests were searching the property with flashlights. And there appeared to be excavation equipment on the front lawn of the library.

I asked Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer if there had been a gas leak. Piringer said the basement level of the library had flooded, and the WSSC was called in. Pepco also had to send a crew to turn off power to the library.

Due to the after hours timing of the incident, I do not yet have a statement from Montgomery County Public Libraries regarding how the flood and resulting damage might impact the reopening of the library. Expected to reopen as early as this month, it's certainly possible that the new carpeting and possibly other upgrades had been installed by now. The library has been closed since July for renovations.

Stay tuned for more information as I receive it.

Little Falls Library, Davis Library to close in July for renovations

Two Bethesda libraries will close for renovations for approximately 6 months starting in July. Little Falls Library will close Saturday, July 9, at 6:00 PM. Davis Library will close Saturday, July 16, at 6:00 PM.

The KID Museum in the lower level of the Davis Library will remain open during the closure.

While actual renovations will not begin at either building until August, the time is needed to move materials around to clear the way for the work. And asbestos mitigation will be performed at Little Falls Library prior to the start of work in August.

Planning Board sticks with 75' for Whole Foods, LF Library sites in Westbard sector plan

Does this look like an
urban area to you? The
very suburban site of the
Little Falls Library

Despite community dissatisfaction over the idea of a 75' apartment building towering over barely-3-story townhomes and single-story churches, the Montgomery County Planning Board confirmed its initial decision last month to recommend just such a development for the site of the Little Falls Library in a worksession yesterday. It also recommended 75' for properties directly adjacent to single-family homes in Kenwood, but tied that height to requirements that the two properties - which include the Kenwood Station shopping center - be assembled into one parcel, and provide "community open space."

In regard to the library plan, Lynn Battle, representing the Westwood Mews and Westbard Mews townhome communities, said, "This site is directly across from all of our townhomes. This was suddenly raised. We are very strenuously against that. It certainly has to be a step up [to 75' from a lower height facing the townhomes]."

Westbard Sector Plan Project Manager John Marcolin said there would indeed be a step up from the Westbard Avenue side of the potential building, as required by the CRT zone's compatibility provision. The center of the building would likely be 75', stepping down from there, Marcolin said.

Battle noted that the idea of a 75' building there was never even mentioned during a year-long public engagement period. "Most of the public that thought they were being given an opportunity to comment," Battle said, were not allowed to comment on this proposal, brought up long after the September 24 public hearing.

Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson acknowledged that the Montgomery County Department of General Services' decision to make the 11th-hour height request was not the way things should be done. “I don’t think that was frankly very helpful,” Anderson said. But he was in favor of 75' nonetheless, saying the Board had heard “considerable public support for affordable housing” in the Westbard area.

In reality, relatively few speakers advocated for extensive affordable housing, few of those were residents, and even fewer actually live adjacent to any of the properties targeted for redevelopment. How many speakers asked for a 75' building on the low-rise library site? Exactly zero. In fact, a huge crowd turned out to vehemently protest any idea of replacing or moving the venerable Little Falls Library this past April. At that meeting, DGS representative Greg Ossont made no mention of redeveloping the site. Of course, he understandably used careful legal language to do so.

What's really going on at the library site?

To get a sense, consider the facts we do know, rather than the unknowns to come. Marcolin revealed new language to apply to the site in the draft sector plan. That language states that redevelopment of the library site "must involve a public-private partnership." Stop right there. That's exactly what I predicted in my last article. County elected officials will be able to select a favored development firm from the many who donate to their campaigns, and deliver this prize property on a silver platter.

But it's affordable housing, to help the downtrodden, they'd say.

Wrong. Just check the language. Only a maximum of 25% of the units will have to be affordable or workforce housing. Never mind that placing a lot of affordable housing far away from Metro and near no County services for low-income residents, and with no public recreational facilities, would be just plain irresponsible. But this isn't going to be an affordable housing project.

Rather, it will be luxury apartments or condos, and fill up classrooms and nearby roads, for private developer profit. And this is more than 100 additional units beyond what the public had to consider at the time they testified on September 24. In a building that will tower over the suburban residential uses around it. You can step down all you want, but 75' is still a wall, and still blocks the sky, even if it is x-number of yards past the 35' edge.

On the Whole Foods site, where adjacent neighborhoods have suggested townhomes be placed if redevelopment occurs, the height will also be 75'. A representative for the landowner said, "we are not looking to redevelop our site and do townhouses. This site needs to retain CRT zoning. We just wanted to specify that these requirements would be based on assemblage only." "If there’s no assembly, there’s no 75’.," Anderson reminded her.

The situation with the Capital Properties site around the Park Bethesda remains unclear. Yesterday's debate centered around how the height should relate to the width and placement of the new connector road between Westbard and River Road. Commissioner Norman Dreyfuss suggested that the height be 35' at Crown Street, and then bump up to 75' at the new road, and finally to 110' on the other side of the road. That road should be placed as close to the existing Park Bethesda building as feasible, Dreyfuss said.

Planning Director Gwen Wright agreed that the road would be a "good line of demarcation" to relate heights to. But, she added, a 75' building towering right over a narrow connector road would not be good planning. Ultimately, Wright said, "This is really in many ways a site plan issue. There will have to be a lot of engineering work to figure out where that road" will meet Westbard.

While the Board will not place a townhome zone on the Manor Care property on Ridgefield Road, it did deliberate over how to discourage commerical uses there even with a CRT zone. Echoing what community representatives had said at a previous worksession, Commissioner Amy Presley said, "We had said no commercial, we didn’t think it was appropriate for commercial. I want to make sure that if that’s what we said," that the language reflects that in the plan.

Wright argued the plan should make emphasize "residential as the predominant use for this parcel," and that “commercial uses are strongly discouraged on this site. Period.” Michael Berfield, representing landowner Equity One, which owns the Manor Care site, assured commissioners that they do not intend to locate retail on that site. Berfield said the Board's previous vote to give Equity One 90' on the Westwood Center II site across Ridgefield reduced the need to have retail on the Manor Care site.

One positive note on yesterday's worksession - planning staff finally brought up the issue of gas stations, which I and others have been emphasizing for over a year, and up until now, has not been reflected in the draft plan recommendations. Anderson made clear he is not concerned about gas stations existing in the Bethesda area (does he drive an electric car?). He claimed several times during the discussion that "the market" would provide gas stations as needed.

Of course, we know this is hogwash. There's a market for competitive gas stations in downtown Bethesda. They're all vanishing anyway. Yeah, there's a market. But it's nowhere near as profitable as redeveloping your gas station as a luxury condo. That's why - duh - it's the responsibility of the Planning Board and County Council to ensure that all gas stations don't get zoned such that they become worth more than the gas station business currently operating.

Anderson truly comes across as if he couldn't care less if you have to drive to Gaithersburg to fill up your tank. But I give Marcolin credit for bringing the issue up, clearly stating the case for concern, and reminding the Board that, in regard to strengthening language to preserve gas stations via the master plan, "That’s up to you."

The end result of the discussion was that we won't be getting any protection for the gas stations in "Westbard".

And small businesses currently operating in the Westwood Shopping Center and Westwood II?

The news wasn't much better for them, either.

When the topic of how to preserve those popular mom-and-pop shops and services came up, it was concluded that the language in the vision statement of the sector plan was sufficient. Norman Knopf, an attorney who often represents neighborhoods in land-use decisions, deemed that language "pie in the sky," as it is self-implementing, not a requirement to preserve local retail.

Berfield argued that a mix of larger retailers is needed to support the smaller ones, saying they might coexist on different floors of the same retail center when the site redevelops.

Anderson suggested Knopf consider the issue, and submit sample language to the Board for consideration by its December 17 worksession, when it is expected to vote on the plan.

Photo via Google Maps

Overflow crowd of residents opposes Little Falls Library moving to Westbard Ave. in Bethesda (Photos)

"We love this library"

An overflow crowd spilled out into the hallway at a public meeting last night at the Little Falls Library, where the future of the library was the topic. I counted at least 80 attendees at one point during the meeting, but could only count some of those standing in the hallway from my seat in the meeting room. Many had to stand along the walls of the room. Officials from Montgomery County Public Libraries, and the Department of General Services, sought to assure anxious residents that they have no plans to move the library to a new development on Westbard Avenue. But the possible move has been a central theme in Montgomery County Planning Department conceptual drafts of a new Westbard Sector Plan since last November.

With an update on that plan's draft to be unveiled tonight at 6:30 at Walt Whitman High School, residents were not placing much confidence in the library staying put. In fact, by the end of the meeting, many attendees were discussing how to organize the strong neighborhood opposition to such a move, and harness the large, vocal crowd that turned out in that effort.

MCPL Director Parker Hamilton encouraged them to do so, saying the genesis of Tuesday evening's meeting was the misperception that "you guys thought I wanted to move this library." "You are powerful," Hamilton told the crowd. "Let your voice be heard." She encouraged residents to attend tonight's meeting at Whitman, and tell planners they want the library to stay where it is. Library supporters should also "write many letters" to County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council, she advised. "When Ike Leggett hears Friends of the Library, when the County Council hears Friends of the Library," Hamilton said, referring to the non-profit library support group, "they listen."

Friends of the Library President Jane Snyder said the existing library "is popular in the community. It is used heavily. There is a lot of support in this community for this library." Snyder said the building just needs updates, such as a new heating and cooling system, and a new roof. The current roof is leaking, she said.

Rita Gale of MCPL
describes the renovations
planned for the
Little Falls Library in 2016

Rita Gale, Public Service Administrator for Facilities and Capital Projects for MCPL, said a refresh for Little Falls Library is in the works for next summer, and that funds have been set aside in the capital budget. "We're not talking really grand" renovations, Gale said, but modest upgrades such as new carpet, paint, remodeled bathrooms, and moving shelving to create more seating areas with tables and chairs. Similar refreshes are in store for the Davis Library and the Aspen Hill Library, she said. Regular readers may remember she discussed the 7-year "refresh" concept at one of the Westbard charrette meetings last November. MCPL is moving away from 20-year overhauls, as the nature of libraries and media change so rapidly, Gale said then and last night.

The renovation would begin next July, and be completed by summer 2017, Gale said. That work would not require closing the library. Officials pointed to the renovation as evidence that they have no plans to move the library.

Greg Ossont of DGS
assures crowd the county
has "no current plans"
to relocate the library

"We have no current plans to relocate this particular facility. We are not currently considering relocating this particular facility," DGS Deputy Director Greg Ossont told the crowd at the start of the meeting. Ossont said Equity One, the developer with plans to redevelop multiple properties along Westbard and Ridgefield Road, did open a dialogue with the DGS regarding a possible move. "Candidly, the answer was, 'not right now'," Ossont said, characterizing the department's response. He said the current plan is to renovate the library, and leave it where it is. "We don't have a lot of money floating around," he noted.

Any consideration of moving the library could only come later in the process of the Westbard Sector Plan, Ossont said, and there would have to be a feasible plan and money for it. "Right now, there's no solution in place. How's it gonna work? Logistics are a huge part of it."

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Director Ken Hartman concurred. He said Equity One wants to redevelop the Westwood Shopping Center in the next five years. That would require the capital funding to be put into the budget, and all of the planning worked out in that timeframe. And "even if everything goes against us," and the library is relocated, "everything still has to be programmed for a move," Hartman said.

"The County Council

is laughing at us"

Residents were not only skeptical of the promises, given the developer influence on the County Council, but also frustrated with planners' failure to listen to community feedback on the Sector Plan last November. "It's very hard to make anyone listen," one resident said. "The County Council is laughing at us," another said. "And then they do what they want up there."

"It's terrible what

you're doing"

A number of attendees stressed that the library move proposal never came from the community, but from the planners themselves. Planners emphasize the new library "as a community idea. And it isn't," a resident said. "We love this library." "We don't even want to discuss [the possibility of the library moving]," another said. "It's terrible what you're doing. I love this library."

One resident who said she has disabilities argued the current library is more accessible than newer ones in Rockville and elsewhere. "I can park right in front" of the entrance, she said. Underground parking for a potential library in the new Westwood Shopping Center development would be "not as safe, especially for females," she said.

Several parents noted that children can walk to the current library more safely than to one in the proposed "town center" on Westbard.

One attendee argued the building is historic. "This building and this site have such a history," she said. "It's true 50s modernism."

Overall, residents do not feel they are being heard in the Westbard process, or in the library discussion. "Emails are getting ignored, and the County Executive needs to know that," one said. She also suggested televising the meetings, for those who cannot attend.

Ossont responds to a
resident's comment

After listening to extensive resident comments supporting the current library, and complaints about the disconnect between residents and planners on that and other topics, Ossont promised to relay those concerns to the highest level.

Acknowledging the community opposition to moving the library, Ossont said "Ken and I will take that message back to the Executive."

"You have to counter

the hype"

Hamilton urged residents to "counter the hype" from planners pushing for a library move.

We won't have a sense of where the library proposal stands now until the latest draft is revealed tonight at Whitman. In that sense, it is premature to speculate. What I would write this morning could already be out of date by tonight, based on the new plan details. If it's still in there (despite previous community opposition), an examination of the newest plan and its ramifications can be made after tonight.

What can be said of the previous concept, is fairly clear. In order to facilitate high-density growth in the Westbard Sector, an urbanization that was completely opposed by residents at a November meeting, planners have to show a plan to accommodate students who would be generated from those thousands of new housing units.

In November, that was addressed on one plan concept by showing a new elementary school on the Little Falls Library site. Just one problem, though - that site is not big enough to hold an elementary school.

Will the concept survive in tonight's plan anyway?

We'll know in about 10 and a half hours.

WHAT WOULD THE IDEAL LITTLE FALLS LIBRARY BE LIKE IN WESTBARD REVELOPMENT?

Along with plans for daylighting Willetts Branch Stream and a potential new elementary school, the idea of relocating Little Falls Library to the Equity One redevelopment on Westbard Avenue is one of several intriguing ideas floated in the early Westbard Sector Plan process. I happen to like the current library, its architecture - and large side window, and forested setting. It is perhaps the ideal suburban library. Despite my nostalgia, I would begrudgingly admit it is growing outdated.

One of several public meetings held last Friday sought to get feedback from Montgomery County Public Libraries and nearby residents on the feasibility of relocating the library, and what features the ideal library would have.

Rita Gale (foreground) of MCPL
discussed what the ideal new
Little Falls Library would be

Rita Gale, Public Service Administrator for Facilities and Capital Projects for MCPL, discussed potential floorplans and designs with planners Marc DeOcampo and John Marcolin. Gale said MCPL is on board for the idea of libraries as anchors of public squares, with the Rockville Memorial Library being the most notable existing example. How would a potential land swap and construction of the new facility occur? It would likely be a public-private partnership between MCPL, Equity One and Montgomery County Public Schools, should the current library site become a school site.

Gale explained that the library system utilizes 3 year strategic plans. She mentioned that MCPL recently shifted from complete renovations of libraries every 20-30 years to mini-renovations every 7 years. The reason for the shift was the inability to keep up with technological changes on a 20-year calendar. If the relocation were to go forward, the existing library would remain in operation until the new building was ready to move into.

What would that new building be like, ideally? 23,000 square feet on a single floor, said Gale. Why a single floor? Staffing one floor is far less expensive than multiple floors. Meeting space would preferably be on a separate level, as that does not require the same level of monitoring by employees, Gale said. The existing Little Falls Library is far smaller at 10,000 SF, while the Rockville Library is 63,000 SF by comparison. Having the library at street level would also be important, as is free parking for patrons. I have to say that paid parking at the new Equity One development on Westbard would be a non-starter.

In regards to the second options planners have outlined - adding an addition to the existing library - Gale said that would require removal of several mature trees, and "generally taking down trees is not something that's appealing to folks. Of course, if the site becomes a school, those trees would come down anyway. Neither clearcutting sounds like a good idea at a corner of Bethesda known for its forested surroundings.

Residents who have spoken to the potential library relocation seem to be cautiously favorable in their opinion about it. One detractor at the meeting said a library would be a terrible choice for what is being touted as a vibrant public space. He argued the new library would be a "dead space in the evening. Leave the library where it is. [Relocating it] makes no sense to me whatsoever." He noted that a similar library upcounty, which has residential units facing it, has become a hangout for drug dealers after hours, and a magnet for crime in general. DeCampo said Equity One would likely take steps to secure the site, particularly with residents living in close proximity to it.

I thought the man did have a valid point, as - assuming the library operates on the typically-limited MCPL hours - the space around it could become a dead zone after 6:00 PM. Banks are another notorious vibrancy killer in urban settings. It would seem that other more active tenants would have to be located close to the library in order to prevent that from happening. Having said that, I don't think anyone expects the Equity One "town center" to be a noisy city that never sleeps. This is a bedroom community in the suburbs, not a true urban area, and should tone down the volume at night anyway.

The other thing those comments brought to mind, is the need to recognize that public areas - of which there are currently none on Westbard Avenue - need policing, as well as upkeep such as that which Bethesda Urban Partnership provides downtown. That should be considered during the design phase, as security costs money, whether it is public or private.