GALLERY BETHESDA APARTMENTS WINS PACE AWARD

The Gallery Bethesda luxury apartment tower continues to be a magnet for industry awards in downtown Bethesda. Yesterday, the building's management announced the Property Management Association's annual PACE Awards has recognized Gallery as the top building for Lease Up in Maryland. Open since January, the Donohoe-developed property is currently 80% leased and rising.

In a statement, PMA Executive Vice President Thomas B. Cohn said, “PACE recognizes exceptional apartments and identifies communities that are passionate about providing exceptional resident services and delivering unparalleled living experiences.  PACE not only celebrates excellence in the management of apartment communities, it also fills a void. PACE is the only awards program in the national capital region that evaluates apartment communities on their operating efficiencies and ability to deliver world-class customer service. Unlike many apartment award programs in other parts of the nation, PACE is not a beauty contest or a program to honor as many communities as possible. Instead, PACE looks to recognize truly extraordinary properties that are the best of the best.”

JBG RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Friendship Heights-based development firm The JBG Companies has been recognized for contributions of volunteer effort, and affordable housing, by Montgomery County organizations.

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center awarded JBG the 2014 Montgomery Serves Award, given annually to 4 winners who engage in extraordinary community service and volunteerism. During the 2013 Days of Giving effort, over 400 JBG employees volunteered over 1600 hours of time with 10 charities. Habitat for Humanity and A Wider Circle were among the organizations benefitted by the JBG efforts.

Andrea Kempner-Wink of the MCVC said that JBG's volunteer mobilization in 2013 placed the firm at "the top position" among businesses and organizations countywide.

JBG was also named 2014 Builder of the Year by the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County, for its commitment to increasing affordable housing in the area. AHCMC also commended JBG's volunteer efforts.

Among JBG's projects in downtown Bethesda are 7770 Norfolk, and projects on the boards near Fairmont Plaza and Bethesda Row.

Here are some actions scenes from earlier this week at 7770 Norfolk, some concrete pours at the future 17-story luxury apartment tower: