Clark Building renovations update at Bethesda Metro Center (Photos)

The major renovations continue at the Clark Building at 7500 Old Georgetown Road at the Bethesda Metro Center. Lightening of the facade continues to wrap around the high-rise. A major overhaul of the lobby is well underway inside. The $21 million renovation comes after its sale to developer StonebridgeCarras in 2019.

New look for Clark Building in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The Clark Building has a brighter, cleaner look at the Bethesda Metro Center. A new, two-tone white and grey color scheme has been applied to the facade of the high-rise office building. It is part of a $21 million renovation of the property, which is located at 7500 Old Georgetown Road. 

Clark Enterprises sold the building to a joint venture of Stonebridge and Rockwood in 2019, after a lengthy quarrel with adjacent property owner Brookfield over Brookfield's plan to redevelop the Metro Center plaza with a new high-rise.

Details on sale of Clark Enterprises building at Bethesda Metro Center

The recent sale of Clark Enterprises' 7500 Old Georgetown Road office tower went through on October 2, and now we know a few more details about this major transaction. It was already known that Bethesda-based StonebridgeCarras was the purchaser. Maryland real estate records now reveal the official purchaser is a Stonebridge shell company, Bethesda Office Owner, LLC. That company was only created on August 30 of this year, according to state business records.

Maryland state records indicate Bethesda Office Owner, LLC is a "foreign LLC," which means it was formed in one state but intends to do business in another state. The sale price for the Clark building was not publicly disclosed when announced late this past summer. Now the records show it was a whopping $133,750,000 for a structure Bisnow reports was previously assessed at $75,500,000.

Stonebridge is expected to extensively renovate the building, which was constructed in 1984.

Clark Enterprises files for judicial review of Brookfield's 4 Bethesda Metro Center approval

Clark Enterprises is still vigorously fighting developer Brookfield's redevelopment plan for a parcel next to Clark's downtown Bethesda headquarters, despite the plan having already received approval from Montgomery County. Under the entities Clark Office Building, LLC, and Clark Enterprises, the construction giant filed for judicial review of that Planning Board approval on November 15 in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

The source of contention has largely been where the Brookfield tower should be placed on the plaza at Bethesda Metro Center. Brookfield's approved plan has it closer to Wisconsin Avenue, while Clark prefers it be placed further back as to not block its headquarters from view. Brookfield owns the exclusive development rights to the parcel in question.

Bethesda Metro Center plaza debate takes new turn with potential sale of Clark Enterprises building

Brookfield's rendering of a"Central Lawn" behind
its planned 4 Bethesda Metro Center tower

The news that Clark Enterprises is testing the sales market for its headquarters building at 7500 Old Georgetown Road has further roiled a contentious debate over the future of the plaza their building shares. That debate has largely hinged on the question of whether developer Brookfield Property Partners should construct their planned 4 Bethesda Metro Center tower with open space behind it, or move the building further back, leaving room for green space closer to Wisconsin Avenue.

Clark Enterprises' Protect Bethesda Open Space
alternative vision with the green space in front

Clark has led an effort called Protect Bethesda Open Space, to argue for the street-facing open space. However, the company does not own the property in question, to which Brookfield has secured the development rights. Brookfield wasted no time in capitalizing on the Clark sale news to accuse the Bethesda firm of having been waging their campaign all along to ensure a better sale price for their headquarters.

"Now we know the truth about Clark’s game plan. Their priority was not to serve the best interests of the community. Rather, it was to protect their interests by moving our new building out of their view to protect their building’s sales price," Brookfield SVP and Regional Counsel Simon Carney wrote in an email Monday morning. "It’s doubtful that Clark will maintain its supposed commitment to Metro Center once they sell their building."

At the same time, a new effort by Bethesda residents who support Clark's vision of a large green space at the front of the plaza is gearing up for the June 27, 2018 Design Advisory Panel meeting on the project, which will be held at 11:30 AM that morning at 8787 Georgia Avenue. They are encouraging those who favor the Protect Bethesda Open Space vision of a larger green space to attend the meeting, and a pre-meeting briefing at 10:15 AM. A sign-up page with details has been posted online.

A 2016 study by Christopher Leinberger, Tracy Hadden Loh, and Richard Wilson of the George Washington University Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis made an argument similar to Clark's, in calling for the "most visible and publicly accessible open space" at the plaza. The study appears to have no affiliation with Clark Enterprises, which is not among the real estate firms listed on the CREUA Advisory Board.

Update - June 20: The article was updated to include new information about the GWU University study for an urban park at the Bethesda Metro Center plaza.

PR battle over future of Bethesda Metro Center plaza continues (Photos)

Dueling concerts. Coffee and donuts. Artworks being created live as commuters pass by. The fight to win hearts and minds over the future of the plaza at Bethesda Metro Center could spawn an arts and entertainment district all by itself.

Brookfield owns the rights to develop the plaza, and has plans for a building of up to 290' tall that would frame and separate from noisy traffic a new central park. Their development plans also include restaurants and retail to activate the space. They've created a campaign called Bethesda Connected to promote the project.

Not so fast, says Clark Enterprises, whose headquarters currently has prime visibility on the plaza. Clark has launched a campaign, Protect Bethesda Open Space, that has appealed to concerns by residents that there is a lack of parkland and open space in downtown Bethesda.

It's hard to argue that Brookfield can't execute its plan - they have the legal grounds and right to do so. Clark's primary hope, then, is to generate enough support for its proposal, and sufficient opposition to the Brookfield plan. Central to their appeal may be their standing as one of the highest-profile hometown firms.

I've reported on this a number of times, but the campaigns are heating up again. Several mailings to downtown residents in July have been followed up by events and happenings at the plaza.

Clark Enterprises sets up
for live concert last night

Last night, Clark hosted a live concert on the plaza that promoted Protect Bethesda Open Space. As the musicians played, an artist sponsored by Brookfield was carefully coloring in his new mural that wraps around the top of the bus bays. The immediate winner was the Bethesda pedestrian, who could enjoy the free concert, watch an artist in action - or both simultaneously.

Brookfield-sponsored artist
 colors in his
mural as Clark's band plays

Brookfield has its own concert series called Fridays on the Plaza, from 6:30-9:00 PM, and earlier this month gave away free coffee and donuts to Surge-weary Metro riders. The mural is an early preview of the international Arts Brookfield initiative that Brookfield promises to expand to its Bethesda property. It is also part of a major investment Brookfield is making in renovating the bus bays area, and making it more inviting.

You can be sure that the plaza, along with Pike & Rose and Carr Properties' development planned for the current Apex Building site, are going to be in the competition for the prize of the new Marriott headquarters. Could public opposition to the 290' building (an opposition currently unmeasured by scientific polling, by the way), trump Brookfield's ground lease rights and clear economic development appeal in currently-moribund Montgomery County?

Stay tuned. And pass the donuts.

Free ice cream - and oh, yeah, a concert too - Friday at lunchtime at Bethesda Metro Center

If you work in downtown Bethesda, you'll want to stop by the plaza at Bethesda Metro Center on Fridays the rest of this month during lunch hour. That's because Bethesda's Clark Enterprises is going to be giving away free ice cream there during its Lunchtime Concert Series on June 12, 19 and 26.

Of course, the main event is the live music. There will also be games and food vendors on hand for the events, which will run from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. If you are new to town, the Metro Center is where Wisconsin Avenue, Old Georgetown Road and East-West Highway meet.

Here's the schedule:

June 12: David Andrew Smith Trio

June 19: Phil Kominski Trio

June 16: Jason Masi Trio

A trio of trios, as part of Clark's push to preserve the plaza as public space. Montgomery County planners are recommending a 290' tower be built on the space, and property owner Brookfield has proposed a building/park hybrid plan.

But are they going to give us free ice cream?

Celebrate spring on the Bethesda Metro Center plaza this Wednesday for Earth Day

Clark Enterprises is hosting a Spring Celebration for Earth Day this Wednesday, April 22, from 4:30-6:30 PM, on the plaza at Bethesda Metro Center. Food will be served, and activities will include games, music and prizes. All attendees will receive a free Earth Day gift.

The event is part of Clark's campaign to promote its vision for the plaza's future use. Brookfield Properties has its own plan, and holds development rights for the space. Clark has emphasized that its plan would create a larger green space, would not have the high-rise building Brookfield proposes, and would feature outdoor movies, live music, ping pong, a splash fountain, bocce ball and other activities. There would also be room for a retail or food vendor. Its park would be more visible from Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway, without Brookfield's proposed high-rise in the way, it argues.

Clark's headquarters is at the Bethesda Metro Center, in the Clark Building.