Bainbridge Bethesda Breaks Ground in Woodmont Triangle

Bainbridge Bethesda, a mixed-use, high-rise residential project formerly known as the has broken ground in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle.

The project – spearheaded by developers the Bainbridge Cos. – is planned to be 17 stories high and encompass 200 residential units, including 30 moderately-priced units. The site is located on a lot between Fairmont Avenue and St. Elmo Avenue near Norfolk Avenue – the home of the former Bethesda Tobacco location, which was demolished this week. Bethesda Tobacco relocated to Del Ray Avenue in 2009 after development plans were announced for the site, before to become W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist.

Bainbridge Bethesda will include more than 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail and 200,000 square feet of residential space and an underground parking garage with more than 200 parking spots. A pedestrian pass-through with an art concept is also planned for the south side of the building to connect Fairmont and St. Elmo avenues.

CityBiz Real Estate is reporting the building will also feature “a rooftop swimming pool and garden terrace, a 15th floor state-of-the-art fitness club and social activity center with a large outdoor terrace and fireplace, a two-story lobby, and a cyber café with a fully-equipped business lounge.”

The apartment units, according to CityBiz, will boast “floor-to-ceiling glass, wood floors, walk-in showers, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.”

Construction began this week and is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2013, according to CityBiz.

Local leaders are hoping the project will be the first of many planned for the Woodmont Triangle area to break ground. The Woodmont Triangle has been targeted as an area ripe for revitalization, and Bainbridge is only one of several residential projects on the horizon, including a mixed-use project surrounding the new Second District police station and a project across the street at the corner of