15-Story Residential, Retail Building Proposed For Commerce Lane

Developers Kettler are proposing a new, 15-story retail and residential building at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Commerce Lane, across the street from the Bethesda Metro. A United Bank is housed at the site now.

The project plan will be submitted to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission within two weeks, developers said at a meeting of the Woodmont Triangle Action Group Friday.

Developers described the building as “tall and skinny,” with amenities on the roof and a “pocket park” at the building’s main entrance.

“It’s smaller than what we’ve typically done in the past, but location drives everything,” Asheel Shah, Kettler senior vice president for real estate investments, said at the meeting. “We think it’s an opportunity to take the intersection of Commerce and Old Georgetown—somewhat of a forgotten intersection right across from the Metro station—and put a marquee building on it."

Between 104 and 120 rental units are proposed for the site.

Units will range from 600 square feet for a studio and 1,500 square feet for a three-bedroom, Shah said. Parking will be provided for residents of the building only—not retail customers—with a garage entrance on Commerce Lane.

Kettler hopes to see the project plans go before the planning board in January or February.

Pending approvals, construction could begin in 2014 with leasing in mid-2015.