CAR CRASH IN BETHESDA GARAGE LEAVES HOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Remember when a car smashed into the wall of the Cordell-St. Elmo garage four months ago, leaving a massive hole in the structure's exterior wall? It's hard to forget, given that the hole remains there today. Here is a photo update, including a better picture of the view of downtown Bethesda provided by the gash in the garage facade.

Board, bent guardrail
and police tape remain
in place

The view through the hole

WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL GARAGE CLOSED BEHIND MACY'S HOME STORE (PHOTOS)

The parking structure behind Macy's Home Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall is now closed. An extensive renovation and mall expansion is underway. Westfield has placed signs to direct customers to additional parking as necessary. Just a heads-up if you are planning to go shopping at the mall this weekend.

MOCO GOVERNMENT STILL CAN'T "RESPECT THE SPACE" IN BETHESDA GARAGE (PHOTOS)

Last November I posted photos of construction junk dumped in a handicapped parking space in the Cordell-St. Elmo public parking garage.  It had been placed there by county-employed workers renovating the garage.

The embarrassing part was that county elected officials had just hectored and lectured taxpayers about not parking in handicapped spaces unless you have a permit to do so.  Their expensive media campaign, called "Respect the Space," just happened to give those politicians more publicity than the issue itself.

The question at the time was, should the county have to live under the same laws it imposes upon its citizens? (And, by the way, as an advocate for the disabled for over a decade, I am in no way suggesting citizens should be able to improperly use handicapped spaces!).

Fast forward to last evening in downtown Bethesda, where the junk is still in the handicapped space.  What's changed? Someone has simply ripped the disabled parking sign off the wall, and replaced it with a regular parking sign. Compare the photos below with those in my original post to verify for yourself.

Now, let's say you as a citizen were parked in an unauthorized spot. If caught, would you be allowed to simply rip a sign off and escape penalty?

A novel solution, but shouldn't government therefore live under its own laws?

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS POPPING UP AROUND BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Yesterday was the official start of the holiday season, and that means Christmas trees, lights, and decorations are appearing all around. Even on parking garages!

CORDELL-ST. ELMO GARAGE CLOSED ON ONE SIDE

Work continues inside the county Public Parking Garage on St. Elmo Avenue and Cordell Avenue.

The garage is now closed on the Cordell side

Cordell entrance

The St. Elmo side is open, but you can't
turn left here

BETHESDA ST. ELMO-CORDELL GARAGE STAIRCASE BARRICADED (PHOTOS)

ST. ELMO STAIRS

OUT OF SERVICE,

USE CORDELL

STAIRCASE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A minor update on the renovations at Montgomery County public parking garage:  The staircase on the St. Elmo side is currently closed for repairs.  A taped-up sign directs parking patrons to use the stairs on the Cordell Avenue side.

This isn't really that big of a deal, as disabled drivers wouldn't use the stairs, anyway [though they would use the elevator, which is only partially operating, so that could be a big deal].  But I bring it to your attention because, someone might enter on the Cordell side, but park on the St. Elmo side.  Not knowing the situation, they might expect to quickly run down the stairs to whatever meeting they're late for, and they'd be in for a shock.

So if your destination is on St. Elmo, plan ahead to take a few extra minutes to walk the long way out.

BETHESDA PLACE CUSTOMERS GET MORE CONFUSING SIGNS DURING GARAGE CLOSURE

"HUH?"

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Bethesda Place, an apartment, retail and restaurant complex in downtown Bethesda, had said earlier this week it was closing the property's public garage through Tuesday morning.

But now an additional sign has been posted, directing Safeway customers to the store's alternate entrance on Old Georgetown Road.  And a valet service is being offered.

The Woodmont garage entrance remains blocked and closed for Labor Day weekend.

Frankly, I would just go to Giant or the Safeway at Arlington and Bradley.  This is not a customer-friendly thing to do, and ultimately the businesses lose money, because the building management chose to close off parking access.  I don't do business where I have to solve a Rubik's Cube just to get in the store.

OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD SAFEWAY GARAGE ENTRANCE TO REOPEN JUNE 9

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Attention Safeway shoppers:

The Old Georgetown Road store's garage entrance is getting a makeover, and will reopen June 9.  Until then, you can use the main Bethesda Place garage entry on Woodmont Avenue.

Or, just go to the other Safeway at Bradley Boulevard and Arlington Road until the 9th.