Bethesda construction update: 7272 Wisconsin Avenue (Photos)

Here are some scenes from a recent concrete pour for The Wilson office tower, part of Carr Properties' massive 7272 Wisconsin Avenue development. I've also included some daytime photos of the construction, which so far has been largely centered on the Purple Line station and infrastructure that will be underneath the office and residential development above.

Redwood signage removed at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Nearly a year after Redwood made one of the most drawn-out and theatrical exits in Bethesda restaurant history, signage has finally been removed from the facade of their vacant space at 7121 Bethesda Lane. The empty restaurant is being offered for lease as multiple smaller units, making it unlikely that another sit-down restaurant will take its place.

Major dining tenants Redwood and Lebanese Taverna both closed following the loss of the Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 to the Purple Line. Along with huge spikes in the number of available parking spaces in garages around Bethesda Row, the closures vindicate my prediction that the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board's intentional decision to not require the Apex Building developer to provide a replacement cineplex would devastate nearby restaurants that relied on "dinner-and-a-movie" customers. Such customers have relocated to other towns that actually have cineplexes showing the latest blockbuster movies.

You can't blame the closures on the businesses themselves - remember, both Redwood and Lebanese Taverna lasted for years and years in those spaces...until the Regal was demolished. I testified before both bodies about the importance of a cineplex for downtown businesses. Neither paid attention to the actual statistics I presented. What an embarrassment for our developer-controlled Council and Planning Board, and their friends in the Montgomery County cartel and at the Washington Post! The Bethesda business downturn has shown them to be, well, not the sharpest tools in the drawer.

Just tools.

WSSC work on Cordell Avenue (Video + Photos)

A WSSC crew was working on Cordell Avenue in front of Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle last night. Be prepared for similar lane closures in the Woodmont Triangle, as the utility continues to replace outdated water mains in the area.

Sneak peek: Philz Coffee at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Construction has taken a long time, but here's the first look at the interior of Philz Coffee at Bethesda Row on Woodmont Avenue. Flooring, walls, light fixtures, counters and refrigerated cases are all in place. It looks like more of the seating and tables remain to be added.

With hundreds of affordable units standing vacant, does MoCo actually have a housing "crisis?"

Ability to lose 162

units, low demand at

Halpine View raise new 

questions about MoCo's 

supposed affordable 

housing "crisis"

How serious is the affordable housing "crisis" in Montgomery County? We've been hearing off-and-on about the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission's development plans for the Ambassador Apartments in Wheaton since 2012. At one point, it was said that a new building would be constructed on another part of the property, allowing current residents of the Ambassador to remain in their homes. But now, the building - a former Best Western hotel at the corner of Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard - has been shut down and fenced off. Businesses in the ground floor have also been vacated.

Residents have supposedly been relocated by the HOC to other properties around the county. However, the HOC declined to respond to media inquiries made earlier this week by press time. From what I can find in County documents, it appears the building will be demolished at a cost of up to $1.5 million, a cost that will be picked up by County taxpayers. HOC has previously requested the funds from the County Council for that purpose.

Demolition was to have begun this year, and construction of the new development was to break ground in 2019. It appears that would still be possible if demolition occurs soon.

The loss of 162 low-income housing units near Metro - and the apparent ability of the HOC to find that many vacant units for the departing tenants - raises questions about just how serious the affordable housing "crisis" is in Montgomery County. Last year, the owners of Halpine View in Rockville off Veirs Mill Road stated that demand for their affordable apartments was declining, and that they had a substantial number of vacancies.

Beggars cannot be choosers, as they say. A modest, older apartment at Halpine View or the Ambassador would beat being homeless any day of the week. There should not be vacancies at Halpine View, and it should not have been possible to find vacant homes for 162 families before closing the Ambassador. Dogged apartment hunters would surely have found these affordable gems in their desperate housing searches. What is going on here?

County residents are being told we must now throw traditional, common-sense zoning rules out the window to address a housing "crisis," a move that will destroy existing single-family home neighborhoods. It appears further study of just what is going on here is clearly needed before making such irresponsible planning and fiscal decisions, especially with the County facing a structural budget deficit every year as far out at the forecasts go. More transparency is also needed. How many vacant affordable apartments are there countywide as of today? Taxpayers and homeowners deserve to know before accepting the new onerous costs, and reduced quality of life, that would come with adding multifamily urban housing within residential SFH neighborhoods.

Montgomery County orders construction to halt at South Street Steaks

A Montgomery County code inspector issued a Stop Work order for South Street Steaks on Cordell Avenue. The order posted at the restaurant does not indicate the precise violation, but makes reference to building permits. Workers were trying to repair an exterior wall damaged by a vehicle earlier this year.

Construction underway at BurgerFi

Construction has begun at the future BurgerFi restaurant at Pike & Rose. The large "coming soon" signage was moved aside to allow access to the construction entrance when I went by this week. I had not seen any activity there previously.

The Wardrobe now open at Bradley Shopping Center in Bethesda (Photos)

The Wardrobe, a new fashion boutique located at 6910 Arlington Road alongside PureRyde at the Bradley Shopping Center, is now open. A primary goal of the shop is to "change how women feel in their clothes at work," but The Wardrobe also carries accessories, weekend wear, lounge wear, shoes, and a small selection of activewear. There is also an online store with an even wider selection.

Donohoe proposes 22-story condo tower at 7800 Wisconsin Avenue (Photos)

Bethesda-based real estate and construction firm Donohoe is proposing to redevelop 7800 Wisconsin Avenue, currently occupied by Union Hardware. The building will have ground floor retail, underground parking, and will stand at a shorter height than the two buildings that will eventually be built north and south of it. Renderings made available so far are strictly for the purpose of showing the massing of the tower, which doesn't have an architectural design concept yet - at least publicly.

Some are disappointed that the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board's much-touted plans to expand Veterans Park onto this block of Norfolk at Wisconsin appear to be fading. Others knew that, like the Council and Board's promises of "large, green parks" at Bethesda's border with the Town of Chevy Chase, it was another empty promise to gain community support for passage of the Bethesda Downtown sector plan. The idea was impractical given the physical barrier of Woodmont Avenue, which will only increase in traffic volume over the next two decades, as the state of Maryland allows every Wisconsin Avenue construction site to have use of a curb lane as parking and storage space.

Others are sure to be disappointed that the multiple owners on this block were unable to reach agreement on one larger project, despite many discussions and efforts to do so. We still need a large development site to hold a replacement movie theater for the downtown, which has seen several major restaurants close and record numbers of parking garage spaces empty in the Bethesda Row area since Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10 closed two years ago. The Council declined to make a replacement theater a requirement in the Apex Building redevelopment, despite having full authority to do so. It also didn't require the developer to build the Capital Crescent Trail. We're in luck - the hive mind of the Council will be back in session this morning to begin work on your next tax increase. Let's see of any of the new Councilmembers push for an investigation into the $7 million in public funds embezzled under the last Council, and covered up until after election day in conspiracy with other County officials.

Donohoe has another mixed-use residential tower nearing completion in the Woodmont Triangle. Gallery Bethesda II is expected to open later this month on Rugby Avenue. The lower height of 7800 Wisconsin should at least provide some variety in the skyline, for those concerned about the wall effect of having 29-story buildings next to each other.

Renderings courtesy Donohoe

The ultimate Christmas inflatable? (Photos)

Home Depot in Bethesda is selling what may be the top inflatable lawn decoration of the 2018 Christmas season. The 4.9' tall, 8' wide National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation station wagon comes complete with Christmas tree strapped to the top.

If you are a Star Wars fan, you might argue that the 7.6' tall First Order Gorilla Walker is a better choice, and certainly a much more imposing one. Traditionalists may prefer the 5.9' Snoopy and Charlie Brown Christmas tree scene.

Roll by Goodyear coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall

The decision by Montgomery County's elected officials to let County roads deteriorate into Third World condition, and allow construction-related nails and other debris from rapidly-multiplying residential development sites into roadways, continues to fuel and explosion in the tire retail and repair markets. Roll by Goodyear is now opening yet another location, and this one will be the second in Bethesda alone to open this holiday season (the other is on Elm Street in the Shoppes of Bethesda).

Roll by Goodyear will be located on Level 2 next to Bering. Tires used to be a specialty of Sears Roebuck's auto services at the mall until just recently. The Sears store will be closing in February 2019.

Colors of the World pop-up shop today at Bethesda Row

Colors of the World, a pop-up shop featuring all female vendors, will be open today, December 2, 2018 at 7025 Arlington Road at Bethesda Row. There will be live music, and a selection of handmade clothing, jewelry, accessories and home goods from around the world. A good opportunity to stock up on distinctive gifts you won't find at chain stores. Colors of the World will be open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM today.

Pizzeria Paradiso to open December 3 in Spring Valley

Pizzeria Paradiso will open this Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11:00 AM at 4850 Massachusetts Avenue NW, in the Spring Valley Village shopping center. This is not only a win for pizza fans, but another example of how Spring Valley residents enjoy better representation in planning and development decisions than we do here in Montgomery County - and get better results in return.

The latest Pizzeria Paradiso location will not only feature their legendary Neapolitan-style pizza, but also 14 rotating taps with local craft beers, an outdoor patio with a draft rail and seating for 60, pinball and video game machines, a large custom mural and other artworks, and two ciders from D.C. cideries.

Pizzeria Paradiso Spring Valley's beer list will include Brau Pils and Sugar Leaf Hazy IPA from DC Brau, Barch 500 and Lovely Nomad from Atlas Brew Works, Corn Rigs and Barley and Raised by Wolves from Right Proper Brewing Company, Farmhouse Saison and Ruby, My Dear from Mad Fox Brewing Company, Southern Belle and ‘Bout That Life from 3 Stars Brewing Company and Red Line and Double Chazzwazzer from Hellbender Brewing. Available ciders include Greening from ANXO and Touch of Wisdom from Supreme Core.

What this means is that, in just the last couple of years, Spring Valley has gotten two very high quality sit-down restaurants with surface parking (the other being the widely-praised Millie's - where Shakespearean actor Rob Lowe was spotted after his show at Strathmore, a pretty scathing commentary on MoCo's collapsed "nighttime economy" by the former Brat Packer). I strongly doubt Mr. Lowe will be making a stop at Regency Centers' Westbard development in the future, where we'll be getting all the downsides of urbanization but the same old Chipotle/Starbucks/Salad Shooter fast-casual chains.

While residents at Westbard were marching in the streets opposing 3000 new residents being dropped into a block-and-a-half area, Spring Valley residents were battling a 2-story retail building being added to Spring Valley Village. That pretty much says it all about how much better the D.C. Council is at protecting the character of existing neighborhoods, especially in Spring Valley and the Palisades. And how the Advisory Neighborhood Commission system in D.C. provides an extra layer of protection and advocacy for residents. While Westbard is going to get a stack-and-pack urban concrete-and-steel makeover, both of those D.C. communities look exactly as they did 50 years ago - only with better dining options and amenities. 

Photo courtesy Pizza Paradiso

Old Navy completes renovations at Montgomery Mall

The renovations at Old Navy in Westfield Montgomery Mall have been completed. Among the changes is this new, updated entrance.