New annex planned for Bethesda office building

The owners of 4800 Hampden Lane are planning to turn a recently-demoed space in their office building into an "annex." Large plans for "The Annex at 4800 Hampden Lane" are displayed on the wall inside the space. The building is home to many traditional offices, as well as co-working spaces.

Condo demand slipping outside of downtown Bethesda?

Some post-recession condo buildings in downtown Bethesda have gotten off to a strong start in sales. Hampden Row was 50% sold before there was even a model unit to tour, according to Toll Brothers. Four hundred people turned out for the first sales event held for Duball, LLC's Cheval Bethesda ultra-luxury condo tower, expected to deliver in February 2018. I'm still waiting for occupancy numbers for The Darcy, The Lauren, and Stonehall Bethesda. One project is already making a switch: The developer of Quarry Springs, which had an approval for another 47 condo units at the former quarry site on River Road just west of Seven Locks Road, is requesting an amendment from Montgomery County to change those to 44 townhomes.

Given the closeness in the number of units, it's not so much a lack of housing demand, but perhaps indicates a market preference for townhomes in that particular area. Unlike the urban buildings above, the perks of condo living are far less when there's nothing in walking distance outside the front door. What the quarry site does offer is excellent access for automobile travel, being only a minute away from the Capital Beltway on-ramps. 

How the finished development will look
from River Road

Profit margin is an intriguing consideration. The existing condo units at the site start at $1.99 million apiece. Those townhouses will have to be opulent, large and feature-laden to command even that much in a market where large homes closer-in to Metro and D.C. can be had for that price, or slightly more. There will be no MPDUs among the new Quarry townhomes; a payment will be made by the developer to the County's housing initiative fund.

The Montgomery County Planning Board will take up the request at their December 21 meeting. Planning staff is recommending approval of the amendment, with conditions.

Renderings via Montgomery County Planning Department

Relocated Community Paint & Hardware store now for lease

The historic Wilson Store, a.k.a. Community Paint & Hardware, is now available for lease to potential retail tenants. Relocated to 4538 Middleton Lane in August, the store is the last remaining 19th century building in downtown Bethesda. It was relocated to make way for Carr Properties' new 7272 Wisconsin Avenue project, which has signed Fox 5 as its first tenant.

How much it will cost you to rent the old store is not disclosed in the listing. Montgomery County planners and Carr believed the store might be of interest to retail tenants, or professionals such as medical doctors and dentists.

Bethesda demolition update: 7900 Wisconsin Avenue (Photos)

Developer JBG Smith continues demolition of 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, and the surrounding properties it has assembled, for the mixed-use residential project it will replace them with. The building is about half gone at this point.

3D Manaco closes at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Even in progressive Montgomery County, there wasn't enough demand for 3-D portraits of the Obamas to keep 3D Manaco in business at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Or of County Executive Ike Leggett or President Trump, for that matter. The lenticular photograph shop has closed its doors. Montgomery County has lost 2141 retail jobs since 2000, according to Maddy Voytek of the Maryland Association of Retailers.

Where to buy Christmas trees in Bethesda

Bethesda has lost many a seasonal Christmas tree lot due to development in recent years, but there are still many vendors waiting to meet your holiday needs. Some are even donating the proceeds to worthy causes. Here are some of the places you can find the right tree for you in the Bethesda area:

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Rear parking lot
5020 Battery Lane

Strosniders Hardware
Bradley Shopping Center
6930 Arlington Road

Dan & Bryan Christmas Trees
Wisconsin Avenue at 4600 Davidson Drive, Chevy Chase
(between Bradley Boulevard and Friendship Heights)

American Plant
5258 River Road & 7405 River Road

St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church
6900 River Road

Potomac Farm Market
7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo
and 9035 Congressional Parkway, Potomac

Home Depot
7111 Westlake Terrace
(by Westfield Montgomery Mall and Jim Coleman Toyota/Cadillac)

North Bethesda United Methodist Church
10100 Old Georgetown Road

North Star
2601 Colston Drive (East-West Highway at Grubb Road)
"Chevy Chase" but closer to downtown Silver Spring

Palisades Lions Club
Behind the Safeway at
4865 MacArthur Boulevard N.W., Washington, D.C.

Sutherland Christmas Tree Market
(St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church lawn/parking lot)
3514 Garfield St. N.W. (on Massachusetts Avenue before
Observatory Circle)

Know of another good Christmas tree lot in the area? Let me know, and I'll add it to the list.

Vitamin World closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Vitamin World is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The vitamin and nutritional supplements store is holding a closing sale. Prices are reduced up to 50% off at the moment. Vitamin World is located on Level 2 of the mall, in the Dining Terrace corridor near Macy's. Montgomery County has lost more than 2000 retail jobs since 2000, according to the Maryland Association of Retailers.

These signs are becoming ubiquitous
across moribund Montgomery County

Whitman student found dead near Bannockburn Swimming Club

A Walt Whitman High School student was found dead today near the Bannockburn Swimming Club. Montgomery County police say Navid Nicholas Sepehri, 17, was discovered during a search today after going missing Saturday night, in a wooded area off of the 6500 block of Laverock Lane.

According to a message posted to a neighborhood listserv while Sepehri was missing, he was last seen at the 7-Eleven in Glen Echo around 11:30 PM Saturday. Whitman principal Alan Goodwin has confirmed Sepehri passed away in an email to parents. "We ask that you remember and celebrate his love of art and commitment to others," Goodwin wrote.

Sepehri is the second Whitman student to die in as many weeks. Anyone with information about this case is urged to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.

Photo Gallery: The first snow of winter in Bethesda

lululemon opens in new location at Bethesda Row (Photos)

lululemon has moved up the street to 4848 Bethesda Avenue. Their original location has closed until a new tenant moves in. The new spot has been home to many a short-lived failure in recent years, with Kit + Ace being the last. Read Wall was there for a very short time as a pop-up shop, and has relocated to the old Make Meaning space across the street.

lululemon's original location had
paper over the windows Saturday

Regal Cinemas/Apex Building demolition (Video)

Here are some short video clips of the demolition team working on the UA, er, Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 portion of the Apex Building. The theater closed on December 14, 2016. It opened almost 30 years ago as United Artists Bethesda 10. You can see the red curtains in some of the auditoriums, and the projection booths.

Kia Stinger Salon opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

The holiday pop-up Kia Stinger Salon has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Located on Level 1 near Macy's, the interior design is as inspired by the Tesla Store as much as the non-sales, in-mall concept. One difference is that they are playing up the performance angle with the race car driver dummies in the front window. The Stinger is Kia's entry into the luxury sports sedan market, with a starting price of $31,900.