New Downtown Bethesda Map Shows What Some Property Owners Are Thinking

Planning Department map shows what property owners have talked to planners during the Bethesda Downtown Plan process

A new map put together by county planners gives details about redevelopment goals of some downtown property owners.

The map shows which properties have been discussed by developer, property owners and planners working on the downtown Bethesda master plan.

In some cases, it goes into further detail than shown in a publicly available list of meetings planners have taken.

One example is the set of retail properties at 7121 Wisconsin Ave., just south south of the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market. Planners say property owner Bernstein Management wants to “construct a mixed use, predominately high rise multi-family residential, building on the site.”

The project would include the public parking lot behind the property — the same one Town of Chevy Chase officials hope will remain low density to act as a buffer zone between Bethesda and their community.

According to the map and an accompanying PDF of Bernstein Management’s potential project, that county parking lot would be moved underground to make way for the development:

The owner desires to incorporate the public parking lot into the project ultimately, by purchasing the parking lot’s air rights from the County, placing the public parking below grade, and building multi-family and townhouse residences on the current surface parking lot along with green areas and public use spaces. The owner also desires to create a “through block” connection from Wisconsin Avenue through the site to tie in the Farm Women’s Market and the Elm Street Park with compatible street level convenience retail shops.

In most other locations, the map provides much less detail.

At Union Hardware (7800 Wisconsin Ave.) planners say co-owner David Goldberg is “in discussion with others re coordinated development of the block,” for a “legacy arts center with open space.”

In June, Goldberg described the idea as a black box theater, dance studio, artist work space and pedestrian plaza under residential units. Major development company JBG has showed interest in the project.

Also revealed on the map are plans from the American Gastroenterological Association, which is “discussing room for possible expansion and or modernization” of its national headquarters at 4926 and 4930 Del Ray Ave. Those discussions, according to planners, have focused on provisions for more height and density on the site.

Via Montgomery County Planning Department

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