More Development Proposed For Woodmont Triangle

The Lenkin Company office building, part of the  The Lenkin Company office building, part of the

Just as one large construction project is winding down, businesses on Fairmont Avenue have yet another redevelopment proposal to brace for.

The Lenkin Company, the Washington area developer that owns and has its corporate offices at 4922 St. Elmo Ave., will reveal plans for a multi-family residential and non-residential development on the site, which includes frontage to Fairmont Avenue.

The property is directly south of the recently completed Bainbridge Bethesda, a 17-story apartment building that led to the forced eviction of the Fresh Grill restaurant, Dansez! Dansez! dance studio, Red Tomato Cafe and BCC Automotive next door. The property owner won a $3.2 million settlement from the developer and contractors for structural damage to the Fairmont Avenue buildings caused by apartment foundation work.

Business owners on the street, which at times earlier this year saw both sidewalks closed off because of opposite construction projects, have complained about the effect the almost constant construction work has had on their customer bases.

Developer JBG is building its 17-story, 250-unit 7770 Norfolk Ave apartment building on the northeast corner of Fairmont Avenue. A 17-story, 70-unit luxury condo building from developer Starr Capital is in the pipeline for the other end of the street, at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road.

Last week, Greenhill Capital, the owner of the set of buildings it claims was damaged by the Bainbridge construction, revealed plans to retrofit those structures and build a one-story commercial addition to attract new tenants.

Now, there appears to be a fourth major project in the works. Attorney Steve Robins, from Bethesda firm Lerch, Early & Brewer, will be part of the group presenting The Lenkin Company’s proposal on Monday, August 11.

The required pre-submittal community meeting for the developer’s sketch plan is set for 7 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane).

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