First project at Strathmore Square development tops out in Bethesda (Photos)

The first residential project at the future Strathmore Square development at the Grosvenor Metro station in Bethesda has topped out. When completed in early 2024, the buildings will hold 220 rental apartments and 9000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space. Amenities will include an outdoor pool deck, a state-of-the-art gym, a rejuvenating sauna, and a treatment room, along with additional common areas. Five Squares and WMATA are the developers of the project, Deborah Berke Partners is the architecture firm, and Whiting-Turner is the lead construction contractor.

WMATA reneging on Grosvenor Metro parking promise

In the latest example of developers refusing to eat their vegetables, and still getting their chocolate cake anyway, WMATA is now seeking to get out of providing all of the parking it promised to replace spaces lost to a new residential development on its Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station parking lot. Phase 1 of a two-phase garage expansion at the station is now underway. But that addition will replace just over 52% of the spaces eaten up by the new development.

WMATA is now proposing to cancel the Phase 2 garage expansion, which was to provide 194 parking spaces. The transit agency's reasoning is threefold: First, it continues to be strapped for cash and would like to save the cost of the Phase 2 project. Second, it claims many parking spaces are currently sitting empty at the White Flint and Twinbrook Metro stations, and suggests Grosvenor riders switch stations to one of those. Finally, it notes that the Phase 2 construction will greatly disrupt the Kiss and Ride area, and the Arts Walk.

A public hearing on the proposed changes has been scheduled for Monday, March 30, 2020, at 6:30 PM at the Mansion at Strathmore, located at 10701 Rockville Pike. The hearing will be preceded by an Open House at 6:00.

Montgomery County ending Rock Spring Express Bus on Friday

Fake-out resembles

false promises at Westbard

Montgomery County started a free Express Bus route between the Grosvenor Metro station and Rock Spring at taxpayer expense a few years ago, when officials were trying to deodorize their scheme to transform the office park area into more residential housing. Now with the plan passed by the Planning Board and County Council, and the developers having reaped their profits, guess what? The Express Bus will go "poof!" and disappear tomorrow, Friday, May 10, 2019.

Residents of the new housing at Rock Spring who thought they would continue to have this amenity that was advertised when they moved in? Get out your wallet, or get a good pair of walking shoes.

This resembles the false promises made during the Westbard sector plan process. A transit center was promised, only to be deleted later by the Council, saving the developer big bucks and providing more buildable space and bigger profits. Then the Council removed a requirement for the developer to provide a shuttle to the Friendship Heights Metro station, which is two miles from the planned Westbard redevelopment.

You've been had, folks.

Public meeting tonight on Grosvenor Metro minor master plan

Here's something that popped up on short notice during a holiday week: A kick-off meeting is being held tonight for the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station minor master plan process.

While the agenda refers to improving pedestrian conditions and connectivity, what's really going on here is that WMATA is seeking greater density for its development project at the Metro station. It cannot receive that density without this process, which has previously been referred to as a minor master plan amendment.

The meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 PM at the Strathmore Music Center, Comcast Lounge, at 5301 Tuckerman Lane.

Assault in Westmoreland Hills & at Grosvenor Metro; car stolen from Namakagan Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 30, according to crime data:

Drug arrest. Wisconsin Avenue at Chestnut Street.

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Cumberland Avenue (Somerset).

Vehicle burglary. 9400 block Holland Court.

Stolen car. 6000 block Namakagan Road.

Assault. Duvall Drive at Tournay Road (Westmoreland Hills).

Assault. Grosvenor Metro station.

Drug arrest. I-270 at Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

WMATA seeking more density than currently allowed for redevelopment of Grosvenor Metro site

Existing apartment towers adjacent
to Grosvenor Metro station

WMATA is asking Montgomery County for additional density beyond what the existing master plan allows for the redevelopment of a parking lot at the Grosvenor Metro station. In response, the Montgomery County Planning Department is initiating a minor master plan amendment process.

Since it is illegal to use that process for just one property, it will be interesting to see which additional properties nearby might be included in the scope of work for this amendment. In Aspen Hill, for example, small properties like gas stations were added to the amendment that rezoned the Vitro/BAE property.

Any added density will only increase the number of students that would enter Montgomery County Public Schools' Walter Johnson cluster in the coming years. Add in the WMAL site, Rock Spring, White Flint 2 and the recent supersizing of Pooks Hill, and...well, this could be pretty controversial among current and prospective Walter Johnson cluster parents.

The specific density increase - if any - that WMATA will receive will be determined through the amendment process. WMATA has been soliciting for a developer partner since the fall of 2013. A person who had examined the solicitation documents told me he estimated that their concept, under the existing density limits, would have allowed up to 600 units and building heights of 143-175'.

WMATA wants to redevelop
the surface parking lot in
the lower right quadrant of this
Google Maps satellite image.
Note forest preserve on
far right, and stormwater
facility at bottom right

Grosvenor Metro has many topographical issues that limit the developable space. An existing stormwater management facility on the site cannot be relocated underground without great expense. The 600 unit estimate above assumes WMATA would not be willing to pay for that relocation. There are also steep slopes, and a forest preserve area on the station property.

WMATA's 2013 plan included an underground parking garage beneath the new development, and the ability to extend part of the building out over the Kiss-and-Ride area at a height of 16 feet and 9 inches. Ingress and egress for residents would be via curb cuts on Tuckerman Lane.

Ground floor retail was also included in WMATA's plan, and parking provided would be less than one space per unit.

GROSVENOR-STRATHMORE IS MOST DANGEROUS METRO STATION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Is one of Bethesda's Metro stations really the most dangerous subway stop in Montgomery County?

According to transit agency WMATA's 2012 crime report, yes.

In 2012, the Grosvenor station was the scene of 34 "Part I" (serious) crimes. The specific crimes were not detailed in the report. Part I crimes can include assault, arson, burglary, homicide, larceny, auto theft, attempted auto theft, rape and robbery.

No arrests were made at the scene of these crimes, according to WMATA's report.

Grosvenor hardly comes to mind as a crime-ridden area.  And, in fact, a December 2012 crime report posted by WMATA lists no incidents at all for the Grosvenor stop. In contrast, the downtown Bethesda station had three minor incidents - 2 bicycle thefts, and an alcohol offense.

Yet Grosvenor was the only station in Montgomery County to make the Top 10 "Most Dangerous" stations in Maryland, in Metro's report.

It is also interesting to compare the Grosvenor crime stats to those of the Northern Virginia hot spot most oft-compared to Bethesda, Clarendon.

No Clarendon Metro stop even made the "Virginia's Most Dangerous List." The stations closest to Clarendon that did make the list were Ballston and Rosslyn. But even combined, both of those Arlington stations still had 14 fewer Part I crimes than Grosvenor. Most embarrassingly, Grosvenor had more Part I crimes than the "Most Dangerous" Metro station in Virginia, Franconia-Springfield, which had 32 to Grosvenor's 34.

According to Metro, your chance of being a victim of crime while in their subway system was about 6-in-a-million rides.

Do these crime statistics match your experience using the Grosvenor stop? Do you feel safe at the Grosvenor-Strathmore station?

I'm kind of surprised by this data, and welcome reader input on this topic in the comments below.