Bethesda's Building Boom: A detailed list of development activity in downtown Bethesda

Photo credit: BethesdaNow.com 

UPDATED 02/06/15

Since the delivery of a few projects between 2008-2009 (in the midst of the recent recession) there had been no new residential or commercial development projects completed in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. That changed just two weeks ago with the opening of the 17-story Gallery Bethesda apartment building in the Woodmont Triangle district. The Gallery is just the first in a slew of new high-density development projects to be constructed over the next few years in downtown Bethesda.

The vast majority of these projects  are residential in nature, with over 3,000 new apartment and condo units in the pipeline. However, a hotel is also in the works, and even a few office buildings, one of which is already under construction--a rarity in Montgomery County these days and Bethesda's first in over a decade. Nearly all of the projects in the pipeline are within walking distance of the Bethesda Metro station and/or the future Purple Line light rail station promoting transit usage.

THE FACTS
Coming to downtown Bethesda over the next several years:
- 30 projects
...including...
- 16 residential mid/high-rise apartment buildings
- 6 residential mid/high-rise condo buildings
- 5 office buildings 
- 2 hotels
- 1 police station
...containing...
- 4,003 residential units 
- 1,022,000 sq. ft. of office space
- 244,680 sq. ft. of retail space
- 452 hotel rooms

Here's a detailed list of all of the medium/high-density development projects going up around downtown Bethesda along with their current statuses (Remember to click on the photos to enlarge):

RESIDENTIAL (Rental)

8300 Wisconsin Ave
Rendering Credit: WDG

8300 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: StonebridgeCarras

Height: 9 stories

Details: 360 residential apartment units and 55,000 sq. ft. Harris Teeter grocery store

Status: Under Construction. Delivery expected Q3 2015

Glen Aldon Apts (proposed)

Glen Aldon Apartments
Location: 4857, 4858, 4890, and 4900 Battery Ln
Developer: Aldon Management

Height: 5-11 stories/~65-110 ft.

Details: 692 residential apartment units divided among three buildings--2 mid-rise and 1 high-rise--to be constructed in phases, replacing 260 units in four existing residential buildings constructed in the 1950's and 1960's 

Status: Zoning change approved (Fall 2012). However, site plans and building permits will still need to be filed and approved, which will take about two years. As of now owners have no immediate plans to redevelop

8008 Wisconsin Ave

8008 Wisconsin Ave
Developer: Douglas Development

Height: 14 stories

Details: 130-unit residential apartment building with 4,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: In planning stages. Groundbreaking expected in 2016

Gallery Bethesda (left) and 4850 Rugby (right)

Rendering Credit: Donohoe

Gallery Bethesda
Location: 4800 Auburn Ave

Developer: Donohoe Development

Height: 17 stories

Details: 235 residential apartment units and 4,660 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Delivered (Jan 2014)

4850 Rugby

Location: 4850 Rugby Ave

Developer: Donohoe Development

Height: 16 stories

Details: 221 residential apartment units and 14,520 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Site plan approved. Existing building demolished Q4 2013. New building currently in permitting process. Groundbreaking date unknown

7900 Wisconsin Ave

Rendering Credit: JBG

7900 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: JBG Companies

Height: 17 stories

Details: 475 residential apartment units and 20,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Site plan approved (June 2013). Groundbreaking expected summer 2015

Bainbridge Bethesda

Rendering Credit: SK+I Architecture

Bainbridge Bethesda
Location: 4918 Saint Elmo Ave

Developer: Bainbridge

Height: 17 stories/174 ft.

Details: 200 residential apartment units and 7,200 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Delivered (Sept 2014). 

     

7770 Norfolk Ave

Rendering Credit: CIM/JBG/FXFOWLE

7770 Norfolk Ave

Developer: JBG Companies/CIM

Height: 17 stories

Details: 236 residential apartment units and 6,500 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail. Originally called 4900 Fairmont Ave, address was changed to avoid confusion with nearby condo project, 4990 Fairmont Ave

Status: Under Construction. Delivery scheduled for mid-2015

Bethesda Commerce

Rendering Credit: Kettler

Bethesda Commerce

Location: 7535 Old Georgetown Rd

Developer: Kettler

Height: 15 stories/143 ft.

Details: 120 residential apartment units and 5,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status:  Under construction

8011 Old Georgetown Rd

Developer: Unknown

Height: ~7-9 stories/94 ft.

Details: Current site of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. Originally planned as 170-unit apartment building and 228,000 community center

Status: In planning stages. Project was recently revived in Sept 2013 after 4 year hiatus. Groundbreaking date unknown

7340 Wisconsin Ave
Rendering Credit: Bainbridge

7340 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: Bainbridge

Height: 14 stories/143 ft

Details: 225 residential apartment units with 10,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Site was the location of an Exxon gas station which was demolished years ago but had sat neglected since because of a legal dispute. Bainbridge purchased the site at auction in fall 2012 

Status: Site plan approved (Sept 2014). Groundbreaking likely by end of 2015

4831 West Ln/Holladay at Edgemoor
Rendering Credit: SK+I

4831 West Ln/Holladay at Edgemoor

Developer: SJG Properties

Height: 7 stories/70 ft.

Details: 118,000 sq. ft. residential apartment building with 120 dwelling units

Status: Site plan approved (Sept 2014). Groundbreaking likely by the end of 2015

The Flats at 8300
Rendering Credit: SK+I

Lot 31: The Flats at 8300

Location: SW Corner of Bethesda & Woodmont Avenues

Developer: StonebridgeCarras/PN Hoffman

Height: 5-7 stories/54 ft.

Details: 162 residential apartment units part of the Lot 31 public-private development which includes 40,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a massive, 1,200-space  underground parking garage (with 940 spaces reserved for the public)

Status: Under Construction. Delivery expected winter 2015-2016

Solaire Bethesda

Solaire Bethesda
Rendering Credit: WPC

Developer: Washington Property Company

Height: 12 stories/120 ft

Details: 139 residential apartment units and 6,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Under construction. Delivery expected June 2016

Woodmont East: Residential

Location: 4800 Elm Street

Developer: Federal Realty Investment Trust

Height: ~14 stories/143 ft. 

Details: 210 residential unit building part of Phase I of the Woodmont East development 

Status: On hold indefinitely

Dwell Bethesda

Dwell Bethesda

Location: 7001 Arlington Rd

Developer: Keating

Height: 5 stories

Details: 145 residential apartment units with 7,000 sq.ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Under Construction. Delivery expected 2015 

St. Elmo Apartments
Sketch credit: DMS Architects

St. Elmo Apartments

Location: 4925 Fairmont Ave

Developer: Lenkin Company

Height: 16 stories

Details: 210-unit residential apartment building with 15,500 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and second-floor office space

Status: In planning stages. Delivery expected 2015 

RESIDENTIAL (Condo)

Stonehall
Rendering credit: Duball LLC

Stonehall

Location: NW corner of Battery Ln and Woodmont Ave
Developer: Duball
Height: 9 stories/90 ft

Details: 46 residential condo units

Status: Site plan approved. Construction expected to commence early 2015

4990 Fairmont Ave
Rendering Credit: Starr Capital

4990 Fairmont Ave

Developer: Duball LLC Starr Capital

Height: 17 stories

Details: 70-unit residential condo building with 7,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail to be built on the site of former BP gas station and small office building

Status: Site plan approved (April 2014). Project purchased by Duball LLC in Jan 2015. Groundbreaking now scheduled for 2016

4825 Montgomery Ln
Rendering Credit: SJG

4825 Montgomery Lane

Developer: SJG Properties

Height: 5 stories

Details: 4-unit "ultra-luxury" residential condo building with private garages and direct access elevators

Status: Under Construction

The Lauren Residences

The Lauren Residences

Location: 4901 Hampden Ln

Developer: Ronald D. Paul Companies/1788 Holdings

Height: 7 stories/70 ft.

Details: 25 "ultra-luxury" residential condo units with direct-access elevators and private rooftop terraces with prices starting at “the several millions”

Status: Under construction. Delivery expected "early 2016"

Hampden Row

Hampden Row

Developer: Toll Brothers City Living

Height: 7 stories/70 ft.

Details: 60 residential condo units

Status: Site plan approved. Permit applications submitted Dec 2013. Groundbreaking later this year

The Darcy
Rendering Credit: SK+I

Lot 31: The Darcy

Location:  SE Corner of Bethesda & Woodmont Avenues

Developer: StonebridgeCarras/PN Hoffman

Height: 9 stories/90 ft.

Details: 88 residential condo units part of the Lot 31 public-private development which includes 40,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a massive, 1,200-space  underground parking garage 

Status: Under Construction. Delivery expected winter 2015-2016

OFFICE

8280 Wisconsin Ave
Rendering Credit: Donohoe

8280 Wisconsin Ave
Developer: Donohoe Development

Height: 6 stories

Details: 90,000 sq. ft. Class A office building with 10,500 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail replacing existing Sunoco gas station

Status: Project cancelled. The developer has opted to propose a 200 ft./20-story residential apartment building on the site instead as part of the current Downtown Bethesda sector plan rewrite

Bethesda Center: Westin Bethesda (L) and 7750 Wisconsin Ave (R)
Rendering Credit: Bernstein Companies

Bethesda Center: 7750 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: Bernstein Companies

Height: 11 stories/143 ft.

Details: 253,000 sq. ft. of Class A trophy office space with 13,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail

Status: Site plan approved (2013). Originally scheduled to deliver in 2016, construction is highly unlikely to commence without a major tenant signing a lease, which may take years in the current market

4500 East-West Hwy
Rendering Credit: Clark Construction

4500 East-West Hwy

Developer: Carr Properties

Height: 9 stories/98 ft.

Details: 223,000 sq. ft. speculative commercial Class A office building with 13,300 sq.ft. of retail space including new McDonald' fast-food restaurant (which replaces the previously existing location demolished for the project)

Status: Delivered (Sept 2014)

7300 Pearl St

Bethesda Crossing/Air Rights Center: 7300 Pearl St

Location: Donohoe

Developer: MRP Realty/Rockpoint Group Inc.

Height: 9 stories/97 ft.

Details: 150,000 sq. ft. Class A office tower originally proposed by Donohoe as an addition to the massive Air Rights Center complex

Status: Site plan approved (Dec 2010). The current owners have been focused on renovating and rebranding the existing office space, and with the weak office market are very unlikely to break ground anytime soon on this project

Woodmont East: Office

Location: 4733-4735 Bethesda Avenue

Developer: JBG Companies

Height: 14 stories/143 ft.

Details: 242,000 sq. ft. of office space with 13,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and restaurant space replacing existing office building

Status: In early planning stages. Groundbreaking likely a long ways off (a decade or so)

HOTEL

Bethesda Center: Westin Bethesda (L) and 7750 Wisconsin Ave (R)
Rendering Credit: Bernstein

Bethesda Center: Westin Bethesda 

Location: 7740 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: Bernstein Companies

Height: 13 stories/143 ft.
Details: 222 room Westin hotel, replacing the existing Golden Tulip Bethesda Court Hotel

Status: Site plan approved (2013).Groundbreaking originally scheduled for 2013 with 2015 delivery. Construction could begin in 2015, ahead of its sister office building (7750 Wisconsin Ave)

Woodmont East Hotel
Rendering Credit: JBG

Woodmont East: Hotel

Location: immediately south and west of 7200 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: JBG Companies

Height: 15-16 stories/143 ft.

Details: 230-room, 183,000 sq. ft. hotel part of Phase II of the Woodmont East development

Status: Project cancelled. Site will be used by new office building (see: Woodmont East: Office)

OTHER PROJECTS

Apex Building

Location: 7272 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: ?

Height: 250 ft

Details: Possible redevelopment of existing 4-story Apex office building currently owned and occupied by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in relation to the construction of a Purple Line light rail station underneath. If built to the maximum height, it would be among the tallest buildings in downtown Bethesda (behind only the twin Chevy Chase Bank towers)

Status: Project cancelled. Financial incentive to encourage redevelopment on the site was deemed too expensive by county council. The site is likely to keep its 250 ft height zoning however

7359 Wisconsin Ave
Rendering Credit: FXFOWLE

7359 Wisconsin Ave

Developer: StonebridgeCarras

Height: 143 ft. (?)

Details: Current site of Bethesda's 2nd District police station. WIll be redeveloped after relocation of the police station to Woodmont Triangle (see: Montgomery County 2nd District Police Station below). Originally to be redeveloped by JBG as a 320,000 sq. ft. office building, the new project will most likely be residential 

Status: In early planning phases. Groundbreaking unlikely to occur within the next 3-4 years

Montgomery County 2nd District Police Station

Location: 4823 Rugby Avenue
Developer: StonebridgeCarras

Height: ?

Details: Site was originally slated to be redeveloped as a 3-story, 17,238 sq. ft. office building with ground-level retail, the existing private parking lot will now be the future location of a new 2nd District Police Station

Status: In planning stages.Site selected Sept 2013. Design work to commence early 2014 with project completion by 2015 at the earliest

As you can see, the Bethesda skyline will soon be dotted with (more) tower cranes. Bethesda is not the only area the Washington D.C. Metro Area in the midst of a building boom. Many other neighborhoods in D.C. itself, as well as those in surrounding urban (and suburban) communities are seeing their own waves of high-density redevelopment, especially those inside the Beltway. In the near future I will be posting neighborhood profiles of the many burgeoning urban hubs located the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area (including downtown Bethesda).

For more info on these and other projects in Montgomery County be sure to check out My Custom Google Map.