Have you driven by the Westbard Avenue area lately? Well, Equity One purchased seven properties in the Westbard Avenue area, including the Westwood Shopping Center, Westwood Center II, Westwood Towers, Springhouse by Manor Care, Bowlmor Lanes AND two Citgo gas stations. That's a lot of property!
Westwood Shopping Center and several of its neighboring properties were developed more than 50 years ago and continued investment in these properties is essential to ensure that they remain integral parts of the Bethesda community for years to come. As they start to think about what type of investment makes sense, they are making this a collaborative process involving stakeholders in the community.
They're calling this the Westbard Vision and this month over 500 Bethesda residents shared their thoughts and ideas regarding any potential improvements or re-purposing of these sites. In the Westbard Vision newsletter, Michael Berfield, Executive Vice President of Development for Equity One AND a Bethesda native, is quoted as saying that they "always come to a property trying to figure out how to make that property better.” The newsletter also says he "pointed out that the design of the center is not very pedestrian friendly, nor is it up to current environmental standards. He also emphasized his company's commitment to developing, owning and improving great retail centers. “We’re here for the long term,” he said."
Equity One gave a presentation at the meeting that described how the company intended to work with the community and what its guiding principles for the properties were. (View the presentation HERE) Participants rotated through several break-out groups focused on design character; programs and amenities; landscaping, sustainability and environment; and mobility, access and connectivity. Their input will be used to inform the design process. Summaries of attendees’ comments are availalbe HERE.
Here are some of the highlights (click the link above to see full list of comments):
Streets/Parking/Walking/Public Transportation:
- Surrounding neighborhoods (Springfield, Kenwood, Ridgefiled) don't want more cut-through traffic
- Do not add to traffic on Westbard or Ridgefield
- Ridgefiled Road is a major problem–need better access from Ridgefield onto Westbard Avenue
- Traffic management at intersection of Ridgefield and River Roads
- Turn River Road into a boulevard/make River Road a highway
- Dislike of parking/traffic situation in downtown Bethesda
- Fear project will add to traffic on Little Falls Parkway
- Want easy, free and accessible parking
- Zone parking in Springfield neighborhood to control commuter parking
- Set aside an area for paid long-term parking for commuters
- No stacked parking
- Free shuttle to Friendship Heights, reliable shuttle service to Metro and Westbard from Springfield neighborhood
- Much support for a circulator bus similar to the one through the Bethesda Row area
- Increase bike accessibility
- Better sidewalks in general
- Bike lanes needed on Westbard
Retail/Amenities
- A grocer is critical
- Wegmans
- Neighborhood services and restaurants are critical
- Keep current tenants, don't price them out of existence
- Keep the Citgo gas stations
- Late night uses such as restaurants and pubs
- A variety of unique restaurants – a deli, a cafe, soup & sandwich shop, breakfast restaurant
- Keep the bowling alley
- No big box national stores
- No fashion tenants
- Post office
- Bookstore
- Bike Shop
- Town square, open grassy area
- Add indoor walkable space
- Farmer's market on weekends; urban agriculture to augment retail
- Places where kids can play safely and moms can talk
- More trails and walking opportunities
- Bring in an arts venue, offer artist space, perhaps studios on second floors like Tenleytown
The next step in the development process will be to present the design principles at a community meeting on the evening of March 4th. If you are a Bethesda resident, YOUR participation is invited and encouraged! Check out more information and sign up to receive updates on the project HERE.
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