Future site of The Claiborne condos in downtown Bethesda cleared (Photos)

After more than five years as a small jungle of an overgrown lot, the property at 4820 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda has finally been cleared. Formerly home to Steamers seafood restaurant, the parcel is one of several assembled for the future site of The Claiborne condo development. That project has been stalled since 2016. There were signs once again of it moving forward late this past spring, and perhaps the clearing of a lot is another. Just another indication of how our Montgomery County Councilmembers are very unfamiliar with the streets of Bethesda they are grossly overpaid to represent.

Downtown Bethesda's new eyesore (Photos)

The former site of Steamers at 4820 Auburn Avenue is evolving into the Little Lot of Horrors, as plant tentacles are beginning to reach out to pedestrians from the overgrowth of weeds and brush. Such conditions are prime for rats and other vermin to set up shop in, particularly in such close proximity to restaurants. The lot is the future site of The Claiborne condominums.

It took Montgomery County two years to address the Bainbridge Wisconsin lot. Perhaps if the County's regional services director weren't spending time stuffing taxpayer-funded County emails with links to boost profits and traffic for the local small and slightly-failing magazine (2 gratuitous links in yesterday's email alone), these basic matters could be kept on top of.

Steamers demolition complete in Bethesda (Photos)

Steamers has been completely leveled at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in downtown Bethesda. The vacant seafood restaurant is being replaced by a 10-story condo building called, The Claiborne. Among the debris, I saw a part of some kind that has written on it, "Installed by 'Tarzan' & the 'Deer Hunter' 1-17-89." Can anybody figure out what that part is to, and who in 1989 was going by those code names and installing stuff in restaurants?

Time capsule relic from 1989:
Can anyone identify what
this part is, and who "Tarzan"
and the "Deer Hunter" were in
January 1989?

Bethesda demolition update: Steamers (Photos)

Demolition continues at the site of the vacant Steamers, located at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in downtown Bethesda. The property will be redeveloped with The Claiborne, a 10-story luxury condo building. At least one tree was cut down, as the tree trunk chunks in these photos attest.

These property owners declined
to sell to the developer of
The Claiborne, which will
be built on the Steamers site

Steamers demolished in Bethesda (Photos)

Developer Novo faked us out a little bit. Earlier this week they had said the crumbling ruins of the vacant Steamers restaurant would be demolished in the next few months. But yesterday, the structure was quickly razed. That's good news, as it eliminates the mosquito risk the roofless building posed to nearby residents before the mosquitos really get going for the year.

Where did Steamers go? I found the restaurant's "coffin," on the street nearby. The individual pieces of the old wooden building were piled inside a dumpster there. Steamers will be replaced by The Claiborne, a 110' luxury condo building.

Demolition fence installed at Steamers property in Bethesda (Photos)

Demolition fencing was erected around the Steamers site in downtown Bethesda yesterday. The vacant restaurant is being torn down to make way for a 110' tall luxury condo building called The Claiborne. A public meeting about The Claiborne is scheduled for February 28 in Bethesda. The Steamers property is located at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in the Woodmont Triangle.

Sidewalk closure on Auburn Avenue alongside former Steamers restaurant (Photos)

Another sidewalk closure in the Woodmont Triangle could be a sign demolition is about to begin on the former Steamers restaurant there. The vacant Steamers is being demolished to clear the way for a new luxury condo building, The Claiborne.

The demolition of Steamers is nigh in Bethesda (Photos)

These are the final days of the former Steamers seafood restaurant and bar at 4820 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda. Debris inside the vacant, condemned building has been removed. With no tarp covering the collapsed roof, the removal of this mosquito magnet will reduce the chance of Woodmont Triangle residents contracting Zika. Replacing it will be The Clairborne luxury condominium building.