What is Planned for Bethesda?

Woodmont East is starting to take shape!
The Montgomery County Planning Board gave preliminary approvals last Thursday to the JBG Companies, which are now actively moving ahead in plans to develop Woodmont East. The last vacant parcel next to Bethesda Row is going to be host to a large-scale, mixed-use project which will include 208,579 square feet of office space in one tower, and 250 residential units and 9000 square feet of retail space in the other tower. Running between the two will be the much loved Capital Crescent Trail, which will remain open for, at the very least, most of the construction period.


“The trail will come right through the two of them,” said Matt Blocher of JBG. “As far as what happened at the hearing, [the approval] permits us to close the trail for up to five days at a time if there is significant construction procedures. At this point, we’re not sure if we'll need to close it, except for at the end of the job when we have to do the paving.”


Although the formal approval process is nearly completed, several key components need to be worked out before construction can proceed. The JBG Companies have not started to design the building beyond the site plan guidelines required by Montgomery County. Design and permitting is anywhere from 12 to 24 months, and then construction is 24 months.

50 Buyers in the Rain on Sunday

Even though it rained cats and dogs on Sunday, I had more than 50 people lined up to visit my listing at 12307 Old Canal Road, Potomac, MD. At one point I felt like I was in a wedding reception receiving line as I stood at the door greeting people and shaking hands, and ushering in people lined up outside. I think it is a great house at a really good price. It has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a family room, huge mud room, lovely deck, updated kitchen with corian counters, a finished basement, one car garage, all for just $599,000. It is in the Richard Montgomery High School district with its international baccalureate program, so it is a very well regarded program. It is even very close to I-270 and the Beltway so that the new buyer can get to Dulles Airport or Baltimore really easily! In addition, it is very close to several orthodox temples so that families can walk to temple on holy days.

I actually ran out of flyers after 2 hours - who would have thought that 40 flyers that said "Just Listed" wouldn't be enough to get through the afternoon!

The good news is that we are working on an offer which would be wonderful for my sellers. The pressure is on me since this is my daughter's hockey coach's house (and the home of a classmate of my daughter!) They both play for the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association - the Montgomery Blue Devils!

Please keep your fingers crossed for me and for all of us that there actually is a spring market and that maybe there is a small rally coming along. I will keep you posted.

If you would like to see the house for yourself - here is a tour link!
http://www.realtourinc.com/index.cfm?action=Tour&ido=27052515

The Views in DC are Monumental!

For the last 2 weeks I have been showing properties in downtown DC to a couple who want a balcony for morning coffee or a roof terrace for dinner parties. The thing that I have been struck by time and time again as we go around the city is how incredible the views are from so many condos in downtown DC. I step out onto the balcony and turn my head to the right or left - - and there it is - a national landmark. Frequently it is the Washington Monument, peeking over the nearby buildings. Then my thoughts immediately turn to the Fourth of July when I know that the city's night sky will be illuminated with starbursts of color around the Monument.

Sometimes it is the dome of the Capitol (or just the Indian atop the dome) which I can see. Occasionally it is the National Cathedral on Mount St. Albans, gleaming serenely at night, or the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in NE Washington with its distinctive Byzantine dome.

This afternoon I was on a roof terrace in Columbia Heights with an incredible view of the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and St. Matthews Cathedral (where John Kennedy's funeral service was celebrated in DC). In many ways the Washington cityscape is like any other city, but it is blessed with spectacular landmarks that represent the United States around the world. I am having so much fun showing condos right now!

My advice to buyers right now is that there are some wonderful condos out there with incredible views! Call your realtor or better yet, call me and let me show you the best of my hometown. Along with the spectacular views are the incredible prices coupled with the low interest rates, plentiful choices, motivated sellers, and 1st time buyer credit. For the first time in a long long time a buyer can get an incredible deal on a wonderful condo that promises enjoyment for years to come! Don't miss out on it.

NEW STORE IN BETHESDA

The Apple Store is Open
After months of secrecy (that really wasn't a secret), the new Apple store has opened on Bethesda Ave in Bethesda. The new space is directly across from the old Apple store, but easily three times as big as the old location. I ducked in to the new location today to retrieve my 15 year old daughter who was hungrily eyeing a new computer - funny how her "old" IBM is suddenly unsalvageable! The store is beautiful, even on a grey rainy day, but I was struck by how empty it seemed. There probably were just as many people in the new store as there had been on similar days in the space across the street, but the new space is so big that people seemed lost in it. The old space which almost crushed everyone into one another created a visual energy level that said to passersby that something exciting was going on inside. How could it not be exciting - look at all those people there. No doubt Bethesda will grow into the new space quickly. Betheda Avenue is enhanced by the sleek storefront which replaced the old Blockbuster, but I miss the congestion of the old location!

For any questions about real estate in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, or if you are planning to relocate to my home town, just give me a call at 240-401-5577 or check out my website, www.homesinchevychasebethesda.com

KENWOOD CHERRY BLOSSOMS

The long winter is finally coming to a close and the cherry trees exploded last week in a cloud of pale pink and white blossoms. Spring is finally returning to Washington as the peak blooming period for Washington's beloved and oh-so-delicate cherry trees took place in the first week in April. Thousands of tourists and Washingtonians alike took advantage of the warmer weather to stroll around the Tidal Basin or take out a paddleboat. The traffic came to a standstill as tourists dodged between the cars on their way from the Lincoln Memorial or Washington Monument to the Tidal Basin. Fortunately, however, the Tidal Basin is not the only place to enjoy the blossom. Some very smarat tourists have discovered that cherry trees also line the street of Kenwood, just over the District line in nearby Bethesda, MD. The streets of Kenwood are lined with cherry trees, and when in bloom, neighborhood children set up lemonade stands for the visitors who are picknicking on front lawns or among the cars threading their way through the neighbhood. On weekends, even the adjacent streets are full of couples and families taking a stroll in the sunshine. But even if it's slightly congested, it will be nothing compared to downtown DC, and I can guarantee you'll feel as though you're walking through a soft sweet smelling cloud.

If you want to check out real estate in Kenwood, or anywhere else in the DC metro area, just visit my website, www.homesinchevychasebethesda.com

Most Expensive Home Sales in Bethesda/Chevy Chase 1st Quarter 2009

Top 5 Sales in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, MD in 1st Q 2009 (edit/delete)
The top sale in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, MD in the first quarter of 2009 was a condo at the Somerset , 5630 WISCONSIN AVE #1405, which sold for $3,635,000. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo, a FSBO, is 3396 sq ft unit with a monthly condo fee of $2100 and annual taxes of $23,783.

8813 CHALON DR, BETHESDA listed for $3,499,000 and sold for $3.100,000 on January 30. This home was a custom built all brick 6/7 BR,8.5 Ba Colonial with over 9000 fin sq.ft. on 1.3 ac. Some of the amenities included custom woodwork, a 2 story marble foyer, 2 staircases, 5 Fpls, top of line finishes, materials & features throughout.

On January 21st, 6409 GARNETT DR, CHEVY CHASE sold for $2,900,000 (with a list price of $3,100,000.) Sitting on nearly 1/2 an acre, this 12 year old home has 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, a pool, 3 car garage and a semi circular drive. It even has an elevator to go to all 3 levels and 6400 square feet of living space.

5320 Wapakoneta sold on March 2, 2009, for $2,680,000, without ever going on the market. This is another custom home with an elevator, copper roof and gutters, slate deck, 3 stone and wood fireplaces, a sun room, gym, wine cellar, theater, and mud room with lockers. 6350 square feet of living space on a 12,000 sq ft lot!

Number 5 in the top sales was another condo at the Somerset - 5630 WISCONSIN AVE #305, CHEVY CHASE- for $2,395,000 (listed and sold). 2710 sq feet, a $1900 a month condo fee, renovated by Frank Bell with high ceilings, cherry hdwd flrs,(din/liv rm) custom builtins,grand liv rm, balcony,sep din rm, study,Chef's kit,Master suite,addit bed/bA 2PK SP/ Amenities inc indr/outdr pools,tennis,clubhse,gym,spa.

Update on Kenwood Forest

Market Update on Kenwood Forest One of the best neighborhoods in Chevy Chase is Kenwood Forest, a community of nearly 400 townhouses and one level one bedroom or studio condos, created between 1978 and 1980 from an apartment complex built after WWII. While prices have dropped over the last 2 years, buyers still call me frequently asking to be notified whenever a new listing comes on the market. Small wonder since Kenwood Forest townhouses are well designed with at least 2 baths upstairs and a half bath on the 1st floor; the community is very well maintained with amazingly low condo fees; and homeowners can walk to two metros and every imaginable cuisine in the many restaurants of Bethesda. Want more info about Kenwood Forest, just check out www.kenwoodforest.com for floorplans and answers to all your questions.

Basic Statistics - grouped by Status
Provides Basic statistics on listings


Status: ACTIVE (1)
List Price Bedrooms Baths FB HB DOMM DOMP Lot Sqft Yr Built
Min $533,000 3 3 2 1 39 39 - 1980
Max $533,000 3 3 2 1 39 39 - 1980
Avg $533,000 3 3 2 1 39 39 1980
Status: CNTG/NO KO (1)
List Price Bedrooms Baths FB HB DOMM DOMP Lot Sqft Yr Built
Min $568,000 3 3 2 1 6 6 - 1980
Max $568,000 3 3 2 1 6 6 - 1980
Avg $568,000 3 3 2 1 6 6 1980
Status: SOLD (8)
List Price Bedrooms Baths FB HB DOMM DOMP Lot Sqft Yr Built
Min $375,000 2 3 2 1 2 2 - 1977
Max $599,000 3 4 3 2 100 100 - 1982
Avg $524,469 3 3 2 1 25 31 1980
Status: All (10)
List Price Bedrooms Baths FB HB DOMM DOMP Lot Sqft Yr Built
Min $375,000 2 3 2 1 2 2 - 1977
Max $599,000 3 4 3 2 100 100 - 1982
Avg $529,675 3 3 2 1 25 30 1980