What’s happening to Bethesda, Montgomery Mall, etc.?

[Anonymous]

I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids these days aren’t calling it “Bethezdump” for nothing

More to do for youth would be good - skate board park/ community center with indoor basketball courts and pool table - similar to friendship heights above the whole foods…

The Lawton Community Center has all of those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids these days aren’t calling it “Bethezdump” for nothing

And they call people who brag about being in Bethesda "Betheztards"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

That is depressing but probably true.

Still with intentionality and will, more could be done by Bethesda urban planners to mitigate the overwhelming blandness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids these days aren’t calling it “Bethezdump” for nothing

More to do for youth would be good - skate board park/ community center with indoor basketball courts and pool table - similar to friendship heights above the whole foods…

The Lawton Community Center has all of those things.

Does Lawton have a skate park? And pool table? I missed those features but great if they are there. We went there a couple of times for basketball games. It feels more like Chevy Chase than downtown Bethesda but you are right / it is something for youth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids these days aren’t calling it “Bethezdump” for nothing

And they call people who brag about being in Bethesda "Betheztards"

And they call Arlington people who endlessly spam threads about MoCo with made-up nonsense "trolls."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

In Bethesda, this is what it's like in "new" Bethesda (Bethesda Row area) as most of the retail buildings are owned by large corporations (Federal Realty, in particular) and they do not take risks on new, unknown small businesses. That's why they rent out to the major chains -- they know their rent will be paid on time.

But "old" Bethesda (Woodmont triangle area) is a bunch of smaller buildings owned by smaller, more local landlords, like Conley and Greenhill. They are willing to take such risks (or maybe they have no choice!) so you'll see more local, unique places there.

[Anonymous]

Too much violent and petty crime in Montgomery county, which increases rapidly as you close in on DC in areas like downtown Bethesda

https://wjla.com/amp/news/local/why-is-montgomery-countys-violent-crime-rate-twice-as-high-as-fairfax-countys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

In Bethesda, this is what it's like in "new" Bethesda (Bethesda Row area) as most of the retail buildings are owned by large corporations (Federal Realty, in particular) and they do not take risks on new, unknown small businesses. That's why they rent out to the major chains -- they know their rent will be paid on time.

But "old" Bethesda (Woodmont triangle area) is a bunch of smaller buildings owned by smaller, more local landlords, like Conley and Greenhill. They are willing to take such risks (or maybe they have no choice!) so you'll see more local, unique places there.

Interesting thanks.

And thanks for nothing Federal Realty. New Bethesda is soulless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids these days aren’t calling it “Bethezdump” for nothing

More to do for youth would be good - skate board park/ community center with indoor basketball courts and pool table - similar to friendship heights above the whole foods…

The Lawton Community Center has all of those things.

Does Lawton have a skate park? And pool table? I missed those features but great if they are there. We went there a couple of times for basketball games. It feels more like Chevy Chase than downtown Bethesda but you are right / it is something for youth.

We were just there for early voting and they do have two pool tables. Not sure about the skate park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

That is depressing but probably true.

Still with intentionality and will, more could be done by Bethesda urban planners to mitigate the overwhelming blandness

There are no such people.

There are property owners, that's who you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

That is depressing but probably true.

Still with intentionality and will, more could be done by Bethesda urban planners to mitigate the overwhelming blandness

There are no such people.

There are property owners, that's who you are talking about.

No that’s not who I am talking about. Property developers don’t get to operate in vacuums with no accountability or inputs - yet anyway.


Bethesda Downtown Implementation Advisory Committee

The Bethesda Downtown Implementation Advisory Committee (IAC) is an integral part of the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan. This advisory group will work in coordination with the Montgomery County Planning Department, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Bethesda Chevy-Chase Regional Services Center and Bethesda Green by providing specific community and redevelopment expertise that would also serve as an interface between developers and County agencies in implementing the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan recommendations. The IAC will be guided by the vision, goals and recommendations in the Approved and Adopted Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan, the Bethesda Downtown Design Guidelines, and the Bethesda Overlay Zone.

The role of the Committee is to coordinate and monitor the progress of development and address implementation of the recommendations in the Approved and Adopted Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan.

https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/downcounty/bethesda-downtown-plan/bethesda-downtown-implementation-advisory-committee/

The mission of the Bethesda Urban Partnership is to create an environment in which downtown businesses and residents can thrive and prosper.

https://www.bethesda.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like every place is more generic. All across the coutnry I see the same restaurants and the exact same looking apartments and townhomes—everything is owned and supplied by the same mega businesses. I saw an interview with a famous restiajrantejr recently (now I can’t remember who, but you would know him), and he was basically saying it’s nearly impossible to come up in the restaurant scene now as an independent and he would never make it now. It’s the same with the little stores and so forth….tje headwinds are all again unique and quirky.

That is depressing but probably true.

Still with intentionality and will, more could be done by Bethesda urban planners to mitigate the overwhelming blandness

There are no such people.

There are property owners, that's who you are talking about.

DP
Then it’s time to incorporate as a city.

[Anonymous]

Downtown Bethesda has terrible traffic and terrible parking. The stores are all high end and chains. So, nothing new or interesting. And, the things that used to make it interesting at night are gone, namely families, young couples, teens, etc. used to go to the movies, Barnes & Noble, get ice cream, and hang out by the fountain. All of that is missing and we stopped going long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:>"generic wealthy suburb" being what most of these boards wants

im sorry but what else could you want? what else would the middle class American aspire to? what is next after generic wealthy suburb that is safe, has good schools, and one can sleep in peace and quiet? are you saying you'd rather live in ritzy beverly hills-style neighborhoods or gated communities like most of the sun belt cities? very weird critique of Bethesda, to be honest.

I don't really want to live in Beverly Hills but the flats are some of the most walkable areas in all of Los Angeles and go for massive amounts because even rich people like them.

Lots of very wealthy NYers sleep very comfortably and even walk around their neighborhoods and take transit.

And just wait until you hear about other countries.

Bethesda is an extremely homogeneous, increasingly generic suburb. It's what people want there and honestly fine. It's not a bad place. But the idea that no one sane would ever aspire to anything else is silly. There are plenty of places in DC itself where there is culture, safety, and gasp even schools where kids learn the same as the toni suburbs. And lots of middle class people want to live there.

Name me 3 of these places in DC itself. West of Rock Creek Park might as well be Bethesda. And east of rock creek park, the schools are bad unless you play the magnet game and it’s quite unsafe.