Planning Board Approves Wisconsin Avenue Apartment

Chevy Chase-based developer JBG on Thursday morning got preliminary approval of its plan for a 17-story, 475-unit apartment building at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, which would feature a pedestrian walk-thru that would connect Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues and include about 20,000-square-feet of retail.

JBG and New-York-based architect FX Fowle focused much of their presentation to the Montgomery County Planning Board on the walk-thru, which would provide a grassy area and public space underneath the building.

The ceiling of the building above would be built with reflective material. Architect Dan Kaplan told the Board the group imagines a unique public space with “kids looking up at themselves,” and special lighting used at night.

JBG attorney Steve Robins told the Board “the creativity of this project, the talent of JBG, FX Fowle, has impressed me quite a bit.”

Planning Staff got one e-mail about the project, from a group of residents at the nearby Fairmont Plaza condos concerned about construction issues. Planner Elza Hisel-McCoy said JBG will work with the group as the project moves toward construction.

JBG will required to pay a high school school facility payment required for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster. Planning Staff is also asking JBG to pay for “Bethesda Red” brick on a small section of Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk just south of the site that doesn’t have it. That will depend on whether the property owner grants JBG permission.

The project will now enter the site plan process.

Rendering via Montgomery County Planning Department

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up