Monday, February 08, 2021

New residential building proposed for Bethesda Row

A previous plan showed a 90'
residential building on the surface
parking lot behind the Apple Store

A new development that would add more residential housing to Bethesda Row has been proposed. Federal Realty is seeking to construct a 275,000 square foot multifamily residential building with ground floor retail on the south side of Bethesda Avenue, between Woodmont Avenue and Arlington Road. 

It is unclear if the site location is similar to one shown by Federal Realty in 2016, which depicted a 90' tall building replacing most of the surface parking lot behind existing storefronts on that block. It would also have replaced the one-story retail structure south of Uncle Julio's on Arlington Road. The newly proposed building lists similar height limits of 90' and 70'.

The Sketch and Preliminary Plans will be unveiled at a virtual meeting on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM. To participate that evening, go to http://global.gotomeeting.com/join/852706005, or call 1-571-317-3112 and enter access code 852-706-005.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a very strange location for a residential development. You're sandwiched next to the new Audi Dealership and the Honda Dealership Garage. Hopefully there isn't too much noise from these businesses on the residents.

I'm curious when the parking lot for The Shoppes of Bethesda will be re-developed. That's very valuable land.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like an interesting expansion of Bethesda Row. That site is very narrow, and will be complicated to develop without modifying or removing existing one story retail buildings.

I’m guessing they will excavate the existing parking lot to create one level of underground parking for residents, and provide one level of parking at grade, along with service and loading areas, and perhaps new retail on the smaller open parts of the Arlington and Bethesda Avenue frontages. The sector plan allows 90’ over the existing parking lot, and 90’ at the corner where Uncle Julio is as well. This means that to take advantage of the available density, they will either need to replace the existing restaurant, or add columns and build above. At 90’ feet, they could build about 7 floors of housing starting on the second level. The frontage on Bethesda, except for the corner, only allows 70’ so maybe only 5 floors over the retail.

The net result could mean new retail spaces under a 6 to 8 story building, about the same massing as the Flats at Bethesda Avenue and the taller Darcy.

Brandsxb said...

Their announcement said the presentation would be available on the Web on Feb 17, 2021. I just hope the commercial space will bring a nail salon to an area that badly needs one.

Anonymous said...

Where on the web would the presentation be available on the web on 2/17? I live around the corner and would like more details.