Bethesda construction update: St. Elmo Apartments (Photos)

Construction is still in the very early stage at the site of the St. Elmo Apartments at 4931 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Some sheeting and shoring work has been done along the Fairmont Avenue side of the property in preparation for excavation for the tower's underground parking garage. The St. Elmo Apartments will house 280 residential units and 7000 square feet of retail space.

Under Armour's move is temporary at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Under Armour giving up a custom-designed space for a non-descript storefront at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda made no sense. Until now. It turns out that the store is in the more generic location on Level 2 temporarily, so that its original space can be renovated. The Baltimore-based company says the revamped store will be "bigger and better" than ever before.

Historic Bethesda Theatre marquee replaced with...LED electronic screen (Photos)

The marquee of the historic Bethesda Theatre at 7719 Wisconsin Avenue has been replaced with an LED electronic screen. Earl Ciccel, owner-manager of current tenant Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, wrote to Montgomery County that the existing marquee was dangerous for staff to change the letters in a travel lane of Wisconsin, and that letters were falling off onto pedestrians below. There is also an ongoing issue of water damage to the marquee and neon signage, and the supper club is proposing to replace the neon light tubes from the BETHESDA sign with LED rope lighting that is supposed to replicate the appearance of the old bulbs.

Montgomery County's Historic Preservation Commission approved the replacement marquee, under the condition that a row of bulbs remain above and below the LED screen. This is what was allowed at the historic AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring. The HPC said it was not as sold on the LED rope lighting, and would have to see an existing example of it "in the field" to evaluate how accurately it can duplicate the look of the original lighting.

My personal take is that LED marquees degrade the historic character of old movie theaters. They are cheaper to maintain, and will be more attention-getting for the supper club, and I realize they need all the help they can get in the current business environment. 

But I'm not in favor of this. Wisconsin Avenue has been six lanes for decades, and somehow the letters got changed and stayed on without anyone being injured. If the original wiring and lighting of the rest of the marquee signage need help, why wasn't at least a tiny fraction of the $11 million(!!) the Maryland General Assembly is giving to the Olney Theatre Center directed to that purpose? 

Whatever the thinking, I believe the HPC is misreading the County code and Secretary of the Interior standards in determining that LED screens are "compatible in character" with a 1938 movie theater facade, and that "the removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property" is somehow being "avoided" in this case.

Butter Me Up opening today at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Butter Me Up, a breakfast-themed restaurant from the founders of Half Smoke, will open today at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The fast-casual menu includes breakfast sandwiches, tater tots, French toast sticks, breakfast bowls, fresh juices and smoothies, hot and cold coffee drinks, lemonade and brunch-style cocktails. Look for Butter Me Up on Level 1 in the former Aroma space. Here's a first look at the interior and full menu:

Maryland in a "state of lawlessness," gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler says in crime-focused campaign

Democrat Doug Gansler is the former Attorney General of Maryland and a past State's Attorney in his native Montgomery County. Given that resume, it's not surprising that crime has been a major focus of his campaign as the July 19, 2022 Democratic primary approaches. In a statement released this morning after a police detective was carjacked in Baltimore Tuesday night, Gansler says, "Maryland is in a state of lawlessness when people feel at liberty to carjack, shoot, or assassinate doctors, police officers, and people who are just minding their own business trying to get through their day."

Carjackings, often by armed robbers, have become a frequent occurrence in Montgomery County as well in the pandemic era. Drivers from Bethesda to Silver Spring and Gaithersburg have found themselves in the crosshairs of carjackers over the last two years. Even Potomac hasn't escaped the trend.

Gansler is tacking against the "defund the police" sentiment of some in his party. He sees a police shortage, and is promising to instead put "more and better-paid police officers on our streets." Gansler says he would balance a tougher stance on crime with funding for programs that address the root causes of lawbreaking. "We will...invest in the necessary resources to solve every murder and every carjacking while also fast-tracking funding for community infrastructure projects like youth recreation centers in high-crime areas," Gansler says in today's statement, which also accuses the state of having neglected the City of Baltimore "for too long."

In a crowded Democratic race, Gansler carries the advantage of having been elected to a statewide office before. He has been endorsed by more than 40 current and past attorneys general from across the country, and was named a 2022 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. Gansler's path to victory would likely have to include a strong turnout in his home base of Montgomery County, Baltimore residents fed up with crime, and a sizable chunk of moderate Democrats in Southern Maryland and on the Eastern Shore. He could benefit from being the only candidate in his lane, which is relatively moderate and tough-on-crime, while the other candidates are vigorously competing to be seen as the most-progressive. The question remains, is that a winning lane in the Maryland Democratic Party circa 2022?

Also running for governor are Democrats Rushern Baker, Jon Baron, Peter Franchot, Ralph Jaffe, Ashwani Jain, John King, Wes Moore, Tom Perez, and Jerome M. Segal. Republicans Dan Cox, Robin Ficker, Kelly Schulz and Joe Werner will face off in their own July 19 primary. Libertarian David Lashar and Unaffiliated candidate Kyle Sefcik will take on the winners of the two major party primaries in the November general election.

Photo via Friends of Doug Gansler

Old Georgetown Road to be closed May 7 between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues in Bethesda

UPDATE: I have confirmed the closure is related to operations required to assemble the tower crane for the 7607 Old Georgetown construction site.

Northbound Old Georgetown Road between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues in Bethesda will be closed to traffic all day on May 7, 2022, beginning at 12:00 AM that morning. This is likely related to either the construction at 7607 Old Georgetown Road, or the renovations across the street at the Clark Building. Digital sign boards have been posted on that block to notify drivers.

Cubasi Bistro expanding to Bethesda (Photos)

Cubasi Bistro is expanding to downtown Bethesda. The fast-casual Cuban restaurant has an existing location in Sterling, between Dulles Town Center and Dulles International Airport. Their menu includes the classic Cuban dishes, sandwiches and empanadas you would expect, and also a few from Puerto Rico. A roasted whole pig can be ordered 3 days in advance at the Sterling location.

The Bethesda restaurant will be in the ground floor of The Seasons apartment building at 4710 Bethesda Avenue. This was previously home to Jimmy John's. Cubasi is on the slower end of the fast-casual spectrum; orders are placed at the counter, and the food is brought to your table when it is ready.

MCPS students' art on display at Montgomery Mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall hosted an exhibit of art by Montgomery County Public School students this past weekend. The works in various media were displayed by individual elementary school throughout Level 1 of the mall. MCPS art teachers curated the selection of pieces for the exhibit. It's Viers Mill Elementary, but Veirs Mill Road, as if we are not confusing children enough these days.

Tower crane erected at construction site of The Astrid in Bethesda (Photos)

A tower crane has been assembled, and is now working at the construction site of The Astrid at 5151-5159 Pooks Hill Road in Bethesda. Two 160' tall apartment towers are under construction. They will hold a total of 631 apartments, 15% of which will be affordable MPDUs. The Astrid is named for Princess Astrid, who stayed with other members of the Norwegian royal family in the now-demolished castle of Merle Thorpe on his Pook's Hill estate during World War II.

Maryland gubernatorial candidates react to Supreme Court leak suggesting Roe v. Wade will be overturned

An unprecedented leak of a purported U.S. Supreme Court draft majority opinion striking down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey published Monday night by Politico has dominated political discussion in the hours since. Maryland candidates for governor weighed in on the document, which Politico claims it has confirmed was authored by Justice Samuel Alito. Voters in Maryland approved a ballot measure in 1992 that preserved abortion on-demand up until the point of viability if Roe were to be overturned. Democrats in Annapolis widely expanded the number of healthcare professionals who could perform abortions in the General Assembly's 2022 session, over the objections and veto of Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan.

Despite those legal precedents, Democrats running for Hogan's job aggressively responded to the potential SCOTUS decision. Wes Moore called it "deeply disturbing and dangerous," in a statement. "It cannot be overstated how many people will die as a result of this decision," Moore added, promising he would press for an amendment to Maryland's constitution, among other efforts.

"It will be the duty of Maryland's next Democratic governor to unapologetically protect and expand a pregnant person's right to an abortion," John King tweeted. "This assault on women, on a woman’s right to abortion care, is absolutely abhorrent," King wrote.

Candidate and current Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot called on lawmakers to "enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution" in a tweet. "But we must not stop there. It is not enough to preserve the status quo in the face of attacks on reproductive healthcare. So much more must be done to expand the accessibility of abortion care services."

Rushern Baker, former Prince George's County Executive now running for governor, considered the nationwide impacts of the possible Supreme Court decision. In a tweet, he exhorted state lawmakers to "prepare NOW for the many who may soon have to travel here for care."

Jon Baron also called for amending the state constitution. "This ruling, if made official, would cause immeasurable harm to millions around the country. It’s appalling — and a reminder of the imperative of state-level leadership on abortion rights," Baron tweeted.

"Guns have more rights than women in America," former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler tweeted this morning. He promised to be a "brick wall" against any reduction of abortion rights. Like Baker, he forsaw Maryland becoming a destination for women in other states seeking abortions if such a ruling passed.

Ashwani Jain joined Baker and Gansler in seeking to position Maryland as an "abortion sanctuary." He tweeted that "There’s no such thing as 'Pro-Life.' You’re either FOR safe abortions or AGAINST healthcare access."

"I'm disgusted. And infuriated," former Montgomery County Councilmember and U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez tweeted. "This is another step toward the Court forfeiting legitimacy. Make no mistake: people will lose their lives. Abortion and reproductive freedoms are fundamental freedoms—and always will be. We're going to fight like hell."

The only Republican ticket to speak on the leak so far was that of Delegate Dan Cox and his running mate Gordana Schifanelli. " I pray God it’s true," Cox posted on Facebook. "And because of the three SCOTUS seats appointed by President Trump, Roe v. Wade and abortion on demand are no more. May it ever be forgiven our land and may the blood of the innocent be part of the cloud of witnesses that triumphantly proclaim with all Americans 'we are endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights…of Life…!' And may the healing of women who’ve been lied to or overwhelmed by their decision, overflow with grace."

"Leaking draft opinion from the Supreme Court is another example of destructive behavior of the radical left - the fascists and haters of our country," Schifanelli tweeted. 

Republicans Robin Ficker and Kelly Schulz have yet to publicly comment on the potential SCOTUS decision. 

Unaffliated candidate Kyle Sefcik tweeted his support for the "weakening and overturning of Roe v. Wade."

Pickpocket strikes at Bethesda restaurant, then goes shopping

Officers from the Montgomery County police department were called to a restaurant at Bethesda Row Saturday night, after a pickpocket incident was reported there. Police were summoned to a restaurant in the 4800 block of Bethesda Avenue at 6:00 PM Saturday, according to crime data. The pickpocket then attempted to use the stolen credit cards at a retail establishment in a local mall.

Car stolen in Pooks Hill

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the Pooks Hill area of Bethesda early yesterday morning. The vehicle was reported stolen from a residential parking lot in the unit block of Pooks Hill Road. It is believed the vehicle was taken sometime between 10:00 PM Saturday night and 6:10 AM Sunday morning.

White Flint construction update: Harwood Flats apartments (Photos)

Here's a look at the latest progress on the Harwood Flats apartments at 5454 Nicholson Lane, in the White Flint area of North Bethesda (sorry, WMATA). Despite its proximity to Metro, the project is a stack-and-pack design like the Maizon Bethesda, more horizontally than vertically-oriented in its massing. The facade was Tyvek City in my last update. Now you can see more of the finished facade treatments, and the roofline features, loading dock, lobby entrance and parking garage access are more clearly delineated.

The Foulger-Pratt development will hold 335 residential units. While there was originally stated to be 4500 square feet of retail space in the development, a sign at the site advertises up to 5000 SF as available for retail/restaurant leasing. A second phase of the development will add 232 more units to the site in the future. Delivery of Harwood Flats is anticipated for Q2 2022. Pre-leasing is now scheduled to begin in May 2022.

First structure rises at Westbard Square in Bethesda (Photos)

Something besides stormwater management infrastructure is finally taking shape at the Westbard Square construction site at 5400 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. A structure has now quickly reached two stories in height. It appears to be part of the lower levels of the parking garage that will be at the rear of the future Giant retail and office building. All businesses at the Westwood Shopping Center remain open during construction.

Wildwood CVS Pharmacy burglarized in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to the Wildwood Shopping Center after a break-in was reported there early yesterday morning. Officers found signs of forced entry at the CVS Pharmacy at 10233 Old Georgetown Road. The burglary was reported at 2:39 AM, according to crime data.