Wisconsin Ave Development Project

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I lived close by I would love to see a movie theater, a Trader Joe’s, a soul cycle or yoga studio, a few independent boutiques , maybe a spa, a doggie day care and a few more bakeries and places to eat that are independently owned.

Trader Joe's actually is coming to the Chevy Chase Pavillion. I too would like locally-owned shops...but it is easier to give an idea of what we mean by saying "Dave & Busters"...I would actually prefer something like Penn Quarter which is a better, locally-owned version.

An a random note...anyone go to Dopamine Land which supposedly opened (quietly it seems) where the Nordstram Rack used to be. Can't tell if it is cool or a tourist trap.
https://dopaminelandexperience.com/washington/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Property values only go up, up, up if you're willing to sell your SFH for development.

Lots of the people in those new apartments would actually prefer to be in your SFH. That's why your home value will go up, up, up. Once people are in a neighborhood and they like it, they prefer to remain in the neighborhood if possible in a bigger home.

The development will bring more people into your neighborhood who will eventually want to buy your home. Enjoy the the windfall when you retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I lived close by I would love to see a movie theater, a Trader Joe’s, a soul cycle or yoga studio, a few independent boutiques , maybe a spa, a doggie day care and a few more bakeries and places to eat that are independently owned.

The movie theater was in Mazza and that is obviously being rebuilt. There is a Trader Joes coming at at the Chevy Chase Pavillion (where Embassy Suites are located) Everything else you suggest already exists on Wisconsin Ave heading towards Tenleytown.

[Anonymous]

My wish is for them to route traffic around the back of the old Mazza Gallery in a loop and close off Wisconsin ave to traffic in front of Mazza Gallery. Make it an open space/streatery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I lived close by I would love to see a movie theater, a Trader Joe’s, a soul cycle or yoga studio, a few independent boutiques , maybe a spa, a doggie day care and a few more bakeries and places to eat that are independently owned.

Movie Theatres are a dying business...there won't be any coming back to FH and others will close. You can now watch nearly any first-run movie in true HD quality for free basically only a week or two after release, on any number of illegal streaming sites. Sure you can shake your firsts, but it is impossible to crack down on this. One site is shut down, and then another pops up 24 hours later.

Interestingly, it will be a theatre like the Avalon that will survive...showing Artsy movies to a mostly older crowd that isn't illegally streaming movies, as well as hosting local live acts. Kind of like the Politics and Prose bookstore of movie theatres.

[Anonymous]

I live off Mass Ave so I am a bit further away. I am thrilled at this development. Getting into downtown Bethesda is trickier than FH/TT.

Excited to see those areas become better than they were in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Between this and the new Westbard development, I am liking it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be nice if they built 3 bedroom apartments families can actually live in. Also hope they do not build a bunch of fake 2 bedroom apartments where the 2nd bedroom is tiny with no window. They did that in a lot of Navy Yard new builds.

100% If DC wants families living in apartments or condos for the long term, large apartments and condos need to be built. 2500 plus square feet minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm unconvinced that the demand for housing units for that area is actually there. Even City Ridge is not fully rented and it's closer in. And now IB is trying to sublet the HUGE office space so the eateries are struggling with low foot traffic.

Having more development is welcome. Heard there is another Trader Joes planned for that stretch?

I seriously question the demand as well. Not sure DC will continue to grow in population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wish is for them to route traffic around the back of the old Mazza Gallery in a loop and close off Wisconsin ave to traffic in front of Mazza Gallery. Make it an open space/streatery.

Stupid idea. Closing off Wisc simply routes traffic into side roads. Close off the backside of Mazza Gallery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Trader Joe's is coming to Chevy Chase Pavillion.

FH could be incredible if it was connected on the MD side. You could create another Reston Town Center or whatever they call the area in Rockville/North Bethesda with the REI and LL Bean.

You have a wasted surface lot behind the new Mazza replacement, wasted surface lot at the Saks in CC MD. You have the Lord & Taylor site...it seems crazy to turn that into the new bus depot...although I guess that opens up development of the current bus depot.

It needs to be far more mixed-use...apartments, retail, entertainment (Dave & Busters, Pinstripes type places), etc.

Turning Friendship Heights and AU Park into some high rise city with Dave & Busters? No thanks.

That would be awesome. Right now it is basically nothing and wont be converted into a SFH or open space area…so what would you suggest?

BTW…I don’t care nor even understand what Smart growth is. I want a fun, dynamic destination with lots for everyone to do.

Building lots of townhouses makes more sense than apartments and condos. Increasing density without drastically altering the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm unconvinced that the demand for housing units for that area is actually there. Even City Ridge is not fully rented and it's closer in. And now IB is trying to sublet the HUGE office space so the eateries are struggling with low foot traffic.

Having more development is welcome. Heard there is another Trader Joes planned for that stretch?

I seriously question the demand as well. Not sure DC will continue to grow in population.

DC's population rose nearly imperceptably in the latest Census estimate, but it was entirely due to new births and international migration. Domestic migration was a net negative, which is an extremely worrying sign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Trader Joe's is coming to Chevy Chase Pavillion.

FH could be incredible if it was connected on the MD side. You could create another Reston Town Center or whatever they call the area in Rockville/North Bethesda with the REI and LL Bean.

You have a wasted surface lot behind the new Mazza replacement, wasted surface lot at the Saks in CC MD. You have the Lord & Taylor site...it seems crazy to turn that into the new bus depot...although I guess that opens up development of the current bus depot.

It needs to be far more mixed-use...apartments, retail, entertainment (Dave & Busters, Pinstripes type places), etc.

Turning Friendship Heights and AU Park into some high rise city with Dave & Busters? No thanks.

That would be awesome. Right now it is basically nothing and wont be converted into a SFH or open space area…so what would you suggest?

BTW…I don’t care nor even understand what Smart growth is. I want a fun, dynamic destination with lots for everyone to do.

You don't need a concrete forest and lots of high rises to accomplish that though. You can revamp the area and make it a dynamic destination without turning it into Reston.

Great...so what's your plan? All I hear is I don't want Ballston, or Reston, or Pike & Rose...but then no alternative plan is offered.

Why do I have to be the one to make the plan? It's not my area of expertise. Show me a plan, and I'll tell you what I think as the consumer and home owner. This one? Not crazy about it. Scale it down, open it up some more. Don't shift traffic into school yards and residential neighborhoods. Pay attention to the realities of people who need physical access points.

Scale down development ON TOP OF A METRO STATION?

That is WHERE you want development to be located. The result will be more people who are not dependent on cars, so the "shifting traffic" won't be there, because it will be people, not cars.

Totally cool with building on that spot.

But, you think people from Maryland will stop commuting on Wisconsin Ave? Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live off Mass Ave so I am a bit further away. I am thrilled at this development. Getting into downtown Bethesda is trickier than FH/TT.

Excited to see those areas become better than they were in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Between this and the new Westbard development, I am liking it!

Why do you like it? The Westbard development will destroy the character of that neighborhood- the new Giant is unappealing and does not cater to the neighborhood population at all. I see the for lease signs in tenley and the wegmans and just don’t think these new developments address the demand - which is SFH not mixed use 1/2 bedrooms on the 8th floor with vouchers. It is too bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live off Mass Ave so I am a bit further away. I am thrilled at this development. Getting into downtown Bethesda is trickier than FH/TT.

Excited to see those areas become better than they were in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Between this and the new Westbard development, I am liking it!

Why do you like it? The Westbard development will destroy the character of that neighborhood- the new Giant is unappealing and does not cater to the neighborhood population at all. I see the for lease signs in tenley and the wegmans and just don’t think these new developments address the demand - which is SFH not mixed use 1/2 bedrooms on the 8th floor with vouchers. It is too bad.

Can you please concede that many of us don't see much "character" in these developments. It is a mall replacing a mall...anything that brings in shops or other amenities such that one doesn't have to drive out to the burbs is a net positive.

How can the new Giant be unappealing? How does it not cater to the neighborhood? Serious questions...because isn't it just replacing an old Giant? I mean, has Giant launched some new concept store that is radically different in terms of what it sells?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wish is for them to route traffic around the back of the old Mazza Gallery in a loop and close off Wisconsin ave to traffic in front of Mazza Gallery. Make it an open space/streatery.

Stupid idea. Closing off Wisc simply routes traffic into side roads. Close off the backside of Mazza Gallery.

No one is closing off Wisconsin Avenue.