New-look entrance for Landow Building in Bethesda (Photos)

The Woodmont Avenue entrance to the Landow Building has a new look. An understated yet more-contemporary design is capped off by a sleek glass canopy. Located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, the Landow Building was constructed in 1971, and renovated in 1990. Developer Nathan Landow of Landow & Company is recognized for several distinctive buildings in Bethesda, including the resort hotel-inspired The Seasons apartments and Fairmont Plaza condos, and the luxury-cruise-ship-like Promenade on Pooks Hill.

Landow Building main entrance temporarily closed in Bethesda

The main lobby entrance to the Landow Building at 7910 Woodmont Avenue is temporarily closed. Visitors are being directed to the St. Elmo Avenue entrance to the building. According to the posted permit, a complex structures review of post-tension modifications to the 2nd floor concrete slab is being conducted (maybe one of our construction expert readers can elaborate on what that means in the comments). Construction of a new canopy will also be part of the project. The modern office building is one of the jewels in the Nathan Landow real estate crown in Bethesda, along with The Promenade, Fairmont Plaza, Crescent Plaza, and The Seasons.

The Promenade goes smoke-free in Bethesda

The resort atmosphere at The Promenade will now come with fresher air. Shareholders at the flagship of developer Nathan Landow's portfolio of luxury buildings in Bethesda voted by a 9-1 margin Monday night to make the gated high-rise officially smoke-free.

More than 80% of shareholders cast votes at the meeting. One person familiar with the history of the issue at The Promenade said that less than ten years ago, the matter did not even have sufficient support to be put up for a vote. The question of going smoke-free is one that is more and more frequently discussed at building board meetings in downtown Bethesda. Post-recession luxury towers that have opened advertising their smoke-free status seem to have added momentum to the discussion.

Kathleen Matthews campaign office in Landow Building?

I noticed this sign on the door of the Landow Building in downtown Bethesda - maybe a campaign office or just a one-time event for the congressional campaign of Kathleen Matthews? Her website doesn't mention an office address.

Former Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown had one in a retail space on Wisconsin Avenue in the nearby Fairmont Plaza condo building in 2014. Both buildings were developed by prominent Democratic contributor Nathan Landow, who has built quite a few nice ones downtown, as well as the resort-like Promenade at Pooks Hill.

DEMOCRATS OPEN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA ELECTION OFFICE

Democrats have opened a campaign office in downtown Bethesda, in a vacant storefront in the Fairmont Plaza condominium building on Fairmont Avenue. Fairmont Plaza was developed by Nathan Landow, who not only built several upscale buildings in Bethesda and Pooks Hill, but has also been a generous contributor to Democratic campaigns over the years.

The storefront's windows feature campaign signs for the Brown-Ulman gubernatorial ticket, and incumbent Congressmen Chris Van Hollen (District 8) and John Delaney (District 6).

Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan recently opened a Montgomery County headquarters at 807-H Rockville Pike, in Rockville.

LANDOW BUILDING ENTRANCE TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The Woodmont Avenue entrance of the Landow Building is temporarily closed for renovations. Tenants and visitors are being directed to the St. Elmo Avenue entrance. This is one of several buildings developed by Nathan Landow in Bethesda. What you'll notice in his buildings are the upscale finishes, and the resort hotel design elements he incorporates into his residential towers (including Fairmont Plaza, The Seasons, and the cruise ship-esque Promenade).

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO APARTMENT HUNTING IN BETHESDA, MD - BETHESDA APARTMENTS, RENTALS

Welcome to the third installment of My First Bethesda Apartment:  a weekly, urban guide to the intimidating task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and tricking out your dream pad once you find it.

Have questions about Bethesda - restaurants, stores, where to find "this or that?"  Just post a comment, or send me an email.

BETHESDA APARTMENT(S)

OF THE

WEEK

We have a tie this week!  In fact, there was a three-way tie, but I whittled it down to two.  They are in different buildings, but both were built by Nathan Landow:

1 BR/1 BA  FAIRMONT PLAZA [Click for listing] - $1795 a month

If you read the debut edition of My First Bethesda Apartment, you already know what makes Fairmont Plaza a great building for a young, single person, or two roommates.  But this unit is even swankier than that one was.  Especially for the ladies, because it has the deluxe floorplan with 5(!!) closets.  And a double, wraparound balcony that's not only great for entertaining, but means you have floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding door access from your bedroom.

Some notes about the listing:  There actually is no "desk" per se in the lobby, but there is a building representative on duty off the lobby during the listed hours.  He or she can receive packages for you while you're at work, for example.  Also, I believe pets are allowed in the building, but this particular unit's owner is specifying no pets.  Which is smart from an investment standpoint, but I clarify that so that people won't think the building has a no pet policy.

On to Apartment #2!

The Seasons 

Studio   The Seasons - $1425 a month

This is a large, 600 square foot studio in The Seasons, at 4710 Bethesda Avenue.  It's 50 sq. ft. smaller than the Fairmont Plaza unit, and The Seasons itself is twice the age of Fairmont Plaza.

So why is it tied with the Fairmont listing?

Price, size, Landow materials, and location, location, location.  The Seasons is a football throw away from Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row, Landmark Bethesda Row Theatre, the Capital Crescent Trail and the many nearby restaurants.  In just the last 2 weeks, a Zipcar station was added right outside of Barnes and Noble, so you don't even need a car.

Floorplan - click to enlarge

Much like Fairmont Plaza, when you enter the lobby, you'll immediately know you're in a Nathan Landow building.  You won't find cheap floors, or the 1940s-style "health facility" interior design of lesser buildings.

You also get a 24-hour service desk, balconies, parquet floors (in the units, not just common areas) and a fitness center.

One thing to know if you are coming from outside of the area:  a major construction project will be ongoing next to The Seasons for the next 2 years.  It should not affect people too much after business hours, but you know how those things go!  So be sure to check which side of the building you are on before leasing [construction will be next to the west side of the building (Woodmont Avenue)].

You also have the Zen Tara Tea shop, a boutique, and a Jimmy Johns sandwich shop right outside the front door.

To tour The Seasons, call 301-652-6688, or stop by the lobby at 4710 Bethesda Avenue.

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SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

We've been talking about roommates splitting a 1 BR apartment over the last 3 weeks, and that usually involves a living room sofa bed of some kind.

So let's examine a couple of sleeper sofas:

SPLURGE

Ava Tufted Sleeper Sofa from Urban Outfitters - $749

FAKE IT

Ektorp Sofa Bed from IKEA - $649

The Ava sofa sure looks more posh and expensive.  And sophisticated.  But there are downsides.  First, it stains and damages easily, while the IKEA sofa has a machine washable cover.  Second, reviewers say the Ava is extremely firm as both a bed and a sofa.  So it's one to avoid if that would be a problem for you.  The IKEA reviewed better for comfort on and off of the retailer's website.

The best thing to do is to try sofa beds in the store.  Finding a comfortable sofa bed can mean not only getting double duty out of one expenditure, but saving that much more money for other expenses.  Faking it will save you $100 this week.

FIRST-TIME RENTER

TIP OF THE WEEK

When planning to lease your first apartment, make sure to budget beyond rent and your deposit.  There can be a number of fees required after you sign the lease, so don't get caught short and lose the apartment.  Find out what utilities average if they aren't included, too, and what level of cable service you'll have.  Are there any fees?  These are all questions the leasing agent should answer before you sign anything.

Have a great weekend, and let me know if you find the apartment of your dreams, in the Richest town in America!