Bethesda-based real estate firm B.F. Saul held a virtual community meeting on its 8001 Wisconsin Avenue redevelopment proposal last night. Most of the information was identical to that revealed at a similar meeting earlier this year, but with some new details and an updated timeline.
B.F. Saul has decided that the residential units in the building will be rental apartments. There will be 15000 square feet of retail and restaurant space facing Wisconsin. New sidewalks, trees and lighting will be added on all sides of the square-block-scale project. Parking access will be from Highland Avenue.
The firm suggested looking at its retail tenants in the Van Ness area of the District to see the quality of brands it will bring to 8001 Wisconsin's storefronts. That retail will have its own underground parking; residential parking will be barricaded off separately as in the Capital Crescent Garage, with a gate and security.
Each apartment will have one parking space, which is more than is required by Montgomery County at this location. B.F. Saul surveyed downtown Bethesda residents on how many parking spaces they use at their existing buildings to determine how many spaces to provide here.
Another new detail is that there is a public alley on the property. B.F. Saul is currently asking Montgomery County to abandon that alleyway to them.
A downtown Bethesda Design Advisory Panel review of the 8001 Wisconsin project will likely be held in February on March. Expect a site plan by the middle of next year. A public hearing on the plan before the Montgomery County Planning Board could be held around the same time.
