Bethesda construction update: Gallery Bethesda II (Photos)

Donohoe's Gallery Bethesda II grows closer to completion, and is also beginning to more closely resemble sister tower Gallery Bethesda I in its facade treatment. Much more glass is in place, and the distinctive rounded corner at Del Ray and Rugby Avenues has curved windows installed.

Gallery Bethesda II will include 219 units and 12425 SF of retail and restaurant space. Delivery is expected this fall, and they appear to be right on-schedule. The Gallery II is located at 4850 Rugby Avenue.

Gallery Bethesda luxury apartments leased up in less than a year

The Gallery Bethesda apartment tower was the first next-generation luxury building to open in downtown Bethesda after the real estate crash and recession. Its grand opening was last June 5, and less than a year later, Property Manager Manuel Majano reports that the building is 98.6% leased as of yesterday afternoon.

Regular readers may recall that the Gallery has already won an award as the top Lease-Up property in Maryland, from the Property Management Association. It was 80% leased last October.

If you want to move in, it sounds like you'll have to act fast.

GALLERY BETHESDA TO HOST OKTOBERFEST ON OCTOBER 25

One concern that has been brought up repeatedly during the Bethesda Downtown sector plan process has been public space - and rightfully so. But some public spaces are already in the works from private developers, and one will get its first real public test on Saturday, October 25. That's when the Gallery Bethesda luxury apartments at 4800 Auburn Avenue will host an Oktoberfest from 2:00-5:00 PM, on the pedestrian plaza outside the tower.

Live music, pumpkin carving and other activities are planned. Food and - most importantly - the beer will be provided by the Gallery's ground floor convenience store (Aria Beer Wine & Deli), and a second caterer.

Bratwurst, hot dogs, soft pretzels with cheese or mustard dipping sauce, and German potato salad are among the early items on the menu. Sausages will be grilled outdoors on the plaza. Beers currently expected to be on the list are Hofbrau Original Lager, Warsteiner Original, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Dunkel, Beck's, Beck's Octoberfest, Beck's Light, Beck's Dark, and Fat Tire Tour de Fall. Stay tuned for any additions or changes, as this is an early list.

Let's hope for good weather that day. The green space on the opposite side of the plaza will be appropriately decorated for October, including hay bales.

The Oktoberfest is the latest event in what has been a promising fall season for the Gallery. A giant public art mural was recently completed across from the plaza by local artist Jordann Wine. With the first residents having moved in earlier this year, the building is now 80% occupied, according to Property Manager Manuel Majano. Majano and the rest of the Gallery Bethesda staff were celebrating another milestone last Friday, as well. The Donohoe-developed and constructed Gallery Bethesda was named Best Washington/Baltimore Green Apartment Community that day.

The award, bestowed by prominent commercial real estate research firm Delta Associates, recognized the Donohoe Companies, the building's property management firm Vantage Management, and its architect, WDG Architecture. When you consider how many buildings have gone up in the District and Baltimore alone over the last few years, this is indeed an impressive distinction.

GALLERY BETHESDA LUXURY APARTMENTS GRAND OPENING PHOTO GALLERY!

Did you stop by the Grand Opening of the first new residential building to open in Bethesda in years yesterday? If not, I have photos from the opening here for you. And rooftop views that are not possible from any other vantage point in Bethesda. Video is coming soon!

Fortunately, the weather turned perfect just in time for the event, as representatives of Donohoe Development, Vantage Management, Monument Bank, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, and other VIP guests celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art Gallery Bethesda luxury apartment tower. As always, click on any photo to blow it up for greater detail:

Getting ready to cut the ribbon

Rooftop pool, complete with
artworks and a lifeguard on duty

Since I was last up on the roof at
The Gallery, Roof - the restaurant - has
opened (upper left corner)

18 stories above downtown Bethesda;
that road going straight into the
distance in the upper right corner?
Arlington Road

For those who can't decide whether
they want to lay out in the sun, or
be in the pool - you can multitask
on the roof at Gallery Bethesda

It won't be this easy to get a chair
after the building fills up

The outdoor fireplace is on the
other side of the fencing by the pool

Take in the skyline of the Bethesda Central
Business District from here

Not a cloud in the sky. Well...

VIP guests

More VIP guests

This outdoor fireplace will be
fantastic during the winter

I hope you're not afraid of heights

Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center

The Mormon Temple

Inside the rooftop Sky Lounge

Rack 'em up

I should have grabbed that
Bud Light Straw-Ber-Rita
before it disappeared

The late James A. Donohoe III at
the Gallery's topping out party
(sorry for the blurry photo, but
this photo was part of the slideshow
running on the big screens)

Indeed it is!

The photo booth

You have to spend time in the Sky Lounge to pick
up all of the little interior design details

Tables with views include this
one by the pool

Chill out after work in front of the big screen

There's the screen

Another poolside view

I've named this the
Walter Reed table

The elevators to the rooftop

There was a scavenger hunt to
win prizes

Appetizers by 4935 Bar & Kitchen
on Cordell Avenue

More of the 4935 spread...

Perhaps something healthier?

With Gallery Bethesda's property manager,
Manuel Majano, in charge, the
entire event was well-orchestrated