Stop Feeding the Dumpster Animals!

 

someone has been strewing vegetables and bread around downtown Bethesda for months.  I have noticed it many times in alleys and by dumpsters.  This weekend there was a lot of it on the ground at the old public parking lot on Woodmont Avenue across from Pizzeria Da Marco.

 

Here's a scattering of green squash and sweet potatoes in the same area.

 

I'm not the only person to notice it either.  Here is a sign someone posted by some dumpsters on Battery Lane.  I wholeheartedly agree. There are enough rats in Bethesda already and feeding them just makes the problem worse.

 

 

 

4909 Auburn construction update

4909 Auburn, an apartment building under construction on Auburn Avenue in Bethedsda, Maryland has progressed quite a bit since I last posted about it in October.

Construction is scheduled to be done in Mid-2024, they still have a lot to do so we'll see if they keep to the schedule.

Auburn Avenue is still uncomfortably narrow where construction has closed a lane.  When I was there a truck was unloading and taking up even more space.

The view from Norfolk Avenue. It rises significantly higher than the buildings right around it.

 

Light gray bricks face almost all of the front of the building. The top three floors still need attention as do areas that are set back.

 

 

 

A foggy evening in Bethesda

 Tonight was warm and foggy, the last of the snow is quickly melting away.  I went for a walk on the Bethesda Trolley Trail and took these photos.

Sophia Bethesda construction

Sophia Bethesda construction

It's been a while since I posted about these apartments currently under construction next to Bainbridge Bethesda.  So long, in fact, that they have changed names.  The project used to be called St. Elmo Apartments and you can see my update from September here.

 The name change isn't the only thing that has happened since then, Sophia Bethesda has topped out and has walls most of the way up. It now rises significantly higher than it's neighbor, Bainbridge Bethesda.

The view from the ground

Here's the view from St. Elmo Avenue, Bistro Provence is to the left, and there is a bit of snow on the ground from last week's storm.

According to Apartments.com, there will be 200 units spread across 22 stories. This is down from 276 apartments in the original plans. Rents will range from $1,642 for the lowest priced Studio to $9,113 for the most premium 3 bedroom apartment.

From Fairmont

 Sophia will be accessible from both St. Elmo Avenue and Fairmont Avenue. This is the view from Fairmont.

 

A good week for snow in Bethesda

 

Southbound on Old Georgetown Road at Democracy Blvd

It's been a good week for snow here in Bethesda.  At the beginning of the week we got 4+ inches which closed school on Tuesday and Wednesday, then last night and today we got another 3 or so.  School was again closed.  By this afternoon the accumulation had mostly stopped though there were still flurries coming down.

The roads are wet but clear. Bike lanes, on the other hand, are not clear. There doesn't appear to be a plan for clearing them.

Looking south on Old Georgetown Road

This is the intersection with Cheshire Drive, at the south end of Wildwood.  Driving is fine now but things will freeze up overnight so consider curling up with a cup of hot cocoa tonight instead of going out.

Wildwood parking lot

Parking lots are not in as good shape as the roads, but they were actively clearing them at both Wildwood and Georgetown Square.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! Here is the Christmas tree at Union Station in Washington, DC
 

 

 

 

The old Marriott HQ is demolished

The demolition of the old Marriott headquarters in the Rock Spring area of Bethesda, MD has been going on for months, with the construction fencing first going up in February.  This campus will be replaced by a senior housing community.  Above is where the main entrance to the Marriott campus was, the building used to dominate this view, now all you see is the sky.
 

December 22, 2023

This is the view from the south looking north.  The building in the distance is the HMSHost building right along I-270.

 

December 16, 2023

Here is a similar view from December 16th, just about a week ago, there was still a small shred of a building left then.  The HMSHost building is in the distance on the left.

 

December 22, 2023

Here's the view from the north looking south-west. The building in the distance on the left is Democracy Plaza and the one on the right is Embassy Suites.

 

December 16, 2023

Here's a similar view from the 16th, just the corner of the building remained then and you could see sky through the windows.  The building in the distance is Democracy Plaza.

 

 

 

Seen at Great Falls, MD

 

High above the C & O canal near Great Falls Tavern is this stone.  Two peoples names are carved into it. C. J. Isackson and Olga Anderson.  Along with that is carved N.D.  It was obviously inscribed long ago because the lichens growing on the rock also grow into the engraved initials. The sun is at a low angle this time of year which really makes the letters stand out.

 

 

 

Damage to The Rae already

 

The Rae apartments across from Montgomery Mall haven't been open very long, but someone has already had a bit of trouble navigating the parking garage.  I'm not sure if they were actually trying to get in the garage or just turning around in the driveway, but, they took a chunk out of the ceiling right at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burned cars at the post office

 

I don't go to the post office very often, but it's the holidays so I found myself at the Westlake post office next to the Home Depot and Montgomery mall.

What to my wondering eyes should appear, but two burned cars in the parking lot. I don't know how long they've been there, clearly it hadn't just happened.  It looks like the fire started in the engine compartment of the gas-powered car in the back and spread to the car in front of it.  It must have sucked for both people, bad enough that your car catches on fire, but even worse to be the collateral damage.

Here's a closer view of where the fire originated. It totally destroyed the interior of both cars too.

 

Here's another view, this time without so many cars around.