Bethesda construction update: New retail building at Montrose Crossing (Photos)

The frame structure of the new retail building at Montrose Crossing is now taking shape at the shopping center. With 8 in-line spaces, Pieology, Cava Grill, Honeygrow, Five Guys and Allure are already confirmed tenants.

The new building replaces Timpano Italian Chophouse. You can expect this to serve a role similar to the modernized one-story structures out front at neighboring Pike & Rose. When Montrose Crossing is redeveloped as mixed-use at some point in the future, these businesses will remain open and generate revenue for Federal Realty, even as other structures are demolished.

Last chance to object to MoCo's Ourisman Honda scheme on Bethesda Avenue

Montgomery County continues to ram through its plan to allow Ourisman Honda to squat on at least one public right-of-way next to its Bethesda Avenue dealership, in exchange for a "franchise agreement" with the County regarding the valuable land. The dealership will be allowed to keep its illegal new garage that extends into the Georgetown Branch Public Right-of-Way. In return, Ourisman will construct a 2236 SF public plaza, "decorative fencing," "decorative placemaking screening walls" on the new garage that faces the Capital Crescent Trail, reconfigure the trail where possible, add a 160' long pedestrian path, and commit to "ordinary maintenance and cleaning" of the CCT itself or via contract.

This 50-year agreement still does not resolve questions about ladder truck turning space for emergencies behind the Flats at Bethesda Avenue, how the secret future Purple Line extension will now fit between the Ourisman garage and the Flats, and the garage's overwhelming presence over the trail.

Why is the County lobbying so hard for the deal? First, the County ineptly approved the illegal expansion of the dealership, after it reviewed only Ourisman's blueprints rather than researching the complex rights-of-way in that former CSX rail corridor, and doesn't want to go to court over the matter. And perhaps equally important, Ourisman has been a substantial financial donor to current elected officials such as County Executive Ike Leggett and County Councilmember George Leventhal. The latter fact mysteriously is not mentioned in media coverage of the scandal. I am shocked. Shocked.

The public has one final opportunity to weigh in on the deal. Any objection to the agreement must now be filed in writing with County Executive Ike Leggett by the close of business on September 11, 2017, at Executive Office Building, Department of Transportation, 10th floor, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850, Attention: Chris Conklin.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ to open at Montrose Crossing

The latest addition to Montrose Crossing is the rapidly-expanding local chain Honey Pig Korean BBQ. It will occupy a 6200 SF space at the shopping center, located at 12015 Rockville Pike.

This is not to be confused with another future Montrose Crossing tenant, Honeygrow. Both are Asian eateries, but Honeygrow is a Chipotle-style stir-fry bowl concept.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ says the Montrose Crossing location will open in Spring 2018.

Speak now, or forever hold your peace on Reed Street in Bethesda

Montgomery County is prepared to abandon a portion of Reed Street at Bethesda Avenue. Developer The JBG Companies plans to incorporate the abandoned section into its new 4747 Bethesda Avenue project as public space.

A public hearing on the abandonment will be held Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 7:00 PM at Park and Planning headquarters, located at 8787 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The hearing will be held in the 1st Floor Hearing Room.

This project and its outcome will have a significant impact on the success or failure of a future public space on the plaza between Federal Realty's Bethesda Row and the JBG site, which has been a topic of heated debate for the last decade. Along with Carr Properties' massive 7272 Wisconsin project that backs up to the rear of this plaza area, there is an opportunity and urgency for all three development firms to collaborate on a public space with great potential.

Loft at 4935 gets its own sign (Photos)

Most attention is on the conversion of the ground floor of 4935 Cordell Avenue into George's Chophouse, expected to open in September. But the Loft at 4935 lounge upstairs is still open, and is now getting its own sign on the second level of the front facade.

Oh, no...not again! Water bubbling up at Del Ray & Old Georgetown in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

A tiny geyser of water is bubbling up through the pavement at the intersection of Del Ray Avenue and Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. Standing water is collecting at the end of Del Ray. This is the same intersection where an apparent water main break occurred last fall.

Then, Pepco workers had to conduct extensive repairs to their own underground infrastructure there in late November. According to a Pepco crew member, they blamed WSSC for damaging their electrical system when they repaired their water main break. You can still see the patched pavement where one of the holes was dug last year right next to the little geyser.

Faryab, Ecker's Clock & Watch Shop to take summer break in Bethesda

August is the time of year when a number of small businesses in town close briefly, to allow their limited staff to take a vacation. Faryab Afghan Cuisine will go on hiatus starting Tuesday, and reopen for dinner on September 1. Meanwhile, Ecker's Clock and Watch Shop at 8010 Norfolk Avenue will be closed from now through Monday, August 28.

Community Paint & Hardware awaits reassembly after cross-town move (Video + Photos)

The historic Community Paint and Hardware building was successfully moved from Wisconsin Avenue by the Apex Building to Middleton Lane overnight Saturday. Cut into two pieces, the building halves are set right against each other, but have not been reassembled yet. It appears a separate team will be brought in to reattach the two parts, which are still sitting atop the motorized dollies used to move them up Wisconsin.

Apple Store closed Saturday for "unforeseeable circumstances" at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

The Apple Store at Westfleld Montgomery Mall in Bethesda was mysteriously closed yesterday. A sign posted did not explain why the store had to close for the day, simply attributing it to unnamed, "unforeseeable circumstances." There was a partial power outage at the mall on Friday, but the store did not cite this as the reason, and the empty store had electricity yesterday. All other businesses at the mall were open Saturday.

Power outage in downtown Bethesda

Around 7:05 AM this morning, two tremendously loud explosions were heard across Bethesda. It appears two Pepco transformers blew, as the 4900 block of Cordell Avenue, and most of the the 4800 block of Cordell were left without power. It's unclear what the cause would have been, as we are experiencing near-perfect weather this morning.

Historic Community Paint & Hardware store moved in Bethesda (Videos + Photos)

Crowds of spectators turned out to watch the move of the historic Community Paint and Hardware store overnight in downtown Bethesda. Some were filled with nostalgia, others were simply trying to figure out why there was a massive police operation up and down Wisconsin Avenue. The police numbers were matched by the number of hard-hatted utility workers, who were charged with making sure neither their infrastructure nor the venerable building were damaged by the move.

The store, originally known as the Wilson Store, was moved to clear the way for the redevelopment of the Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. It was previously moved a short distance south in the late 1980s, when that building itself was constructed.

A massive police presence
was needed up and down
Wisconsin Avenue

Crowds began to gather
as southbound Wisconsin
was shut down

Utility workers would swing
each of these signal arms
aside as the store passed
each intersection

The store is ready to move

Two northbound lanes of
Wisconsin remained open

Utility workers had to
protect their infrastructure
while ensuring clearance
for the historic building

Workers manually turned
off traffic signals at each
intersection 

Finally, it was time to move the building, one half following the other, creeping slowly up Wisconsin Avenue to Middleton Lane. There, a site was prepared for the building's new home, in a Montgomery County public parking lot. It is expected to be leased to a professional or retail business.

Front half of store
rolling onto Wisconsin
Avenue

The rear half of the
building creeping up
Wisconsin Avenue

Rear half on Wisconsin

Police had to yell at drivers
who were snapping cell phone pics
to remind them that's illegal

First half of store reaches
Middleton Lane

Police ask crowd to step back
"in case anything goes wrong"
as store is backed down Middleton

Panoramic view of turn
at Middleton

Both halves pause at
Middleton Lane

Front half arrives
at Middleton

Traveling this far was the
easy part, though

Making the reverse turn
onto Middleton, and clearing
the Wisconsin median, were
the biggest challenge

A loud bang startled the
crew, causing a delay, but
eventually the first (rear)
half made the tricky turn

As the rear half starts down
Middleton, the front half
moves into position to begin
the turn to follow it

Rear half makes it
down Middleton to the
destination site

Front half makes the turn
onto Middleton

Front half moving down Middleton
past Chevy Chase Cars to
public parking lot site

Now all that's left is to put
the two pieces back together