Downtown Bethesda green space: going going gone?
Mark N November 6th, 2007
An ongoing battle has ensued over the little slice of open space at the intersection of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. (You know, where you sat and ate Giffords ice cream after the movie last summer?) The Mongomery County Planning Board has issued a report (PDF) recommending approval of a preliminary development plan for the north side of the intersection, a two and one half acre development that would include retail space, offices, 250 residential units and a 12-story hotel.
The project, officially known as Woodmont East II, has been opposed by a number of Bethesda civic associations and other residents, who have come together under the moniker Take Back Bethesda. A proposal to nominate Woodmont East for the Legacy Open Space program was turned down by the Planning Board, which is meeting November 8th to consider the matter.
Note that Woodmont East II is not the same as the Lot 31 development which is on the south side of the intersection and has already been approved, to break ground in 2008.
Recently, Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Marc Erlich have added their support for a new park at the Woodmont East location. David Lublin, who teaches government at AU, has posted a more in-depth summary and opinion of the issue on his blog Maryland Politics Watch. For more information on how to get involved, see this forwarded email thread on the Maplewood Listserv.
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