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.