Demolition fences, preparation at future Brightview Bethesda site (Photos)

Update - 12:05 PM - Photo errors corrected.

Fencing has gone up around the structures to be demolished to clear the future site of the Brightview Bethesda assisted living building at 4907 Rugby Avenue. There are also signs of other preparations for the impending demolition of the "pink house" and former home of Dansez! Dansez!

Why is the snack bar closed at the Bethesda Pool?

Patrons of the Bethesda Pool on Little Falls Parkway this summer have been wondering why the snack bar has been closed. According to Carmen Berrios of the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, the previous private vendor was unable to make a profit, and the department had to find another operator.

Berrios says they have reached an agreement with a new vendor, and that applicant is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and County inspections required before opening. The department hopes that the snack bar will reopen this season.

Given that the pool has been overcrowded in recent years, and temperatures at record highs during most of those years, it seems hard to believe that a vendor selling the right summer drinks, hot dogs and frozen treats would be unable to turn a profit there.

Purse snatched!! on Westake Dr., identity theft on Newington Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 12, according to crime data:

Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Identity theft. 5400 block Newington Road (Springfield).

Theft from vehicle over $200. 2700 block Spencer Road.

Purse snatched! Westlake Drive at 4:24 PM.

Shoplifting. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Sudden death. 8700 block Belmart Road.

Bethesda Row Summer Sidewalk Sale underway July 14-16

The Summer Sidewalk Sale returns to Bethesda Row for 2017 today through Sunday, July 16. Enjoy big savings and free food samples from merchants around the Row, and live music from 12-4 PM on Bethesda Lane.

Learn how to cook the perfect paella outside Jaleo on Saturday at 12:00 PM, with free samples to follow at 12:45. Sample CAVA Grill's famous dips outside of their Bethesda Avenue restaurant on Saturday, and free samples outside of Modern Market, American Tap Room, and Uncle Julio's all weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday, between 1:00-4:00 PM, Redwood will be hosting an outdoor Rosé garden, with samples of 3 different styles for those 21 and older.

Visit the official Bethesda Row event page for a full list of sales and specials.

Montgomery County capitulates to developer on Apex street and sidewalk closures, will begin July 18

Pedestrians walking into oncoming
traffic during rush hour on
Wisconsin Avenue in June

It appears Montgomery County officials have capitulated to developer Carr Properties on the question of whether the firm should be allowed to entirely close the sidewalk and right lane of southbound Wisconsin Avenue indefinitely for demolition of the Apex Building. According to the County, the controversial closures will now begin again on July 18, and last for at least 6 months.

County officials were caught with their pants down when those same closures prematurely took place in mid-June, then impotent to get the busy commuter and pedestrian corridor reopened. It then was revealed that, despite being a partner in the Apex redevelopment, County officials did not know what the developer was doing, or even the project's timeline. Humiliating.

After video and photos of pedestrians walking into oncoming traffic went viral, the barricades were removed. Now they are coming back, with large amounts of public right-of-way being privatized with no due process or public comment. Wisconsin Avenue is one of the two busiest commuter corridors in the county, and the loss of a full lane will have major traffic impacts. To allow such hardship to be inflicted on residents for such a length of time is outrageous. Such a closure is unprecedented in the history of the county, and sets a dangerous precedent going forward.

County officials are also allowing this knowing full well that pedestrians will not bother to cross the street, and will instead just walk into the roadway, as they have done every time developers have been allowed to close sidewalks without providing a covered walkway. In other cities like New York, developers are required to maintain sidewalk access, and do. In Montgomery County, in contrast, the County Council is beholden to developers, and has allowed them to violate what proven to be fake laws against sidewalk closures.

With such a long closure, the odds are high that a pedestrian will be injured or killed during this unprecedented and dangerous closure. That will be on the Council and officials who allowed this to go forward, and they will be held accountable. As for the claim that "the sidewalk is part of the building," that is not true. As a lifelong resident, I walked along that block of Wisconsin Avenue before there was an Apex Building, on a sidewalk, Wisconsin Avenue is a bridge there, and it had a sidewalk, from which I looked down at trains emerging from the Georgetown Branch tunnel.

Identity theft on Massachusetts Avenue, theft on East-West Highway + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 11, according to crime data:

Theft. 4500 block East-West Highway.

Identity theft. 6200 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Police information. 11300 block Woodglen Drive.

Shoplifting. 5400 block Randolph Road.

Mental transport. 900 block Rollins Avenue (Pike District).

Little Falls Library to reopen July 29, Bethesda Library to close August 6

The long-delayed reopening of Little Falls Library in Bethesda will finally happen on Saturday, July 29, at 10:00 AM. Now the Bethesda Library will close for a similar renovation on Sunday, August 6, at 5:00 PM. Bethesda's renovation had to be pushed back until Little Falls was ready.

Bethesda rug shop says it's being "forced out"

Jamshid Antique Rugs says it's being "forced out" of its space at 4931 St. Elmo Avenue. The shop is currently hosting a "store closing" sale, with prices slashed by up to 50%.

JBG finds anchor for new Bethesda office tower...itself

The JBG Companies of Chevy Chase found a clever solution to leasing up its future 4747 Bethesda Avenue office tower in Montgomery County's weak office market - the development giant will move its own headquarters into the trophy Class A building in 2019. By that time, the company will have merged with another real estate powerhouse, Vornado/Charles E. Smith, and be known as JBG SMITH (NYSE: JBGS).

JBG's decision generated a sigh of relief among panicked County officials yesterday. So moribund is MoCo's private sector economy, that attraction of new corporations has given way to a desperate effort to retain the few flagship firms the County has now. So, much like Marriott moving down Old Georgetown Road in a few years, JBG's move is essentially reshuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic; Montgomery County hasn't attracted a major corporate headquarters to relocate here in two decades and counting.

The new JBG SMITH HQ will add 55 new jobs over its existing workforce. But the need to fill such an impressive building in such a prime spot again painfully disproved the MoCo political cartel's claim that corporations demand Metro access over highway and airport access, and walkable retail and restaurants in a mixed-use environment over suburban office parks.

4747 will be on top of not one, but two, Metro stations - the Red Line and future Purple Line. It will be surrounded by the successful and highly popular mixed-use retail, restaurants and housing of the Bethesda Row and Lot 31 developments. It will even have the trendy Dean & DeLuca attached to the building, in an already-built retail structure adjacent to the tower site.

Yet, much like 4500 East-West Highway, the building had no takers to be the anchor office tenant. If you had bought the arguments of Planning Board Chair Casey "What ex parte rules?" Anderson, et al that the new urbanist environment was the key to attracting business...your mind must be officially blown by this turn of events. No, Virginia, mixed-use is not the sole answer to MoCo's economic woes.

JBG is taking a hit to the pocketbook long-term to stay here in Montgomery County, a sacrifice County officials should thank them for profusely (did you know, for example, that electricity is 44% more costly in Maryland than in Virginia for businesses?). JBG is also commendably endorsing the urban, walkable environment it espouses itself with this move. 

But County officials shouldn't dwell on their dodging of this latest bullet. They need to act, so that we can finally grow our economy, instead of sticking fingers into all the leaking holes that are increasing by the day. That includes reducing the County's massive taxes and exploding debt, building a new Potomac River crossing to Dulles International Airport, and completing our master plan highway system.

Rendering courtesy The JBG Companies

Opium bust on Old Georgetown Rd., pot bust on Connecticut Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 10, according to crime data:

Lost property. 7200 block Woodmont Avenue.

Mental transport. 9500 block Montgomery Drive.

Possession of opium and derivatives. 8600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Sudden death. Unspecified block of Jones Mill Road.

Possession of marijuana/hashish. Unspecified block Connecticut Avenue (Chevy Chase).

Theft from vehicle. 2700 block Spencer Road.

Theft from vehicle. 2600 block Spencer Road.

Theft from vehicle. 2900 block Greenvale Road.

Burglary. 8900 block McGregor Drive.

Identity theft. 9500 block Kingsley Avenue.

Forgery/counterfeit (credit cards). 10400 block Gary Road.

Car vandalized. 11500 block Old Georgetown Road.

Downtown Bethesda's new eyesore (Photos)

The former site of Steamers at 4820 Auburn Avenue is evolving into the Little Lot of Horrors, as plant tentacles are beginning to reach out to pedestrians from the overgrowth of weeds and brush. Such conditions are prime for rats and other vermin to set up shop in, particularly in such close proximity to restaurants. The lot is the future site of The Claiborne condominums.

It took Montgomery County two years to address the Bainbridge Wisconsin lot. Perhaps if the County's regional services director weren't spending time stuffing taxpayer-funded County emails with links to boost profits and traffic for the local small and slightly-failing magazine (2 gratuitous links in yesterday's email alone), these basic matters could be kept on top of.

Judge postpones Westbard lawsuit hearing

A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge has postponed a hearing in the Westbard sector plan lawsuit that had been scheduled for this morning. The suit, filed by Bethesda residents against the County, challenges the passage of the plan by the County Council and Planning Board on three grounds. A new hearing date is expected to be set by the judge before the end of the summer.

Coming Soon signage gives first info about Pet Parents in Bethesda (Photos)

Pet Parents has no website, social media or contact information - and as a result, no public indication of what the new business at 4907 Fairmont Avenue will offer customers. Until now. Coming Soon signage just installed at the storefront in the Bainbridge Bethesda refers to "premium, all-natural, health-promoting products combined with extraordinary services." Stay tuned for more details.

Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 9, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. 7500 block Vale Street.

Theft from vehicle. 12200 block Nebel Street.

Mark Keshishian & Sons moving to Rockville

Mark Keshishian & Sons, a 110-year-old business currently located at 4507 Stanford Street in Bethesda (officially Chevy Chase), is moving to Rockville. Their new address will be 12264-D Wilkins Avenue. The Oriental rugs and carpet store says they expect to complete the move by late July.

Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 8, according to crime data:

Domestic violence assault & battery. 5300 block Wriley Road.

Mental transport. 8100 block Postoak Road.

Demolition permits requested for future site of Brightview Bethesda

The developer of the Brightview Bethesda assisted living project at 4907 Rugby Avenue has requested demoition permits from Montgomery County for the two structures currently on that site. They are the "Pink House," and the warehouse that recently housed Dansez! Dansez! Officially, these structures are currently addressed as 4901 and 4907 Rugby Avenue.

Banana Leaves Asian Cafe opening in Bethesda (Photos)

Banana Leaves Asian Cafe is replacing North China Cafe at 7814 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The family-owned North China Cafe had gone quiet near the end of June, with the telephone either not answering or disconnected. Now we know why.

Cars stolen from Burdette Rd., Nebel St.; pickpocket strikes in Bethesda! + more - Bethesda crime o

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 7, according to crime data:

Pickpocket. 8300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Mental transport. 5400 block Burling Road.

Theft from vehicle. 4400 block Willard Avenue.

Theft over $200. 5600 block Newington Road (Springfield).

Stolen car. 8300 block Burdette Road.

Auto part stolen. 5100 block King Charles Way.

Theft from vehicle. 6800 block Hillmead Road.

Theft from vehicle. 5500 block Surrey Street.

Theft. 5300 block Strathmore Avenue.

Mental transport. 5300 block Marinelli Road.

Stolen car. 11800 block Nebel Street.

Grapeseed space now for lease in Bethesda

On Friday, I broke the story that Grapeseed will be closing July 29 in Bethesda. Now their 4865 Cordell Avenue space is available for lease to any restaurateur seeking a prime location in the burgeoning Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. The 3800 SF restaurant space is being offered at a rate of $35 per square foot per year, according to an online listing.

Bethesda intel campus entrance plan riles neighbors

Current driveway entrance at the
Intelligence Community Campus - Bethesda

The new federal Intelligence Community Campus - Bethesda on Sangamore Road will open in the coming months, bringing over 3000 additional cars to the surrounding roads. How those cars will enter the state-of-the-art intelligence facility is a bone of contention with the surrounding Sumner neighborhood.

A well-manicured driveway entrance currently in use near the Washington Waldorf School is expected to eventually be shut down. Traffic in and out of the site would then use a center driveway across from Sentinel Drive. Neighbors would prefer that the entrance instead be at the third possible location, a driveway that lines up with the segment of Sangamore Road that connects to MacArthur Boulevard. This ostensibly would provide a more direct route for vehicles arriving from the District or via Clara Barton Parkway.

The Sumner Citizens Association has sent a letter to the appropriate federal officials, and to Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, to suggest this alternative plan. One other issue with the Sentinel Drive intersection? As local drivers who turn right onto Sangamore from Sentinel know, the intersection was poorly-engineered and that turn is too tight, particularly for larger vehicles.

ICC-B will house employees from 16 intelligence agencies, and together with the major redevelopment of "Westbard" nearby, has many questioning why Montgomery County has failed to provide a single project to increase road capacity in that area.

Purse snatcher invading Bethesda schools, report of suicide on Battery Lane + more - Bethesda crime update

A man is allegedly sneaking into Montgomery County schools and day care centers, stealing purses, and then spending his ill-gotten gains at Target, Best Buy and grocery stores. Among his targets have been Bethesda Elementary School (June 19 between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM), Somerset Elementary School (June 14 between 1:40 and 3:00 PM), and Montgomery Child Care in Garrett Park (June 9 between 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM).

Montgomery County police detectives have released several photos of a suspect, caught in the act with several purses slung over his arm. Anyone with information about this suspect or these thefts is asked to contact 2nd District detectives at 240-773-6710. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the unknown suspect. Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 5-6, according to crime data:

July 6

Car vandalized. 1 Bethesda Metro Center.

Suicide by firearm. 5000 block Battery Lane at 3:33 PM.

Burglary with forced entry. 7100 block Longwood Drive.

Possession of marijuana/hashish. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Shoplifting. 4900 block Nicholson Court.

Burglary with forced entry. 5000 block Nicholson Lane.

July 5

Shoplifting. 8100 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Mental transport. 4600 block Montgomery Avenue.

Identity theft. 8300 block Burdette Road.

Burglary with forced entry. 7100 block Longwood Drive.

Identity theft. 5000 block Flanders Avenue.

Domestic violence assault. 5400 block Marinelli Road.

Mental transport. 5400 block Marinelli Road.

Mental transport. 10500 block Montrose Avenue.

Parking lot entrance near doomed Bethesda building closes (Photos)

The entrance to a parking lot alongside 7900 Wisconsin Avenue has been sealed off. Asbestos removal is underway, and the building will soon be demolished to make way for the JBG Companies' 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project, to be anchored by Trader Joe's.

Dog Haus Biergarten posts Coming Soon signage (Photos)

There's still a long way to go on the build-out of the restaurant's interior, but Dog Haus Biergarten is letting passersby know they are on the way sooner rather than later at 7904 Woodmont Avenue. Now that expected competitor Bold Bite has apparently withdrawn from the hot dog category (but will still compete on burgers and craft beer), Dog Haus will by default be the big "dog" in town, when it comes to frankfurters.

Sport & Health makes a play for Fitness First members in Bethesda

Although it's unclear why the most active members of Fitness First would still be walking up to the shuttered gym on Wisconsin Avenue, give Sport & Health Bethesda credit for trying to fish for some of the stragglers still being shocked by the locked doors at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue. Sport & Health has posted a sign on the door of Fitness First, which closed last Friday night for good, inviting members to take advantage of a limited time offer.

Fitness First members who show their Fitness First membership card at Sport & Health's 4400 Montgomery Avenue gym will get a "special" membership rate.

Grapeseed to close in Bethesda

Grapeseed, a perennial winner on many regional "100 Best Restaurants" lists, will pour its last glass on July 29, according to chef-owner Jeff Heineman. Over 17 years in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle, the restaurant became known for its well-curated wine lists and pairings as much a Heineman's inventive cuisine.

Grapeseed chef-owner
Jeff Heineman

Also known for special menu items based on what was fresh that day, Grapeseed has offered some excellent deals on high-end cuisine and fine wine. Heineman aims for the final weeks to carry on that tradition. All wines will be 33% off this week, then 50% off later this month, finally dropping to "Best Offer at month's end.

"I am filled with mixed emotions as I announce that Grapeseed will be serving its final meals this month," Heineman wrote in a letter emailed to patrons. "Sad, because I have given so much of myself and asked so much of others, only to fall short of some of my more ambitious goals. Grateful, for all the great people who have pitched in to help me as I often needed help. And Relieved, that I can finally schedule a couple of orthopaedic surgeries and start walking like a human again, get to know my family, and find a new challenge.   I take great pride in what we accomplished here and even in the things I tried to accomplish and failed. Learning all the way."

Grapeseed is located at 4865 Cordell Avenue. To make a reservation, call (301) 986-9592.

Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 4, according to crime data:

Shoplifting. 5000 block Bradley Boulevard.