Work continues to create a high-end sales center for the now-famous high-end condos "from the several millions" at The Lauren in Bethesda.
Of course, ground has yet to be broken for the building itself. But pre-construction customers will be hosted in this existing home on the property, along Hampden Lane and Woodmont Avenue.
Complete with flatscreen home theater.
The most talked-about luxury building in Bethesda, The Lauren on Hampden Lane, is not yet under construction. But a sales office will open in an old house on the Woodmont Avenue side of the site in the near future.
The Lauren, which has stirred up a buzz about its future condominiums "from the several millions" on Hampden Lane at Bethesda Row, has now released more details about the most exclusive residence among the building's 25 units: the Penthouse.
You've got to give the marketing firm credit: The Lauren is generating more discussion than any other residential project in town. Even the backlash against the provocative PR campaign is simultaneously impressing The Lauren's "discerning" target audience with amenities that blow away any other luxury building in town.
The (extremely) wealthy future owner of this penthouse will be king or queen of a veritable castle overlooking downtown Bethesda.
Arrival will allow a choice of valet parking, or driving your Bentley directly into your own private space. Penthouse owners, as with other multi-bedroom units in The Lauren, will have 2 reserved spots.
For the auto enthusiast, The Lauren promises an optional car lift in your space, allowing you to work on that fix-me-up Lamborghini you've been meaning to get around to.
Want to check with the 24/7 concierge about where to dine tonight, or those tickets for the Bethesda Row Cinema? No? Then be whisked directly into your unit in your private elevator.
Exiting the elevator foyer in your penthouse, Jeeves awaits your coat, which he will place in the Coat Room - yes, a coat room like a fancy restaurant or club would have.
Would you like to sit at your own, full bar? Or retrieve a particular vintage from your wine "cellar" around the corner?
The formal living room looks out upon the Grand Terrace. Jeeves is flexing his fingers, ready to provide some background music on the grand piano, as you step outside into the evening air.
Have you hired a personal chef? You obviously can afford it! Would you prefer to dine in your Formal Dining Room, with seating for 10?
Ah, a more casual evening in mind? Paté will be just as delicious in the massive kitchen, that also seats 10 for in-kitchen dining.
The two fireplaces are roaring away.
Will you binge-watch a favorite program in your 9-seat home theater? Or review The Wall Street Journal in the Library?
Your iPad controls the temperature, electronics, and even the window shades throughout the penthouse.
The maid is doing your laundry in the Laundry Room - that's right, a room, not a closet.
Later, she will retire to her own studio apartment Maid Quarters within the penthouse, one of the 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms you have.
Of course, the Master Suite is the best of those, with its own outdoor Terrace, and study.
How about His and Hers closets (with Hers being twice the size of his)? You betcha.
His and Hers sinks. His and Hers toilets.
Don't like what you see in the His mirror? Or the Hers?
Whip yourself into shape in the Fitness Center downstairs.
Oh, why bother; you're so rich, it doesn't matter what you look like anymore.
Look at the peasants below, searching for a parking space (or an affordable apartment in downtown Bethesda).
Let them eat Georgetown Cupcake.
The Lauren's luxury condos "from the several millions" near Bethesda Row have some less-urban competition just outside the Beltway in Bethesda.
TTR Sotheby's has announced that all pre-construction units in the posh development are sold out.
Before you spill any Grey Poupon in the back seat of your Rolls Royce, rest assured that additional units will be available.
A sales office will eventually open on site. Right now, sales and inquiries are by appointment only.
This development has a historical connection with closer-in neighborhoods, and downtown Bethesda.
Quarry Springs is rising atop a former - surprise! - quarry at 8101 River Road, across from Carderock Springs. This quarry provided the stones used on many facades of homes and businesses throughout Bethesda. One is the former C&P Telephone building across Wisconsin Avenue from the new Post Office. Many single family homes in Bethesda's residential neighborhoods have these stones, as well.
At one time there was constant truck traffic and manual labor at the quarry. Now the work and trucks are related to the massive residential development taking shape there.
Yet another stalled project from the pre-recession real estate bubble is coming back to life in Bethesda.
The luxury High Acres townhouse development on Brookes Lane, adjacent to the expanding intelligence campus on Sangamore Road, will be an exclusive community of 12 4-story townhomes. Currently, the lot is partially occupied by a relatively-modest white mansion. That home will remain, and share a private cul-de-sac off of Brookes with the new residents.
Also fronting on MacArthur Boulevard, I imagine the top floor windows could have a nice view of the Potomac River, but obviously, I can't confirm that at the moment!
With a very safe neighborhood and cul-de-sac (especially for kids playing outdoors), these homes would be ideal for wealthy professionals, particularly if they work at the campus next door. They will also be within walking distance of Ride On bus service to the Friendship Heights Metro station, and the Shops at Sumner Place.
The developer is requesting 2 significant changes in the 2007 site plan. One will delete the intriguing underground garage concept in favor of individual above-ground garages.
Originally, the homes were to share a sizable garage structure beneath all 12 homes. Atop part of this structure, was to be a clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool.
But nixing the garage meant nixing the clubhouse, too. Which eliminates some very appealing amenities, and Thurston Howell III probably wouldn't be pleased. The project also eliminates a significant amount of green space on a property with significant rainwater run-off.
While unexpected excavation issues caused lengthy delays, the Bainbridge Bethesda project is finally climbing above street level between St. Elmo and Fairmont Avenues.
The luxury residential building will actually bridge both streets, enhancing walkability, and activating both avenues after dark with ground floor retail and restaurants.
Currently, what's rising doesn't yet resemble the artistic rendering, but construction is really picking up steam.
The Lauren, an ultra-luxury boutique condo building, could replace The Hampden apartments, a gravel parking lot, and two houses along Woodmont Avenue between Hampden Lane and Montgomery Lane.
A 7-story building with 22 large units, The Lauren aims to be downtown Bethesda's most exclusive address. Private elevator entrances, a Mr. Drummond-style rooftop terrace, and a 24-hour concierge are just a few of the amenities residents will enjoy.
An amendment to the existing site plan that would allow balconies has been submitted by prominent development attorney Jody Kline.
Although by no fault of the Lauren's developer, once again we witness not only the loss of existing affordable housing in downtown Bethesda, but the betrayal of decade-old promises by the county council.
Over ten years ago, the Arlington Road corridor was planned to have more affordable apartments. Ironically, it has ended up being home to - literally - the most expensive and exclusive residences in downtown Bethesda.
This is why I always say to ignore what Montgomery County councilmembers say, and pay attention to what they actually do.
They say they want young people to live in Bethesda.
But they're knocking down what little affordable housing is left.
This is not as bad as the Battery Lane disaster. But it's worth doing the math, folks.
"Smart" growth advocates tell us overdevelopment is about creating affordable housing.
The Hampden currently contains 12 units with rents of $1100-1575.
The Lauren will house 15% MPDUs. With 22 units, that comes to 3 MPDUs by my calculation.
In total, then, this project represents a net loss of 9 affordable housing units in Bethesda.
Again, this is in no way the fault of the developer of The Lauren. It sounds like it's going to be a fabulous place to live, literally across the street from Bethesda Row.
The fault lies squarely with the planning and zoning decisions made by the county council - the buck stops there, at least in theory.
Here are some photos of what's there now, and some renderings of what The Lauren will look like:
Kettler has provided new images of its planned 15-story mixed-use "tower" at Old Georgetown Road and Commerce Lane, near the Bethesda Metro Center.
The project includes 120 apartments, and 5000 square feet of retail space.
New details include a rooftop with spectacular views, a roaring fireplace, seating areas, and even grills to put your steaks, burgers, hot dogs, etc. on.
The bad news? It's for building residents only!
With the Akridge Class A office building nearby having a private rooftop, as well, perhaps those of us on the ground may hear shouted queries of, "Would you happen to have any Grey Poupon?"
But, of course!
There is a mystery sculpture that the developer says is still under wraps, planned for the Old Georgetown Road entrance. The planning documents promise the sculpture will be of sufficient quality as to become a defining Bethesda landmark.
Let's hope so. Because the building concept itself is still lacking.
To try to explain, if I come up out of the Metro (assuming escalators are functioning!), if I look at the Capital One Building or the Bethesda Metro Center, I know I'm in downtown Bethesda immediately.
If I look at this proposed building, however... where am I? Ballston? Rockville? This building could be anywhere. It's a decent, shoulder-shrugging design on the curved side. But then they lapsed into that intolerable, "multi-color" trend so prevalent in our region in recent years, on the other sides of the building.
I don't get the message of that color concept. "Help, I've run out of the materials I was using - let's finish it with these other materials we have left over from another project?"
"I like all 3 of these designs. Instead of choosing one, let's just make it 3, 3 buildings in one!?"
It is a Frankenstein Effect, in my opinion. Most great buildings in the world do not look like a mash-up of 3 buildings.
My reaction to these multi-color, mixed use designs is similar to that of Jacques Pepin's when making an unannounced visit to a college dining hall kitchen.
Just pick one design and stick with it.
This one needs work.
It's just frustrating to add a lot of traffic, and whatever the effects will be on nearby residents structurewise, and not be getting the very best in design.
Bethesda developer EYA has opened a sales office on Hampden Lane for the future Bethesda townhouse community of Little Falls Place.
The first homes went on sale last week, although construction is not yet finished.
These photos will give you an idea of what to expect if you are shopping for a $1M+ townhome in Bethesda. Little Falls Place will be located off of Little Falls Parkway, and Butler Road, off of River Road.
Real estate firm Evers & Co. is moving into the vacant space at 7032 Wisconsin Avenue, in downtown Bethesda.
The new office will specialize in new luxury homes, and will have an in-house mortgage lender on-duty during business hours.
No sooner had Bisnow.com reported a new, 17-story residential building proposal for 4990 Fairmont Avenue, than homebuilder Toll Brothers hinted it wanted in on the downtown Bethesda development game.
Toll Brothers reportedly will announce its intention to construct a 7-story, 60-unit luxury condominium building, at an undisclosed site within walking distance of Bethesda Row, today.
Where is the mystery location?
One clue is that Toll Brothers is claiming it can start construction this fall, which would be impossible without permits.
I have no clue where the Toll Brothers site is, but I do recall a building of these exact specs being approved for the corner of Arlington Road and Hampden Lane in 2008.
Unless I've lost my wits, I don't believe there is a 7-story condo yet at that corner.
So, could it be that Toll Brothers is the mystery firm behind the shell company "Hampden Lane Associates, LLC," that received approval for a 60-unit building there over 4 years ago?
An associated, low-rise "Apartment Building for Homeless People" at 4917 Hampden Lane was a controversial part of that deal. But regarding the larger building, a group of neighbors called "Concerned Families of City Homes" expressed opposition at that time, as I recall. These were residents of City Homes townhomes on the same block.
Toll Brothers is giving an on-sale date of Spring 2014; again, impossible unless permits are already in-hand.
So my guess is the corner of Arlington and Hampden for Toll Brothers. I could be wrong, but I'm not aware of any other 7-story, 60-unit development already approved in downtown Bethesda.
If I am wrong, please post a comment below. All we can do is wait for Toll Brothers' announcement later at this point.
Some slow-but-steady progress to report from the construction site of That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda).
While the project initially appeared to be outpacing those of The Bainbridge and The Darcy across town, as you can see from these photos, work still seems focused on the foundation and basic structure. Having said that, there is much more down there than there was a few months back. One has to assume part of this will be the underground parking garage.
When complete in 2014, the retro design of That 70s Building will bring bell-bottom, deeply-unbuttoned shirt, gold medallion-cool back to Old Town Bethesda.
Construction crews building the future Bainbridge Bethesda luxury apartment building are making progress after early delays. As regular readers recall, when I broke that story, excavation had caused an adjacent building on Fairmont Avenue to become unstable.
With that issue no longer holding up work, the site's crane has been busy moving concrete from cement mixers on Fairmont down into the chasm. The beginnings of the 17 story tower's foundation can be seen.
There's still a long way to go, and it will be quite amazing if the building is actually finished by next summer.
To Bainbridge's credit, their crane (whose tower can be seen in this picture) has red warning lights on it at night. The crane over at the future site of That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) is unlit.
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| Concept of future Westin Bethesda lobby [Photo: Westin] |
