Public meeting scheduled for new Bethesda hotel project on August 28

Developer StonebridgeCarras is holding a required public meeting providing information about its new downtown Bethesda mixed-use hotel project on Monday, August 28, at 7:00 PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (Conference Room A), located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. The project includes the site of the current 2nd District Montgomery County police station. StonebridgeCarras acquired that prime corner property across from Metro in a land swap with the County, which will relocate the station to Rugby Avenue.

The StonebridgeCarras project will include a 135,000 SF hotel and meeting space, up to 400,000 SF of office space, underground and above-grade parking, and unspecified "public and private amenities." It includes properties at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue, 7351 Wisconsin Avenue, 4630 Montgomery Avenue.

Despite the County's moribund private sector economy, tourist demand remains high for hotel rooms, according to a representative for the Marriott Corporation at last week's public meeting on the their new downtown Bethesda hotel and headquarters. He stated that the downtown Bethesda Hilton Garden Inn is always booked solid.

Public meeting scheduled for St. Elmo Apartments project in Bethesda (Photos)

A public meeting regarding the Site Plan for the proposed St. Elmo Apartments tower will be held Wednesday, December 14, at 7:00 PM, at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, West Room A, at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. The Lenkin Companies development will include 210 residential units, 15488 SF of retail and restaurant space, and share a 10865 SF, 30' pedestrian plaza with neighboring apartment tower Bainbridge Bethesda. 

It will displace several businesses that are currently tenants on the property, including Vuk and Chef Tony's. Groundbreaking had been planned for late 2016 or early 2017, so it appears there will be a slight delay (site plans usually take about 6 months from when they are first submitted).

View of the proposed new
plaza from Fairmont Avenue

The plaza, which will replace the existing pedestrian area at the Bainbridge, will curve and feature a clock, as well as ground-level retail on both sides. Tables, chairs and plantings will remain as amenities. A site plan amendment for the Bainbridge will be required, and that is scheduled to be discussed at the meeting, as well. Bainbridge residents who have any input about the future of their plaza may want to attend, to weigh in on the topic.

View of plaza from
St. Elmo Avenue

While the address for the building is currently 4931 Fairmont Avenue, the lobby and garage entrances will be on the St. Elmo side. The loading dock will be on the Fairmont side, however. In its preliminary plan, Lenkin had proposed offering 220 garage parking spaces (more than is required), and 15% affordable units, again, more than is required. We'll find out December 14 if any changes are being proposed to the plan.

Renderings courtesy Lenkin Companies

Another self-storage facility planned for Westbard area of Bethesda

The reigning self-storage capital of the world, the Westbard area of Bethesda, could get yet another such facility soon. "Westbard Self Storage" is about to submit preliminary and site plan applications to Montgomery County for the industrial property at 5204 River Road. 

This is behind the McDonald's, and adjacent to the Crown Castle telecommunications tower and former Channel 20 studios. The property is currently improved with auto repair facilities. Demand for self-storage has been high in the 20816 zip code, due partly to the large number of single-family homes being torn down and redeveloped into larger ones.

A public meeting has been scheduled about the development - but here's the rub: It is scheduled concurrent with Equity One/Regency Centers' public meeting about their submission for their 22-acre Westwood Complex properties up the hill from this site. The self-storage meeting is Tuesday, November 29, from 6:30-7:30 PM at Westland Middle School at 5511 Massachusetts Avenue; the Equity One meeting starts at 7:00 PM at The Ballroom on Landy Lane.

Bad timing - it's going to be difficult for residents to attend both.

PRE-SUBMITTAL COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WEST LANE DEVELOPMENT IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

A pre-submittal community meeting will be held for a planned, multi-family residential project on West Lane in Bethesda. The meeting will be on Wednesday, January 22, at 7:00 PM, at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane. There has been much concern among nearby neighbors about development planned for West Lane. A house at 4831 West Lane is already planned to be demolished for new development. The Preliminary Plan and the site plan amendments will be discussed.