Menorah display stolen outside CVS Pharmacy at Cabin John Village

The Chanukah portion of the outdoor holiday decor at CVS Pharmacy at 7955 Tuckerman Lane at Cabin John Village in Potomac was stolen sometime between Saturday night, November 18, 2023 and Sunday morning, November 19. A reader forwarded these before-and-after photos, which show the inflatable menorah gone on Sunday. The Christmas-themed inflatables remained untouched. A torah scroll holder was recently ripped off of a resident's door in the Congressional Plaza area of Rockville. Like this area of Potomac on the border with Rockville, that is also a community with a large Jewish population.

Artena Bethesda developer acquires adjacent 8008 Wisconsin property from Toll Brothers

Newly-acquired 8008 Wisconsin property is
outlined in red; total land area now 
controlled by Aksoylu Properties is
designated in blue

Toll Brothers has made no public announcement as of this morning, but the homebuilding giant has sold its 8008 Wisconsin Avenue property to Aksoylu Properties, the real estate firm that owns the adjacent 8000 Wisconsin lot in downtown Bethesda. Aksoylu has been gearing up to break ground on its long-delayed Artena Bethesda project on that assembled site. Now it also has control of the property next door, which is about half the size of the 8000 Wisconsin lot. Alas, it would be very expensive at this late stage to throw out its approved Artena preliminary, sketch and site plans to reimagine the Artena as a much larger development.

Of course, that cost might be offset by both the additional residential and retail units that would come with a larger project, along with the massive savings of being able to excavate and construct on both lots using the same contractors at the same time. Aksoylu also has the option of going forward with the Artena, and using the newly-acquired 8008 land as a staging area for construction. The sale closed October 31, 2023, according to state real estate records. Aksoylu paid Toll Brothers $9,125,000 for the property.

WSSC project to impact street parking on part of Cordell Avenue in Bethesda this week

A WSSC water utility project will impact street parking on part of Cordell Avenue in Bethesda this week. Parking spaces in the vicinity of 4886 Cordell, in front of Zuma by Chef Ninja, will be blocked off for part of two days. There will be no parking from 7:00 AM on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 through 5:00 PM on November 22.

Holiday festivities get underway at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

The holiday shopping season is officially underway at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Live performances, celebrity guests and holiday sale offers greeted shoppers at the popular retail center yesterday, as mall owner Westfield held a special holiday launch event six days before Black Friday. The Jingle Lounge is now open, with special beverages and a place to relax between stores, or while you're waiting for someone else to finish shopping. A special wine bar at the lounge hosted by Windridge Vineyards will be open again today, November 19, 2023.  

The Jingle Lounge

One of Santa's elves
caught on camera

Abe Lincoln from the
Racing Presidents of the
Washington Nationals

In this age of high crime, you can
trust Honest Abe to carry your
shopping bags to the car

He always was a little more cautious
after Fort Stevens...

Wine bar today only!

Paint update for Woodmont Crescent building in Bethesda (Photos)

The Woodmont Crescent building at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues in Bethesda is being renovated and remodeled, in an effort to attract new tenants to its vacant retail spaces. One step currently underway is a fresh paint job. Among the tenants to depart in recent years have been The Blue House, Random Harvest and Bethesda Magazine (now MoCo360). 

The building's ownership is repositioning the property as a potential destination for at least one new restaurant on the ground floor. In the long term, one could easily imagine this lot being assembled with the Montgomery County public parking garage next door for a major redevelopment some day. But as the investments now being made to update the property make clear, that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Westbard Avenue access restored from River Road/Brookside Drive intersection in Bethesda (Photos)

The realigned segment of Westbard Avenue was reopened to automobile traffic at the intersection of River Road and Brookside Drive in Bethesda yesterday. Formerly the lowest block of Ridgefield Road, the heavily-traveled artery had been closed since early summer 2022. Drivers can once again reach the Westwood Shopping Center and other businesses on Westbard Avenue from River Road without detouring a roundabout way. Still barricaded is the new segment of Westbard between what is being called Brookside Drive and Ridgefield Road. That portion of the new street grid will open to the public on December 1, 2023.

New traffic signals now activated

Westbard Avenue looking toward its
intersection with Ridgefield Road - this
segment will open to the public on December 1

Wyrd Ryds opening downtown Bethesda location

Wyrd Ryds is moving into the vacant space at 4825 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The electric scooter and e-bike sales and service company has an existing location at Old Town Center in Ashburn, Virginia. This new Bethesda showroom will, coincidentally, be right next door to Bethesda Scooters and Boards - and in Bethesda Scooters and Boards original storefront. Sign installers are working at the space today, and have applied hours and social media account information to the windows. We have to assume the storefront's most recent tenant, Psychic of Bethesda, foresaw all of this happening.

Choice Hotels signage installed at 915 Meeting Street at Pike & Rose (Photos)

The glowing logo of hospitality giant Choice Hotels is now shining from atop the new office tower nearing completion at Pike & Rose, at 915 Meeting Street along Rockville Pike. Choice will be relocating its corporate headquarters down the Pike from its current location by the Rockville Metro station. 

915 Meeting Street is on-schedule for a Q4 2023 delivery at the Federal Realty development. Another Montgomery County corporate headquarters in Gaithersburg, Sodexho, has also been lured to the new 266,000-square-foot trophy office tower. Choice represents many brands familiar to travelers, from Quality Inn and Radisson to Cambria Suites and EconoLodge.

Intersection of realigned Westbard Avenue & River Road to reopen Friday in Bethesda

The intersection of the new, realigned Westbard Avenue, River Road and Brookside Drive is now scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic tomorrow, Friday, November 17, 2023. It is expected to reopen at or before 4:00 PM, to be coordinated with activation of the new traffic signals. The other part of the road grid that has been closed since summer 2022 - Ridgefield Road at Westbard Avenue - will reopen to traffic on December 1, 2023. The staggered reopening is designed to allow drivers to adjust to the new street grid without cutting through the adjacent neighborhood, Westbard Square developer Regency Centers said this morning.

Westbard Square bus shelter installed in Bethesda (Photos)

The Montgomery County Council may have deleted the transit center from the Westbard sector plan in 2016, but it turns out those arriving and departing the future Westbard Square development at 5400 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda by bus will still have a roof over their heads. A bus shelter has been installed on Westbard right in front of the new Giant building. I notice that a sign has also been installed on the building behind it, indicating the pedestrian access to the parking garage. This is where the Route 23 Ride On bus will stop, once service to Westbard Avenue is restored.

Is your home or business eligible for a Montgomery County security camera rebate?

Montgomery County has launched a new security camera rebate program for residents and businesses in select "priority areas" of the county, to combat the ongoing spike in crime. If your home is within one of these priority areas, you can receive a rebate on a security camera purchase of up to $250. So, if the camera is $250 or less, it will be free, minus installation or other costs beyond the camera itself. For businesses and non-profit organizations, the rebate tops out at $1250. 

The camera must meet certain standards set by the Montgomery County Police Department, and you must keep footage taken by the camera for at least 7 days. See all the requirements and fine print at the security camera program website.

You can check if your address is within a priority area using the Montgomery County police GIS map for the program. Among the priority areas are the Westbard commercial district, part of the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda, parts of Rockville and Derwood near MD 355, large portions of Gaithersburg and Germantown, commercial areas of Olney and Damascus, and downtown Silver Spring. 

“Today we implemented our Private Security Camera Incentive Program, created to protect Montgomery County businesses and residents in areas experiencing relatively high incidences of crime,” County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz said in a statement. “Last year, my Council colleagues and I passed Bill 14-22, an opt-in program that lets businesses and individuals apply to receive a voucher or rebate to offset the cost of a security camera on their property. We are currently facing heightened security issues in every aspect of our daily lives. This program is even more important today than it was when it was passed a year ago. We look forward to working with MCPD to provide additional support to our businesses and residents with the greatest need.” 

Westbard Montgomery County Liquor store to close December 9

The Montgomery County Liquor store at 5432 Westbard Avenue in the Westwood Shopping Center will close on December 9, 2023. A 15%-off closing sale is now underway at the store. Montgomery County government's Alcohol Beverage Services will open an Oak Barrel & Vine liquor store in the new Westbard Square development to replace this store. Oak Barrel & Vine is scheduled to open there in early 2024. In the meantime, the closest County liquor store is at 4920 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda.

Residents to hold silent protest vigil on Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda on November 16

Residents from 18 communities around Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda and Chevy Chase will participate in a silent vigil on the closed lanes of the road the morning and evening of Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The vigil is being held to protest Montgomery Parks' plan to permanently reduce the parkway to one lane in each direction. There is currently a temporary road diet in place between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue, which would become permanent under the park department's plan. The Neighborhood Coalition, which represents more than 20,000 residents surrounding the parkway, is asking Montgomery County to restore the road to four lanes between Hillandale Road and Dorset Avenue with the existing 17' grass median.

The proposed permanent 2-lane road diet was opposed by 71% of speakers who testified at a Montgomery County Planning Board hearing on March 30, 2023. Over 5000 residents signed a petition opposing the road diet.

Despite the overwhelming community opposition, the Board voted to approve the plan, a vote that was illegal because the commissioners did not receive the required approval of the National Capital Planning Commission. Any changes to the parkway's use, design or configuration must be approved by the NCPC, under the Capper-Cramton Act of 1930. Such approval also requires the NCPC to hold a public hearing, at which residents would be allowed to testify for or against whatever is proposed. 

In July, it came to light that Montgomery Parks was seeking to win an award from a non-profit organization for the road diet, and had submitted an application riddled with false statements. A decision in a lawsuit filed by residents over the road diet is also pending.

After public outcry over the steamroller tactics by Montgomery Parks and the Planning Board - the latter's staff recommended approval of the road diet without reviewing the testimony and exhibits submitted by residents less than 24 hours earlier - the Montgomery County Council pretended to block the plan, but did not require Parks to remove the temporary road diet. Now a Council committee is slated to vote on two different versions of the road diet plan November 27. 

Crescent at Chevy Chase construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the latest progress at the Crescent at Chevy Chase luxury apartments at 3929 Landmark Court, off of Connecticut Avenue at Chevy Chase Lake. The two buildings will officially open to their first residents on January 1, 2024, marking a new year at the new urban center, which is rapidly becoming populated next to the future Purple Line station there. Among the features and amenties you see rounding into shape in these photos are the rooftop deck (featuring Wi-Fi, resort hotel-style seating with a view, and an outdoor TV), a model unit kitchen, the Fitness Center (with indoor and outdoor exercise facilities, cardio, weights, an Echelon mirror, and group classes with your new neighbors), the "backyard" area, and the lobby.

The developer of the Crescent is Landmark Realty, a local firm owned and operated by the Bindeman family since 1962. Rob Bindeman is the current president. Eichberg Construction is the construction contractor. The development has been in the works since 2010, and broke ground in 2021. The Purple Line is scheduled to begin operation in 2027, but already operating across the street are an Amazon Fresh grocery store, a CVS Pharmacy, ice cream parlor The Charmery, craft beer and wine shop Uncorked, Stretchlab, and Truist Bank. For information about leasing or to schedule a tour, call 301-652-7077 or email Leasing@CrescentatChevyChase.com. You can also view pricing and floorplans at the official Crescent at Chevy Chase website.

Photos courtesy Landmark Realty

Perfume World opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

If you're seeking a special fragrance for that special someone on your holiday shopping list this year, you are likely to find it at Perfume World. The scentsational boutique is opening a new location at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Perfume World has two existing Maryland locations, one at The Centre at Salisbury, and another at Security Square Mall near Baltimore. The Salisbury location has a high 4.5 stars out of 5 rating on Google reviews, so expectations will be high for the new Bethesda shop. When it opens, follow your nose to Perfume World on Level 2 of the mall, next to Beauty Boss.

North Star Christmas Trees gets set for 53rd Christmas season in Chevy Chase

After Thanksgiving dinner, shopping for the Christmas tree is among the Black Friday weekend activities for many. North Star Christmas Trees has been a popular choice for over half a century; this will be North Star's 53rd year in the business. They'll be returning to their spot of recent years at 2550 East-West Highway Service Road at Grubb Road in Chevy Chase. You may recall them being on the "Green Mile" along Wisconsin Avenue in the past, but they've found this Chevy Chase location is the sweet spot to draw customers from both Bethesda and the greater downtown Silver Spring areas. 

North Star will open the day after Thanksgiving. Hours will be Monday-Friday 12:00pm - 9:30pm; Saturday/Sunday 10:00am-9:30pm; and Christmas Eve 10:00am-3:00pm.