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.
