The vacant retail buildings associated with the long-stalled Artena Bethesda redevelopment project have been hit with another round of code violations by Montgomery County. Just a month after the Virginia-based developer was cited for failing to clear sidewalks in front of the properties at 7938-8008 Wisconsin Avenue, and 8011-13 Woodmont Avenue, code inspectors have issued multiple code violations for rubbish, dead limbs, computer components, electrical cords, dinnerware, and even a portable grill. The violation notices warn of fines and further consequences for "repeat offenders."
Meanwhile, the developer has just requested another extension for the project from the Montgomery County Planning Board. Incredibly, in a 69-page staff report, no mention is made of the ongoing code violations, vandalism and entry by vagrants and the homeless over many years, and the impact on the surrounding community of this decade-spanning eyesore. And the report shows only the 8008 Wisconsin lot being redeveloped with a single building, leaving the other parcels between that and the 8001 Woodmont apartment tower as they are...for how many more years? The staff report doesn't say. What are the taxpayers even paying these planners for?
Our Marxist-totalitarian-left County Council, which stymied original 8008 Wisconsin developer Douglas Development by demanding a Communist-style seizure of land by the government to the point that Douglas gave up and sold the property to Toll Brothers, is fully content to have these dilapidated structures greet those entering downtown Bethesda on Wisconsin Avenue from the north. The Council doesn't give a damn about you, or downtown Bethesda - even while smugly running for re-election, and in some cases, a promotion to County Executive. It's outrageous.
5 comments:
Another local media source mentioned that this particular redevelopment is still stalled or delayed. I can't remember why. Inasmuch as major buildings are going to occupy every corner, and eventually erase any Bethesda charm of old, this really is a blight and looks awful.
The IAC has recommended that any extension of the entitlement be tied to a demolition of the existing buildings, an attractive perimeter fence to secure the site and the reactivation of the surface parking lot until construction starts. This was posted as an attachment to the extension request to the planning board. Hopefully it is executed as a contingency and enforced.
Make the fines higher and force the owners to level the structures. Keep raising the fines until they do.
“ Our Marxist-totalitarian-left County Council, which stymied original 8008 Wisconsin developer Douglas Development by demanding a Communist-style seizure of land by the government”
This involves 12 feet or less of land along Wisconsin Avenue and has already been done on all of the new buildings south of here. It’s not the apocalypse that you seem to think that it is.
11:33: I was following this every step of the way, and the amount of land the County was demanding was the central point of contention. The proof is in the pudding, as Douglas eventually just washed their hands of the whole project. The Council blew it.
Post a Comment