Bethesda construction update: TD Bank (Photos)

The tiny TD Bank continues to be assembled at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue. This was formerly the site of a Shell gas station, and a small office structure.

Doomed Shell station fenced off for demolition in Bethesda (Photos)

The Shell gas station that will be demolished to make way for a small TD Bank building was fenced off yesterday. While that is likely a step in the process toward the knockdown, it may also solve another problem that's developed since the police-style tape was removed around the perimeter of  the property. Confused drivers have been pulling into the station at Woodmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road, trying to fill up their tanks - before realizing they can't.

This remains a controversial project among smart growth advocates, due to the low-density bank proposal being inappropriate for a property steps away from a Metro station - and surrounded by high-rises in every direction.

Supposedly, the property owner is waiting it out. But waiting for what? The land is unlikely to be any more valuable than it is now, and the opportunity to seek greater height and density for the site through the Bethesda Downtown Plan has been completely squandered.

Meanwhile, expect gas prices to now rise in downtown Bethesda with one more station out of the market. Expecting to fill up downtown after a severe storm hits the area? Good luck finding a station that will have gas left. All of them ran out - including this one - during two weather events in recent years.

The final day of one of Bethesda's last gas stations (Photos)

The Shell gas station at Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue closed permanently yesterday. Roped off to vehicle traffic, it and the law office next door await final approval for demolition from Montgomery County. Inside the station's convenience store structure, empty cigarette racks await removal.

Both will be replaced by a small TD Bank building, with drive-thru facilities. As I reported ten days ago, the closure of this station leaves only 4 places to buy gas in downtown Bethesda. One of those, the Sunoco at Battery Lane and Wisconsin Avenue, is slated for redevelopment in the coming years, as well.

Demolition permit sought for one of downtown Bethesda's last gas stations

TD Bank has requested demolition permits for one of downtown Bethesda's last gas stations, the Shell at Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue. They're also seeking a demolition permit from Montgomery County for the adjacent house at 4804 Moorland Lane. That house is currently used as office space.

The bank is going to place a small bank structure on this extremely valuable piece of property steps from the Bethesda Metro station, hardly an example of smart growth or new urbanism.

Worst of all, the loss of this gas station will leave only 2 Liberty stations and the expensive Exxon at Old Georgetown Road and Auburn Avenue. To get a sense of the potential impact on public safety and transportation, consider that this Shell station alone sold out of gas during two different weather events in the last few years.

FIRST IMAGES OF TD BANK BUILDING TO REPLACE BETHESDA SHELL STATION (PHOTOS)

Attendees at a public meeting last night got the first look at the bank building proposed for the current Shell station at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda.

A small TD Bank branch, with automated drive-thru aisles, would take the place of both the Shell and a small Moorland Lane office structure.

A representative for the project said no blasting would be required, and that vehicular trips in-and-out of the bank would be fewer than the current gas station generates. The branch will be open 7-days-a-week.

Entrances and exits will be on the Moorland and Woodmont sides of the property. The project would also improve the streetscape with landscaping, lighting and brick sidewalk pavers, to replace the existing white concrete. Curb cuts on the Old Georgetown side would be closed permanently.

There will be 9 customer parking spaces behind the building, and the bank will sport a green roof. Environmental remediation will be conducted, along with removal of the site's underground fuel tanks.

The project plan is expected to be filed this summer.

It was said that the site is designated for small scale use. Considering the proximity of the site to Metro, and to tall buildings, that is surprising to hear.

There are 4 potential issues here:

1. Density is low for a site within throwing distance of a subway station. The representative said the site is too small for a building. But, the fact is, 3 other Bethesda gas stations are jamming buildings onto their sites in the next 12-24 months. Punting on low density here shifts the population burden to non-urban areas like Westbard, Sangamore, Long Branch and Woodley Gardens. That makes little planning sense.

2. This is an automobile-oriented project in what we're told is a walkable community. If we were going to be contradictory to the county's stated development goals, why not have something of use to a greater number of residents like a drive-thru Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, etc.?

3. This site will be dead at night, even in contrast to the activity currently generated by the Shell station after dark. The Metropolitan is already a Berlin Wall. Lionsgate is dead on the first floor at night. So, this bank would essentially seal the fate of this intersection as a dead zone for pedestrians at night. Again, this contradicts everything the county has told us about "smart" growth.

4. We're running out of gas stations, even as the number of cars and people increases. With Sunoco closing in the future, we'll be down to 3 gas stations. Aside from sure gas shortages during weather events, can you imagine what the prices will be at those gas stations?

Renderings: Core/Bohler. All Rights Reserved.

BANK BUILDING PROPOSED FOR BETHESDA SHELL STATION PROPERTY AT 7628 OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD

An update on my earlier story about the mysterious Shell gas station redevelopment project at 7628 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda.

Jeff Bucaro, of property owner Petroleum Marketing Group, told me earlier that the proposed project is a bank building.

Of course, that would be unusual, as A) loss of this gas station will leave us with only 2 downtown, and B) the property is right by the Bethesda Metro station, which would allow much higher density than a bank.

But we'll know more details after the public meeting next Thursday, July 11.

Also, this project sounds similar to the bank planned for the old "last gas" BP station on Wisconsin Avenue.

SHELL GAS STATION AT 7628 OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD TO BE REDEVELOPED (PHOTOS)

Downtown Bethesda will soon have only 2 gas stations left, if a redevelopment proposal at 7628 Old Georgetown Road demolishes the Shell station on that site.

A public meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2013, at 7:00 PM, at the BCC Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Room D). Attorney Chris Ruhlen of Lerch, Early and Brewer will ostensibly reveal the mystery project at that time.

Unlike the Wisconsin Avenue gas station project I told you about yesterday, this one offers no details so far. Is it the likely scenario of mixed-use redevelopment? Or could it be a new service station or other commercial retail use?

Owner Petroleum Marketing Group has not returned a message as of press time this morning. 

The one factor that would suggest it would not simply be a new gas station, is that PMG purchased the property in 2006. If that was all they intended - to improve the gas station - it likely would have happened by now. On the other hand, PMG is rapidly expanding, and actively soliciting property owners who want to sell existing stations, or land suiting for building stations.

As one of the largest gas "jobbers" in the region, it's unclear how selling or redeveloping the site fits PMG's stated business plan, other than as a sidebar revenue generator.

Stay tuned for more, but, suffice it to say, something is planned for this site at Old Georgetown and Woodmont Avenue.