The plot thickens at the Wilson Store in Bethesda

After sitting vacant for over a year, the relocated Wilson Store building suddenly has two suitors. First, owner Montgomery County announced its intent to lease the building to the County Department of Transportation as "office space."

But now EmbroidMe has declared it, too, is moving into the Wilson Store, which is now located at 4538 Middleton Lane on April 1, 2019. Its current 7030 Wisconsin Avenue location will then close.

The Wilson Store, also known as Community Paint & Hardware, is thought to be the last remaining 19th century building in downtown Bethesda. It was moved from its location next to 7272 Wisconsin Avenue to facilitate redevelopment of that property.

MCDOT to lease historic Wilson Store on Middleton Lane

The historic Wilson Store (a.k.a. Community Paint & Hardware) at 4538 Middleton Lane in downtown Bethesda has been available for lease for over a year. With no private sector takers, owner Montgomery County is now going to lease the vacant building to...Montgomery County. The County Department of Transportation is proposing to enter into a 1-year lease of the structure for $32,525. It will have an option to renew after one year with a 3% rent increase.

Montgomery County acquired the building from developer Carr Properties, and agreed to relocate it from its former location next to the now-demolished Apex Building to facilitate redevelopment of 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. The store, believed to be the last remaining 19th century building in downtown Bethesda, had previously been moved a short distance in the late 1980s, to make room for the Apex Building. This time, the move was to the County parking lot at 4538 Middleton, where the County hoped a doctor's office or beauty salon might lease the space. Several residents sued to stop the move, but it took place anyway.

Community Paint & Hardware awaits reassembly after cross-town move (Video + Photos)

The historic Community Paint and Hardware building was successfully moved from Wisconsin Avenue by the Apex Building to Middleton Lane overnight Saturday. Cut into two pieces, the building halves are set right against each other, but have not been reassembled yet. It appears a separate team will be brought in to reattach the two parts, which are still sitting atop the motorized dollies used to move them up Wisconsin.

Historic Community Paint & Hardware store moved in Bethesda (Videos + Photos)

Crowds of spectators turned out to watch the move of the historic Community Paint and Hardware store overnight in downtown Bethesda. Some were filled with nostalgia, others were simply trying to figure out why there was a massive police operation up and down Wisconsin Avenue. The police numbers were matched by the number of hard-hatted utility workers, who were charged with making sure neither their infrastructure nor the venerable building were damaged by the move.

The store, originally known as the Wilson Store, was moved to clear the way for the redevelopment of the Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. It was previously moved a short distance south in the late 1980s, when that building itself was constructed.

A massive police presence
was needed up and down
Wisconsin Avenue

Crowds began to gather
as southbound Wisconsin
was shut down

Utility workers would swing
each of these signal arms
aside as the store passed
each intersection

The store is ready to move

Two northbound lanes of
Wisconsin remained open

Utility workers had to
protect their infrastructure
while ensuring clearance
for the historic building

Workers manually turned
off traffic signals at each
intersection 

Finally, it was time to move the building, one half following the other, creeping slowly up Wisconsin Avenue to Middleton Lane. There, a site was prepared for the building's new home, in a Montgomery County public parking lot. It is expected to be leased to a professional or retail business.

Front half of store
rolling onto Wisconsin
Avenue

The rear half of the
building creeping up
Wisconsin Avenue

Rear half on Wisconsin

Police had to yell at drivers
who were snapping cell phone pics
to remind them that's illegal

First half of store reaches
Middleton Lane

Police ask crowd to step back
"in case anything goes wrong"
as store is backed down Middleton

Panoramic view of turn
at Middleton

Both halves pause at
Middleton Lane

Front half arrives
at Middleton

Traveling this far was the
easy part, though

Making the reverse turn
onto Middleton, and clearing
the Wisconsin median, were
the biggest challenge

A loud bang startled the
crew, causing a delay, but
eventually the first (rear)
half made the tricky turn

As the rear half starts down
Middleton, the front half
moves into position to begin
the turn to follow it

Rear half makes it
down Middleton to the
destination site

Front half makes the turn
onto Middleton

Front half moving down Middleton
past Chevy Chase Cars to
public parking lot site

Now all that's left is to put
the two pieces back together

Trees being cut down at Apex Building as plaintiffs continue fight to stop Wilson Store move

On Wednesday, workers began cutting down street trees around the Apex Building on Elm Street. Meanwhile, the local residents challenging the move of the historic Wilson Store/Community Paint and Hardware building next door to the Apex say they plan to appeal the recent Montgomery County Circuit Court decision upholding the Historic Preservation Commission's approval of the relocation to Middleton Lane.

The appeal is complicated by the wait for the judge's transcript that will make his decision final, before which time the appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals cannot be filed. Plaintiffs are asking that production of the transcript be expedited. A second practical challenge is the fact that Carr Properties plans to move the building this weekend. Through their attorney, David Brown, the plaintiffs have asked that Carr postpone the move until their appeal can be heard.

Wilson Store

If successful at the Court of Special Appeals, the residents would then have standing to challenge the move before the County Board of Appeals. As I reported yesterday, the building has already been chopped in half and loaded onto the motorized dollies for this weekend's move.

Community Paint & Hardware hoisted onto dolly system for move (Photos)

The historic Wilson Store building, a.k.a Community Paint & Hardware, has been lifted up onto the motorized dolly system that will be used to move it to Middleton Lane this weekend. 7250 Wisconsin Avenue is believed to be the last 19th century building in downtown Bethesda, and is being moved for the second time in its life for the same reason: redevelopment of 7272 Wisconsin Avenue.

If you look closely at the photos, you can see the truck-size wheels beneath the two halves of the store, which were separated last week. Expert House Movers is the contractor moving the structure. The front of the store is currently sitting on a dolly in the driveway of the Apex Building.