Bethesda construction update: Edgemont II (Photos)

The new Edgemont II condo tower has shot up quickly after the initial lower floors were completed at the corner of Edgemoor Lane and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Remember when it was only 5 stories above street level just a month ago? The pace of construction is drawing some comparisons to the neighboring Christopher condos' rise at the beginning of the 1990s.

Edgemont II will be 15 stories at completion, but I only count 14 floors right now (unless the roof is being counted as the 15th). One advantage the building has architecturally is that is does not follow the design recommendations of the Bethesda Downtown Plan, that call for a tower setback atop a lower podium, which has led to a number of redundant designs rather than a consistent line running from ground level to roof.