CrossFit Bethesda opens on Cordell Avenue (Photo)

CrossFit Bethesda has opened in the renovated building at 4848 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The new studio is part of Tough Temple CrossFit, which also has a Rockville location.

Classes and one-on-one instruction are both available. The building was transformed from a Catholic Charities men's shelter to a retail space by the architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. You can take a virtual tour of CrossFit Bethesda on the firm's website.

There is a public parking lot right next to the studio.

Gym to open in former Bethesda homeless shelter-turned-retail space (Photos)

The mystery is mostly over at the former Catholic Charities homeless shelter for men at 4848 Cordell Avenue. It's not going to be a restaurant, folks. And it's not going to be a retail store.

An interior build-out has been underway for some time at the building. I had previously confirmed the new tenant is a gym. Yesterday, exercise bikes were loaded into the space. What I can't find out is - what is the name of the gym, and does it have any relation to the New York/Las Vegas mural on the side of the building?

More "For Lease" signs at homeless shelter-turned-restaurant in Bethesda

A new set of "Leasing Opportunity" signs have popped up in the windows of the former men's shelter recently converted into a restaurant space on Cordell Avenue. An interior restaurant buildout has not begun yet. An anonymous commenter had previously posted that the New York/Las Vegas-themed mural along the side wall of the building was tied to a specific tenant, but would not identify the prospective tenant.

King Kong attacks in Bethesda! (Photos)

Watch out for a giant simian clutching a woman high above Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It's the infamous King Kong, who was revealed to the unsuspecting public when most of the scaffolding was removed in front of the new mural on the future restaurant space at 4848 Cordell Avenue.

Work continues on the interior, and a Greenhill Capital plaque has been installed outside.

The public art mural of New York City was inspired by the New York New York Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, and is part of the redevelopment of this Greenhill property. A former homeless shelter, it is now planned for a currently-unnamed restaurant tenant. The renovations were designed by the architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc., and the contractor for the project is Sigal Construction.

Public art progress in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle (Photos)

The New York New York Casino-inspired mural on Cordell Avenue, and the front facade of the future Bethesda Chocolates shop on Woodmont Avenue, continue to progress as their artists give a public display of both process and art.

You can now see a clear resemblance between the mural at 4848 Cordell Avenue and its Las Vegas inspirations' skyscrapers and Statue of Liberty.

Bethesda Chocolates' artwork is on-theme, with an erupting chocolate volcano threatening to flood the Woodmont Triangle any minute now. Chocolate treats, hot chocolate and colorful flowers round out the design.

Update on downtown Bethesda's newest public art piece (Photos)

The public art piece going on the side wall at 4848 Cordell Avenue is progressing steadily. It is now in color, and you can see the distinct buildings. And yes, that is indeed the Statue of Liberty.

I've been told the mural represents not the actual skyline of the Big Apple, but rather, the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas. Which sounds good to me, as a fan of that hotel. They have one of the most interesting roller coasters in America, too.

If you look closely (click any photo to enlarge), you'll see the artist at work on the scaffolding. The project is designed by Steven J. Karr AIA, Inc., for Greenhill Capital. Sigal Construction is the contractor transforming this former homeless shelter into a restaurant space for Greenhill.

The real thing in Las Vegas,
for purposes of comparison
(Courtesy NY NY Hotel & Casino)

Statue of Liberty on Cordell Avenue? (Photos)

Work has begun on the interior at 4848 Cordell Avenue, and on the mural along the exterior wall. An early rendering of that public art piece shown by the architecture firm behind the redesign, Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc., featured a Stature of Liberty element.

I noticed yesterday that you can see sketch elements of the statue's iconic crown in the upper right of the wall now, suggesting that the original design may well be going onto the facade.

Click to enlarge, then look
for the spiked crown of
Lady Liberty in-between the
top and middle scaffolding
at the upper right

Then compare the above photo to this
rendering by Andrew Bzdega of
Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc.
(courtesy of SJKAIA, Inc,
All rights reserved)

Meanwhile, window coverings over the newly-installed glass facade of the former homeless shelter suggests interior work is beginning. The space is being created with a potential restaurant tenant in mind for owner Greenhill Capital.

Bethesda construction update: Homeless shelter to restaurant conversion at 4848 Cordell Ave. (Photos)

Here's what's new at the site of the former Bethesda House men's shelter at 4848 Cordell Avenue, which is currently being transformed into a restaurant space designed by Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. Most obviously, the bricked-up, closed nature of the shelter use has been replaced with a much more open glass facade facing the street. The other interesting element to watch will be that side wall that runs along the adjacent public parking lot, which is shown to feature a mural in the project renderings.

Bethesda construction update: Homeless shelter to restaurant conversion on Cordell Ave. (Photos)

The front glass is now installed at the future restaurant space at 4848 Cordell Avenue, the most obvious progress since my last update. This was formerly the Bethesda House men's shelter, operated by Catholic Charities.

BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT CONVERSION (PHOTOS)

Here is the latest progress at 4848 Cordell Avenue, formerly home to Catholic Charities' Bethesda House men's shelter, which has relocated to the Pike District (a.k.a. White Flint). The building is being converted into a future restaurant space, based on architectural designs by local firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

For a sense of the timeline, here is how it looked last month, work began in October, and it was only 13 months ago that the initial design was revealed.

Click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail: