SHELL GAS STATION AT 7628 OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD TO BE REDEVELOPED (PHOTOS)

Downtown Bethesda will soon have only 2 gas stations left, if a redevelopment proposal at 7628 Old Georgetown Road demolishes the Shell station on that site.

A public meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2013, at 7:00 PM, at the BCC Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Room D). Attorney Chris Ruhlen of Lerch, Early and Brewer will ostensibly reveal the mystery project at that time.

Unlike the Wisconsin Avenue gas station project I told you about yesterday, this one offers no details so far. Is it the likely scenario of mixed-use redevelopment? Or could it be a new service station or other commercial retail use?

Owner Petroleum Marketing Group has not returned a message as of press time this morning. 

The one factor that would suggest it would not simply be a new gas station, is that PMG purchased the property in 2006. If that was all they intended - to improve the gas station - it likely would have happened by now. On the other hand, PMG is rapidly expanding, and actively soliciting property owners who want to sell existing stations, or land suiting for building stations.

As one of the largest gas "jobbers" in the region, it's unclear how selling or redeveloping the site fits PMG's stated business plan, other than as a sidebar revenue generator.

Stay tuned for more, but, suffice it to say, something is planned for this site at Old Georgetown and Woodmont Avenue.

BAINBRIDGE ACQUIRES 7340 WISCONSIN AVENUE, WILL REDEVELOP GAS STATION SITE AS LUXURY APARTMENTS (PHOTOS)

One of the most-coveted properties near the Bethesda Metro station has been purchased by developer Bainbridge.

The former gas station site at 7340 Wisconsin Avenue is near not one, but two entrances to the Bethesda Metro station. As such, one would expect the proposed building to be of the maximum allowable density.

We'll find out what Bainbridge has in mind, when Linowes and Blocher attorney Heather Dlhopolsky presents their plan for a mixed-use apartment building with ground floor retail at a Pre-Submittal Community Meeting, Tuesday, July 9, 7:00 PM, at the BCC Regional Services Center. The center is at 4805 Edgemoor Lane, near the Bethesda Metro Center.

Bainbridge quietly acquired the long-quiet 18,679 square foot property on May 9, 2013. The property has a current value assessment of $4,721,700. Bainbridge acquired the land as Bainbridge Wisconsin Avenue Apartments, LLC.  According to real estate documents, the seller was the Exxon Mobil Foundation.

The developer has another luxury, mixed-use building now under construction in Bethesda, on St. Elmo Avenue.

Map image: Google Maps
Photo: Robert Dyer

BETHESDA POST OFFICE MEETING PRODUCES MANY QUESTIONS, FEW ANSWERS

"I KNOW NOTHING!"

Certainly Sgt. Schultz could have appreciated last night's United States Postal Service public meeting on the future Bethesda post office, which will be located... uh, can I get back to you on that?

Long rumored to be a retail post office in the 20816 zip code, and without PO boxes, the project is now even more vague.

Richard Hancock, a USPS real estate specialist who arrived from North Carolina to discuss the planned facility, conceded he was unfamiliar with Bethesda's zip codes and streets. But Hancock assured residents attending the meeting that he will quickly get up to speed.

Hancock said he would know what zip code(s) are under consideration by Monday. As of last night, the project has a one-sentence objective: a 2000 square foot retail post office in Bethesda. He also said there will be PO boxes in the store.

Unfortunately, it sounds as if the mistakes of the new 6900 Wisconsin Avenue post office could be repeated again. Hancock said parking would be ideal, but is not a requirement. Likewise, the disability access could be legally and technically ADA-compliant, but not functionally accessible, which is what happened at 6900 Wisconsin.

BCC Regional Services Center director Ken Hartman said he had sent a letter earlier in the day emphasizing disability access as a priority to the USPS.

Hancock said he knew absolutely nothing about the process and decisions reached in the 6900 project. He insisted things would be better this time.

One resident questioned that. She carried with her last night her notes from the same type of meeting regarding the 2011 search that ended with the selection of 6900.
She said many of the promises made by Hancock were made by USPS at that earlier meeting, and that USPS broke all of them.

Hancock replied that this case will be "different," with him in charge.

Hancock said loading docks and truck access would be essential to efficient operation. Essentially, he was describing the now-demolished Arlington Road post office. I said to him that, if that's so important, why did USPS tear down an existing facility with those features? Economic pressures, he replied.

We really have 3 major needs for postal facilities in Bethesda:

1. Walkable location near the center of town.

2. Surface parking near the door for the disabled and elderly.

3. Drive-up drop boxes.

Hancock says he expects the new post office to open one year from now.

BETHESDA POST OFFICE PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM

The US Postal Service is holding a public meeting tonight at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, at 4805 Edgemoor Lane, regarding the new post office that will be located in the 20816 zip code of Bethesda.

It is unclear exactly what the agenda is, or whether the public will be allowed to speak.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM, on the 2nd Floor, in Room D.

What's won't be much of a surprise, is that the post office will be located in either Westwood Center II, or The Shops at Sumner Place.  Because, unless a private business along MacArthur Boulevard is redeveloped as a post office, those 2 shopping centers are the only places with vacancies at the moment.