Closed Bethesda parking lot fenced off after security breach (Photos)

"That oughta keep 'em out." Montgomery County has stepped up efforts to secure the now-closed Public Parking Lot 43, after intruders simply drove through wooden sawhorses that were initially placed across the lot's two access driveways. Construction fencing has now been erected across the Woodmont Avenue side of the parking lot property, which should keep out anybody short of a T-1000 in an 18-wheeler. Montgomery County said goodbye to the lot so that it could be absorbed into the future site of the Artena Bethesda apartments, for which a groundbreaking is expected very soon.

Bethesda's Public Parking Lot 43 permanently closes (Photos)

It's the end of an era at Montgomery County's Public Parking Lot 43 at 8009 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The lot closed permanently yesterday. Those wood sawhorses probably wouldn't stop the Bluesmobile, and it appears Jake and Elwood already paid a visit, but should keep out the Priuses and Teslas of Bethesda. 

Lot 43 was at least spared the indignity of paid parking on Saturdays, which goes into effect July 8 in downtown Bethesda. The lot is part of several contiguous properties that are about to be redeveloped into the Artena Bethesda apartment tower. 

Bethesda Public Parking Lot 43 to permanently close next month

Is the long-delayed Artena Bethesda development finally going to get underway? We've seen the closure of the Saphire Cafe, a request for demolition permits for the cafe and tiki bar, and some minor vandalism on the property play out over the last 15 months. Now another sign: the Montgomery County-owned Public Parking Lot 43 will permanently close "on or about" June 9, 2023. Also part of the Artena site are the former Sir Walter Raleigh Inn/Bruce Variety building to the left of the parking lot, and the Golden Needle tailoring shop on Wisconsin Avenue. Not part of the site is Bethesda Chocolates.

BETHESDA BOMB SQUAD ROBOTS IN ACTION ON WOODMONT AVENUE (VIDEO)

Here is video of two Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services bomb unit robots during last night's police investigation of an apparent bomb scare in a Bethesda parking lot. As of early this morning, Montgomery County Police and MCFRS have not yet given many specific details on the incident, which took place at Public Parking Lot 43 on Woodmont Avenue. The investigation required a block of Woodmont to close between Cordell and St. Elmo Avenues. Police reopened the road after 11:00 PM, but police and fire public information Twitter accounts were silent on the matter Tuesday night.

Despite the large police presence and road closure, relatively few downtown seemed overly concerned. Patrons at Sapphire Cafe, directly adjacent to the investigation, continued their fantasy football drafts.