Crawford Tire Goodyear fenced off for demolition in Bethesda

Demolition is about to begin at the former Crawford Tire & Auto Goodyear at 7015 Arlington Road in Bethesda. The property has been fenced off by Berg, the demolition contractor. EuroMotorcars will be constructing a new Bethesda Audi dealership on the site.

Papyrus closing in Bethesda, Chevy Chase

More retail jobs are exiting moribund Montgomery County along with its wealthiest residents. With fewer rich people to write letters on upscale stationary, Papyrus is now closing both of its Montgomery County stores in the coming days. A closing sale is now underway at their Westfield Montgomery Mall and 5457 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase locations. Montgomery County has suffered a net loss of retail jobs since the turn of the century, according to the Maryland Retailers Association.

The Montgomery Mall store
is still well-stocked

20% off is not exactly
liquidation pricing

One of the most commonly-seen
signs across MoCo over the last decade

Pinnacle Pictures coming to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pinnacle Pictures is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall. A photography studio, Pinnacle currently has a location at Langley Park Plaza. Pinnacle will be located on Level 1 next to Haagen Dazs.

Montgomery County fumbles Eli Lilly factory to North Carolina

Indianapolis residents now know what it feels like to live in Montgomery County. Just as moribund MoCo can't get one of its few remaining major companies - Lockheed - to locate its manufacturing facilities here, neither could Indy get hometown pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to build its new manufacturing facility in the Hoosier capital. Lilly is looking south instead, choosing Durham County, North Carolina's booming Research Triangle Park.

"We continue to grow North Carolina into a worldwide hub for the biotechnology industry," a jubilant North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said in a statement Tuesday.

Biotech and hospitality are the only two economic sectors in Montgomery County that even have a pulse these days, thanks to decisions made by wiser County leaders prior to the Montgomery County political cartel's seizure of the County Council in 2002 (today, the cartel controls all nine Council seats). But just days after the Washington Post reported once again that Montgomery County has fallen behind Prince George's County in job creation (while failing to report MoCo was also behind every other county in the region over the last decade in that department), Montgomery County's elected officials weren't able to score the biggest biotech get of the year so far - the Eli Lilly factory.

Not only did the County Council and economic development officials make no public campaign to attract Lilly, but their fumble also emphasizes how our inept leaders are squandering the biotech advantages their smarter, less corrupt predecessors left them at the turn of the century. North Carolina is catching up, as is Virginia. As MoCo officials continue to drop balls left and right, those and other states will soon surpass us.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland correctly noted Tuesday that, "North Carolina is one of the nation’s leading centers for innovation in the life sciences." They also have two other things we don't: A friendly business climate, and superior infrastructure.

The Tar Heel state has the Research Triangle Park. Montgomery County was supposed to have a "Science City" in the I-270 corridor. Remember that?

Montgomery County elected officials couldn't even get that done. Of course, they never intended to. "Science City" was a total ruse perpetrated by the Council, and their developer sugar daddies, a decade ago. Sold to you as something like North Carolina's biotech park, that fakeout was merely a Trojan horse for more residential development.

Remember how Clarksburg, Germantown and Shady Grove were going to be booming job centers, with a Corridor Cities Transitway and expanded MARC service? None of that ever happened.

But - the housing all got built.

Jobs continued to divert to Northern Virginia, and I-270 just got more congested with all of the new housing approved by the Council without any new transportation infrastructure to support it. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Now, standing amidst the ashes of a "Science City" ghost town surrounded by stack-and-pack Soviet-style apartment blocs, the Council is saying the whole problem is...there wasn't enough housing built. LOL. [Insert cuckoo clock sound here].

You can't make this stuff up, folks.

What did we lose this week as a result?

462 new pharmaceutical manufacturing jobs, with an average salary above $72,000. 462 jobs are just a drop in the bucket given how stagnant and shrinking Montgomery County's economy is, but we're not in a position to pass any up in such a crisis. We should be, but are not, actively pursuing aerospace, biotech, and defense corporate headquarters, and their related research and manufacturing facilities.

North Carolina's Research Triangle Park's motto is, "Inspiring Bold Ideas."

The Montgomery County Council's is, "Lining our pockets with developer cash."

Our County's should be, "The Bedroom Community for the Booming Job Centers Elsewhere in Our Region."

Bethesda Bagels temporarily closed after fire at Bethesda Row

Bethesda Bagels at Bethesda Row will be closed for a few days after a fire in the store yesterday. Repairs and remediation in the duct system are required, according to the local bagel chain. The fire started in the store's exhaust system, they said. No injuries were reported. Stay tuned for a reopening date, which should be by the end of the week.

Friendship Heights construction update: Potbelly (Photos)

Things are moving slowly on the interior construction of Potbelly Sandwich Shop at 4459 Willard Avenue in the Village of Friendship Heights. I say this because the sign went up seven or eight weeks ago, and the inside is still not very far along.

Developer seeks extension for Battery Lane District plan review

Aldon Management is asking the Montgomery County Planning Board for an additional extension in the review of the preliminary plan for its Battery Lane District development in downtown Bethesda. Nancy Regelin, attorney for Aldon, says that the delay is needed to address two new issues with the plan, which is expected to dramatically transform Battery Lane over this decade.

Issue number one - the question of which side of Battery Lane to place a cycle track on - has now been answered by the County Department of Transportation, which has formally recommended it go on the south side of the street. Now MCDOT wants Aldon to resubmit the preliminary plan so that it can review all of the implications of placing it on the south side.

A second issue is stormwater exiting into the stormwater management pond by NIH. Regelin says the County has asked for an additional flood plain study for the relevant stormwater outlet there. This will require additional engineering study by Aldon, and further review by the County.

For these reasons, Aldon is asking to postpone the end of the preliminary plan review period to April 30, 2020. Planning staff is recommending approval of the extension. The extension request will be taken up by the Planning Board at its January 30, 2020 meeting.

Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition seeks hate crimes charges against HOC

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition has filed an official request with the office of Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy asking him to investigate hate crimes by the County Housing Opportunities Commission in the ongoing desecration of the Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda. "We are confident that the results of your investigation will result in criminal charges against HOC, [HOC Chair] Jackie Simon, [HOC Executive Director] Stacy Spann, and HOC’s entire Board of Directors," BACC President Marsha Coleman-Adebayo wrote in the letter, which was hand-delivered to McCarthy's Judicial Center office in Rockville.

BACC letter stamped "RECEIVED" by
MoCo State's Attorney's office

Grave markers in the Moses African Cemetery were bulldozed by at some point in the 1950s, after the property changed hands from the African-American fraternal organization that founded it. The graves themselves were then desecrated in the late 1960s by construction workers excavating for the Westwood Tower apartment building on Westbard Avenue.

According to witness accounts, initial remains discovered were illegally relocated and reburied in a different black cemetery near the Howard County line by the building's architect, indicating the builders knew full well they were disturbing a black cemetery. After that, bodies located in the footprint of the future building were illegally relocated into a nearby mass grave. Fill dirt was allegedly brought in and dumped atop the cemetery. Graves that were under the planned parking lot area were left in place, and the asphalt lot was placed on top of them.

"The desecration of Moses African Cemetery will be considered among the most egregious, callous, and racist in US history," Coleman-Adebayo wrote to McCarthy. " It is therefore incumbent upon you, as the chief law enforcement officer in Montgomery County, to protect Moses African Cemetery and to bring criminal charges against any and all of the parties who have knowingly participated in the desecration," the letter concludes.

Shooting range closes at Montgomery Mall, EJJI Ramen shuts down again

Aim Point, a shooting range that garnered some controversy after opening for the holiday season at Westfield Montgomery Mall, has closed. While the range utilized airsoft guns, gun control activists applied pressure to the mall to shut down the attraction. A source told me just before mid-December that the owner had been asked to vacate by Westfield as a result of the complaints, even though he had planned to be a long-term tenant. The range's space has been walled off with a photo of a burger and fries.

In other mall news, EJJI Ramen has closed again in the Dining Terrace. Their stall appeared to be cleaned out Saturday, although signage and the menu screens remained up, and the space hasn't been walled off. I say, "closed again," because EJJI Ramen also closed for a few days last August. The owners told me they had a "mechanical problem" at that time, and the ramen bar reopened a few days later. So this may not be the end - stay tuned.

Falling down on the job in Bethesda

One of the stop signs at the crosswalk by Veterans Park on Woodmont Avenue has taken a tumble. It was likely struck by a vehicle. This isn't the first time this has happened by any stretch. But take extra caution crossing here until the sign can be righted.

Friendship Heights Giant closes, clears out

Catastrophe

The biggest blow yet has fallen on the strip in Chevy Chase once referred to as "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive." Collection at Chevy Chase anchor tenant Giant has closed its store. The store has already been cleared out. This is a major hit to other tenants that remain, as Giant and Clyde's of Chevy Chase have been the only significant traffic drivers left at the struggling retail center.

Wisconsin Avenue storefronts once populated by the biggest luxury brands remain largely vacant at the property. A significant renovation to the public space areas at the center was completed, and new restaurant Little Beet Table recently opened. The Collection, and the area in general, have been hard hit by the moribund Montgomery County economy - which fell to rock bottom in the region, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarks - and the flight of the rich to lower-tax jurisdictions in our region.

First photos from the scene

Major shock

Massive blow for the area, and
a major loss of convenience and
price competition for residents

Not anymore

River Road bus stop tagged with graffiti

Graffiti appeared Wednesday morning on this bus shelter on River Road near Nevis Road in Bethesda. The meaning of "death insurance" is unclear, as is its possible affiliation with any of Montgomery County's gangs.

JBG Smith seeks to amend 7900 Wisconsin site plan

Developer JBG Smith is applying to Montgomery County to amend the site plan for its 7900 Wisconsin Avenue mixed-use project, which has been branded as 8001 Woodmont for marketing purposes. The company is seeking a reduction in unit and retail areas, modifications to the building's footprint and the locations of its doors, ability to reconfigure the bicycle storage room, a "modest reduction" in public use space, "minor" modifications to stormwater and landscaping elements, the addition of a wheelchair ramp, a "minor reconfiguration of program and circulation elements," garage floor additions, and minor changes in facade elements.

The number of residential units appears to have dropped from 450 apartments to 322, and the number of parking spaces from 445 to 340. Considering that the building is nearing its mid-2020 delivery, and the units are already built, a reduction in number would seem to suggest the units will now be larger in size. The application has been filed with the Montgomery County Planning Department, and will be reviewed by the Planning Board.

Surfside opening Tenleytown location

Surfside tacos are getting closer to Bethesda. The popular DC fast casual restaurant will be opening a Tenleytown location at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, according to parent company Georgetown Events. That space was previously home to Fire Lake Grill.

It's also part of the property that was once home to the classic Cineplex Odeon Tenley Circle Theater, where I saw a few films years ago. It closed in 1999, but fortunately has a second life as the Greenberg Theatre, thanks to American University.

Surfside will be opening very soon; stay tuned for an opening date. According to an email from Georgetown Events, they are currently hiring staff for all positions at the Tenleytown location. In addition to tacos, Surfside also offers other Mexican specialties ranging from tamales to quesadillas to even a pan-seared trout with vegetables and rice.

Georgetown Events also owns the very popular Jetties chain, which has a Bethesda location at Veterans Park at 4829 Fairmont Avenue.

WSSC replaces water pipes on Wisconsin Avenue at Leland St. (Video+Photos)

Some traffic lanes at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Leland Street were closed last evening in downtown Bethesda, as a WSSC crew worked below the roadway. The work was part of an ongoing project to replace water pipes. This current phase is concentrated on the area between Willow Lane and Chevy Chase Drive/Bradley Boulevard, including part of Hillandale Road southwest of there.