Friday, February 16, 2018

La Madeleine in downtown Bethesda to be replaced with residential building (Photos)

A sign was erected outside of La Madeleine at 7607 Old Georgetown Road yesterday announcing a proposed redevelopment of the property with a mixed-use residential project. The proposed building would have up to 200 residential units, up to 2600 SF of retail (suggesting a small building footprint - this is similar to the now-stalled Claiborne condos project's 2800 SF of retail space at 4820 Auburn Avenue), and an underground parking garage of unspecified size.

La Madeleine doesn't represent vintage Bethesda. But you know a restaurant has been here for a long time when it still has a stand-alone sign, before such business-promoting methods were banned by anti-business Montgomery County. Better to let motorists guess what the businesses are as they drive by - that's sure to augment business owners' bottom lines.

This is prime Metro-proximate land, and exactly the place density should go.A public meeting on the project has been scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center at 4805 Edgemoor Lane, in Conference Room B - West Room.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yup, more standalone signs. That's what Bethesda needs!

Anonymous said...

robert and his love for tacky signage (or is it signs? I forget the last debate)....

Anonymous said...

Another big scoop for Dyer, the slightly failing magazine loses out again!!

Anonymous said...

6:48 AM & 6:54 AM are the same sad man. He thinks he's clever setting himself up like that.

No one covers the Bethesda development beat as well as Dyer.

Anonymous said...

The Claiborne isn't really stalled. They're probably just waiting for the flood of units at Cheval, Stonehall, and Hampden Row to be absorbed before they break ground. Same deal with 8008 Wisconsin. I imagine that either or both will break ground by the end of next year.

Robert Dyer said...

7:01: You may well be correct. But for news purposes, if the project has ceased to make progress, it has stalled nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

Three comments by Dyer, one of them signed.

Randy said...

It cracks me up that the 'public amenity' (or whatever the technical term for the public space that these developers have to create) at the Cheval is literally just some neon lights down a sketchy corridor that no one walks through. Am I crazy or should these developers contribute more to the area?

Anonymous said...

Yes, the developers should contribute more. The developers that have not broken ground yet should recognize that it's in their interest to have those who are already building do more to make Bethesda a pleasant place to live. Bethesda is on its way to becoming Crystal City.

Anonymous said...

Not even close to Crystal City. Not even Fairfax Drive in Clarendon and Ballston.

More like Wilson Boulevard in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

Anonymous said...

There is a danger that downtown Bethesda becomes a gathering of soulless high rise apartments, like Ballston.

Anonymous said...

La Madeline has been the place to meet to discuss business. A networking group meets there on Fridays. Everyday real estate deals are discussed. I have even seen people presenting business plans there. The back room provides a private area then anyone can use. It is the closest thing we have to a bistro. I hope it finds a new place in the neighborhood if that is the owners' wishes.

Anonymous said...

Bethesda has already lost its soul.