Rockville Pike Revolution
The historic transformation of the Washington region is not confined to neighborhoods downtown. The long avenue from the DC line to Rockville—Wisconsin Avenue and Rockville Pike—is undergoing some of Montgomery County's most dramatic change in generations. To help you understand the vision and opportunities, we're excited to host Bisnow's The Future of Rockville Pike and Wisconsin Avenue on the morning of April 16. It's part of our Neighborhood Series presented by United Bank, and we invite you to attend. Register now.
One man who’s spent his entire career in the area is StonebridgeCarras president Kent Marquis, snapped with principal Jane Mahaffie and assistant project manager Christopher Smith at the developer's famed Lot 31 site. Lot 31 will be a key piece along Federal Realty's "Bethesda Row" project, offering 40k SF of retail and up to 250 condos. The project has been 10 years in the making. Sales of 64 market-rate condos have averaged $900/SF thus far, and the county-approved and uniquely designed 1,100-space underground public parking garage aims to improve pedestrian safety and enhance the area's amenities.
Kent says the densification planned for the corridor will be remarkable. StonebridgeCarras is also contributing Flats 8300 (pictured), which features 365 apartment units on top of a Harris Teeter grocery store. It will “change the perception of Wisconsin Avenue to something far more livable,” he says.
Likewise, JBG VP Sam Stebel (snapped with this delicious grouper) plans to add to the neighborhood's vibrant, walkable feel with aesthetic additions at JBG's Twinbrook development. New amenities include restaurants with outdoor seating and a more urban, 63k SF Safeway (like the one in Georgetown).
JBG collaborated with MV&A, out of DC, and Preston Partnership to design a modern, LEED Silver (or better) building (rendered here) that will be accented with the work of local artists. Galvan will have 356 apartments, 15% of which will be designated as affordable. In keeping with the green theme, it will have an on-site bike share program and a bike room and maintenance center.
Foulger Pratt VP Adam Davis says Metro and a strong amenity base were a big draw for the company, and the City of Rockville, Montgomery County and the State were involved with a financial incentive package to give Choice Hotels a future in its 200k SF, LEED Platinum Rockville Metro Plaza II, designed by WDG Architecture (pictured here). When completed, the three Class-A Rockville Metro Plaza buildings will span 620k SF. The completed Plaza I has first-floor retail and 600 parking spaces.
Former Rockville mayor Rose Krasnow, snapped at her offices, where she now works as the deputy director of the Montgomery County Planning Department, tells us that all of the present development changes are unprecedented. She's also excited to change this area’s name to something that will reflect the soon-to-be tree-lined streets and (fingers crossed) BRT implementation, and says Pike & Rose’s success will demonstrate the area’s potential. To hear more, please join us for Bisnow's The Future of Rockville Pike and Wisconsin Avenue as part of our Neighborhood Series presented by United Bank on April 16, 7:30am, at the Rockville Metro Plaza II. Sign up here!
