BETHESDA ROW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here is the latest progress from the construction site at the former Parking Lot 31 at Bethesda Row. The Darcy is beginning to rise well above street level near Barnes and Noble and the Capital Crescent Trail. Developed by StonebridgeCarras and P.N. Hoffman, this project also includes a 900-space underground parking garage, and a second luxury residential building, The Flats. 

TOWER CRANE CONSTRUCTED AT FUTURE HARRIS TEETER IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The tower crane has been erected at the 8300 Wisconsin luxury apartments site at Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane. Donohoe is constructing a 9-story, 359-unit luxury apartment building there for developer StonebridgeCarras. The project also includes downtown Bethesda's first Harris Teeter grocery store. Other amenities will include a rooftop pool, club room and fitness center. One reason the site required a deep excavation - and blasting - was that the building will have a 4-level underground parking garage. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

8300 WISCONSIN AVENUE BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

A new Harris Teeter grocery store and a 9-story residential building will eventually rise at 8300 Wisconsin Avenue. But the hard work that has to be done first continues at the site. Donohoe is the construction firm, on behalf of developer StonebridgeCarras. Donohoe itself is developing the site across Battery Lane from this project as an office building, where a Sunoco gas station currently operates. Here's how things are progressing so far (click photos to enlarge for more detail):

I think this is where cars will
enter the underground garage

THE DARCY LUXURY CONDOS - BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here's a look at the progress at the construction site of The Darcy luxury condominiums, and a 900-space underground parking garage, on the former site of Parking Lot 31 at Bethesda Row. Clark Construction, whose headquarters is in downtown Bethesda, is in charge of what is arguably the most complex construction project currently underway in town. Click on the photos to enlarge them for more detail:

THE DARCY BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here's the latest progress at the Lot 31 construction site at Bethesda Row. The area you see in the photos below is where The Darcy luxury condo building will eventually stand, 10 stories above Bethesda Row. But at the moment, workers are still completing the mammoth, 900-space public parking garage the building will share with The Flats, a luxury apartment building. In the not-so-distant future, you may driving around down there (and hopefully finding a vacant space more quickly than you do at the existing garage on Bethesda Avenue).

Click on photos to enlarge for detail:

WOODMONT AVENUE CLOSURE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 4 - BETHESDA ROW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

CLOSURE NOW

3 MONTHS 

BEHIND SCHEDULE

An electronic sign on Woodmont Avenue has been activated, and is warning drivers of the imminent closing of a section of that road.

An electronic sign, north of Bethesda Row on
Woodmont Ave., makes a dramatic announcement

The portion of Woodmont between Bethesda Avenue and Miller will close "on or about" September 4, to allow for construction of two luxury residential buildings.  In addition to building The Darcy and The Flats, workers will also be realigning Woodmont and reconfiguring the "Barnes and Noble" intersection.

It should be noted that this is only the latest of many delays; the Woodmont closure was supposed to happen in mid-June(!).

Other parts of the project are behind schedule, as well.  Something as simple as seeding and mulching by the Capital Crescent Trail is two weeks behind the original completion date.

So when they say Woodmont will fully reopen in 20 months, we can justifiably be skeptical.

BETHESDA ROW LOT 31 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

One question on many people's minds is, "What the heck is going on with all the construction across from Barnes and Noble?"

(pile driving sounds)

Huh?  Can't hear you!

Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row here with the answers.

WHAT'S BEEN DONE

• Stormwater management construction along the site's border with the Capital Crescent Trail
• 
  
• WSSC water line installed
• 
  
• 70' long traffic signal arm is in place and wired on Woodmont Avenue.  Now Pepco must connect it to electricity.  It will be activated by September 1
• 
  
• Pile driving on south side of former Lot 31 (delightful for adjacent residents, I'm sure)
• 
  
• Restoration of Bethesda Avenue (Barnes and Noble) crosswalk is underway, and will be complete by August 8

WHAT'S NEXT

• Seeding and mulching work to begin Wednesday, August 1, and will last for 2 weeks.  The developer advises CCT users to use caution
• 
  
• Final WSSC water connections to be made by August 15
• 
  
• Reconnection of Weiner Memorial water fountain
• 
  
• Installation of overhead protection for CCT will occur between August 1-20
• 
  
• Pile driving on western area of site, starting next week

Patience is a virtue at this time.  Just remember, a 900 space garage will be part of the completed Darcy/Flats development.

APRIL FOOLS:

BETHESDA ROW

PARKMAGEDDON

STARTS APRIL 1st

After Yet Another Delay, Bethesda Ave. Parking

Lots Will Close Forever in 34 Days

They really mean it this time, folks! You gotta believe 'em! I mean, they wouldn't give us a date and then call it off, right?

The development project that cried wolf is back. Two mixed-use buildings will be constructed at the intersection of Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues over the next few years. As we've all heard, Lot 31 and its diminutive brother across Woodmont are being destroyed to make room for luxe condo palace The Darcy and its sibling across the way.

Nearly 300 parking spaces will be lost for almost 3 years at Bethesda Row. As you also know, eventually, we'll regain those spaces and more within the new development's public-private parking garage.

In the meantime, this is really going to hurt business at Bethesda Row. Aside from offering free valet parking, there is little businesses can do. Given that the county owned the lots, this was poor planning. The sites should not have been developed without constructing a new garage or lot nearby first. Yet here we are nearing a virtual Parkmageddon at Bethesda Row.

After several delays, Montgomery County has officially announced that the two lots will close "on or about April 1." I asked county spokeswoman Esther Bowring why the developers had stalled again. "It's my understanding that the paperwork has taken longer than expected," she said.

So reset your Doomsday Clocks again for a parking experience 300% more fun than we have now, coming April 1.