4909 Auburn apartments begin leasing in Bethesda

Leasing has begun for the new 4909 Auburn apartments at 4909 Auburn Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Willow Bridge Property Company of Dallas announced yesterday that the development's first residents are anticipated to move into their units later this month. Developed by Potomac Development Group, the 167-unit, 11-story apartment building replaced the Auburn Professional Building. Pricing begins "in the $2000s" for the smallest 364-square-foot studio units. 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 2-bedroom+den units are also available.

Beyond the tier of apartments classified as "Standard," the building offers Premium Collection units that are the first in Bethesda to feature the ORI Expandable Apartment system and premium finishes, and Premier Collection 2-BR and 2-BR+Den units with the property's highest-end finishes and appliance packages. Select Premier Collection apartments also feature outdoor terraces.

Building amenities include a rooftop terrace with sunset views, greenery and outdoor seating, a TV viewing and grilling area, landscaped common areas and private terraces, glass-wrapped fitness center with an adjacent yoga studio, private steam and sauna rooms, a top floor penthouse lounge with an entertainment kitchen, a lobby lounge with a large multi-story chandelier, meeting rooms and a "huddle/work room," reservable amenity/party room spaces, a pet spa, and a custom lobby painting by artist Gian Garofalo. There is also a pedestrian pass-through under the building that facilitates a new pedestrian short-cut between Auburn Avenue and Battery Lane Local Park.

The exterior architecture of 4909 Auburn was designed by BCT Design Group of Baltimore, and the Scandinavian-inspired interiors are by Gensler of San Francisco. Bethesda-based Donohoe is the construction contractor. Designed to Emerald-level specifications designated by the National Green Building Standard, 4909 Auburn offers electric vehicle charging stations in the parking garage, Nest smart thermostats, keyless entry locks, and a direct outside air system with MERV 13 filters.

“4909 Auburn embodies the vision of seamlessly integrating residential living with hotel spa-like amenities, creating a unique experience in Bethesda,” Jeff Parana, Principal of Potomac Development Group, said in a statement yesterday. “With exceptional service and sophisticated design, this building is intended to make every resident feel valued and at home. The property offers a host of amenities tailored to the daily needs of the residents, including co-working spaces, a fitness center, yoga studio, a steam and sauna, and our signature ‘pocket parks in the sky’— beautiful garden terraces. We are thrilled to welcome residents to these spectacular apartment homes in Woodmont Triangle.” 

For more information about 4909 Auburn or to schedule a virtual tour, visit the website at https://4909auburn.com/ or call (240) 652-2273.

Photos courtesy Gensler

Strong-arm rape reported in Chevy Chase

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in Chevy Chase Tuesday afternoon, October 8, 2024. The incident was reported in a wooded area along Jones Mill Road at 4:30 PM Tuesday. No further information has been released by the police department as of this writing. This story will be updated if additional information becomes available.

Mui modern Japanese restaurant "coming soon" to Pike & Rose

Mui is "coming soon" to Rockville Pike, according to signage posted at the restaurant's future storefront at 967 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. The modern Japanese restaurant is anticipated to open this winter. Taking over a large space that previously belonged to Asian food hall The Block, the spacial dimensions and Japanese cuisine of Mui remind me of the Kabu Japanese Steakhouse that opened in a massive space at the Rockville Metro II office building. 

Inspired by the modern cuisine of Japan, the menu at Mui will combine traditional and innovative new dishes. Seafood and meat will be cooked on a Robata grill. Like many top sushi restaurants in the region, Mui will offer an omakase dining option, which will leave the selection to the chef, who will surprise and delight diners with their latest creations.

A wine and champagne list will join a curated selection of cocktails. These will be complimented by a menu of fine agave, scotch and sake brands. The coming-soon signage gives a preview of what the restaurant's interior will look like when completed this winter. 

Bethesda restaurant, apartment building threatened with lien by contractor

A general contractor that performed work at a recently-closed restaurant in downtown Bethesda is now threatening the business owner, and the apartment building it was located in, with a lien. Sheer Service, LLC states that it performed $3,118.10 worth of work for which it has not received payment. It therefore is proposing to place a lien on the business and/or property unless the overdue compensation is provided, according to a formal legal notice to both entities. The work included HVAC equipment diagnosis and maintenance, and Sheer Service says it never received a penny of the money it claims Anthony's Coal-fired Pizza in the Windsor Bethesda apartment tower owes it. Anthony's closed on September 6.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line construction entrance gate was "destroyed"

The security gate controlling access to the Purple Line light rail construction site at Chevy Chase Lake was "destroyed" by a truck delivering sod to the adjacent Columbia Country Club, according to Purple Line contractors. Concerns have been raised about the missing gate, which has left the light rail infrastructure and construction equipment vulnerable to intruders for several weeks. A new gate is being manufactured, the Purple Line team reports. In the meantime, they feel that the round-the-clock surveillance camera aimed at the entranceway will provide sufficient security.

Pedestrian cut-through now under construction on Auburn Avenue in Bethesda (Photos)

The pedestrian cut-through from Auburn Avenue to Norfolk Avenue is now under construction behind the new 4909 Auburn apartments. When completed, pedestrians will be able to take this short-cut under the building on Auburn, and follow this walkway to Norfolk Avenue. The amenity was designed as a short-cut between Imagination Stage and Battery Lane Urban Park. Pedestrians will emerge next to the end storefront of the new apartment building on the Norfolk side of the property.

Signage installed at StretchLab at Bethesda Row

The sign is up at StretchLab, opening soon at 4906 Hampden Lane, next to The Salt Line at Bethesda Row. Last night, it was already lit. Windows are still covered, retaining the mystery of the progress on the interior fit-out of the fitness studio. The one-on-one stretching chain has an existing location at Chevy Chase Lake. This particular building was previously home to Super Cleaners USA.

Pike & Rose Piketoberfest 2024 photo gallery

One day after downtown Bethesda held its biggest annual event, one of the biggest fall events returned to Rockville Pike for 2024. Piketoberfest at Pike & Rose brought out the masses for four hours of food, live music, games, and a craft beer garden. My favorite pumpkin man returned to preside over the festivities for another year. There was even a rock climbing tower for the daredevils in the crowd. Good fortune prevailed on the weather front, as the event fell squarely between two hurricane rain events.

Taste of Bethesda 2024 Photo Gallery

Bethesda Urban Partnership hosted the biggest annual event in downtown Bethesda yesterday, the Taste of Bethesda 2024. Here's a look at many of the vendors, organizations, and elected officials who participated in this year's even. Attendees appreciated the improved weather over some recent years. Amazon Fresh from the Collection at Chevy Chase in Friendship Heights had a booth, as they celebrate a "grand reopening" of the new and improved grocery store.

Evereve "coming soon" to Bethesda Row

"Coming soon" window screens have been installed at the future location of Evereve at 7262 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. "Coming soon" in this case means spring 2025, according to the signage. Evereve, a women's apparel boutique targeting moms and middle-aged clients, replaces short-lived market Foxtrot, whose blade sign remains attached to the storefront for now. The signage posted over the door glass lists many of the more than 150 fashion labels carried by Evereve.