White Flint mall closing soon (Post article) (Columbia, Laurel: design, land)

[wildcat3]

Malls aren't dying, they've reinvented themselves. Look at the what Westfield is doing with Montgomery Mall: a whole new wing with what could be the best new movie theater in the area, top restaurants, bringing in new retail like the Microsoft Store and Tesla, etc.

Tysons did something similar several years back when they added their own new dining and movie wing. Malls are less about just shopping and more about creating experiences.

Tysons has the retail and office, so now they're adding residential. Apartment high rises are popping up next to the mall and in the surrounding office parks.

I've been wondering why downtown Bethesda has such problems filling office space, considering the highly educated population there, proximity to transit and restaurants, etc.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by wildcat3

I've been wondering why downtown Bethesda has such problems filling office space, considering the highly educated population there, proximity to transit and restaurants, etc.

Price per square feet. Outer suburbs are often cheaper than the inner suburbs. Even if that outer suburb is affluent. Metro will equalize that to some degree. But an employer will always choose the cheaper option which is why Bethesda has vacancies. It will be interesting to see how the silver line affects these markets going forward.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by wildcat3

Malls aren't dying, they've reinvented themselves. Look at the what Westfield is doing with Montgomery Mall: a whole new wing with what could be the best new movie theater in the area, top restaurants, bringing in new retail like the Microsoft Store and Tesla, etc.

Tysons did something similar several years back when they added their own new dining and movie wing. Malls are less about just shopping and more about creating experiences.

Tysons has the retail and office, so now they're adding residential. Apartment high rises are popping up next to the mall and in the surrounding office parks.

I've been wondering why downtown Bethesda has such problems filling office space, considering the highly educated population there, proximity to transit and restaurants, etc.

I'm not seeing an off the charts vacancy rate in downtown Bethesda. Most of the big blocks seem to be filled in less than 10 months. Not great, but not that bad. In fact you would be hard pressed to find blocks of space 25,000sf and above. There is only one new development happening in Bethesda, that is 4500 East West Highway. So, such problems are overrated.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Price per square feet. Outer suburbs are often cheaper than the inner suburbs. Even if that outer suburb is affluent. Metro will equalize that to some degree. But an employer will always choose the cheaper option which is why Bethesda has vacancies. It will be interesting to see how the silver line affects these markets going forward.

Silver Line has already had an impact on Tysons. Two major office buildings going up, one for Interlsat. Also, several major high rise apartments either completed, going up or breaking ground.

New buildings in Bethesda do command $50+ per foot.....

[Mr Beco]

What we are trying to do is create a district name that will be used for for business and marketing purposes, rather than address purposes. Just like we call parts of D.C. names like "Cleveland Park" or "Dupont Circle," we need an identifier for this new pocket of transit-oriented development. Redevelopment, as in areas like the U Street Corridor or the Mosaic District in Fairfax, naturally spawn a rebranding process -- people start to call the place something new. What we are not trying to do is change names of neighborhoods or mailing addresses - those will all remain the same. But, this sector is a more compact space than "North Bethesda" and it's outside the boundaries of the City of Rockville, so a comprehensive, research-based approach has been pursued to target this specific emerging urban district.

After seven years of debate on this issue, Streetsense, a local research and branding firm, has been engaged to help work through this process. They presented ten possible names that have been identified by their research as having potential sticking power (which, as evidenced by the fact that we all call this area something different, we have not yet found). Those names were: Market District, Metropolitan White Flint (those who preferred just White Flint were encouraged to note that when rating options), Pike District, Rockline, Rocksy, Quartz District, Slate District, The Stem, The Summit, and Uptown. There was also a big board available for write-ins.

I'm not sure I like any of these names for the "New" White Flint.....

[MrMaryland455]

Originally Posted by Barry Rock

What we are trying to do is create a district name that will be used for for business and marketing purposes, rather than address purposes. Just like we call parts of D.C. names like "Cleveland Park" or "Dupont Circle," we need an identifier for this new pocket of transit-oriented development. Redevelopment, as in areas like the U Street Corridor or the Mosaic District in Fairfax, naturally spawn a rebranding process -- people start to call the place something new. What we are not trying to do is change names of neighborhoods or mailing addresses - those will all remain the same. But, this sector is a more compact space than "North Bethesda" and it's outside the boundaries of the City of Rockville, so a comprehensive, research-based approach has been pursued to target this specific emerging urban district.

After seven years of debate on this issue, Streetsense, a local research and branding firm, has been engaged to help work through this process. They presented ten possible names that have been identified by their research as having potential sticking power (which, as evidenced by the fact that we all call this area something different, we have not yet found). Those names were: Market District, Metropolitan White Flint (those who preferred just White Flint were encouraged to note that when rating options), Pike District, Rockline, Rocksy, Quartz District, Slate District, The Stem, The Summit, and Uptown. There was also a big board available for write-ins.

I'm not sure I like any of these names for the "New" White Flint.....

My favorite 3 are "Market District,"Rockline,"and "Uptown." Those names blends in with North Bethesda

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by MrMaryland455

My favorite 3 are "Market District,"Rockline,"and "Uptown." Those names blends in with North Bethesda

DC already has an Uptown, which is the reason I don't like that name. I sort of dont understnd Rockline, but Market District is fine, although I'd never use that name. I'll go to my grave saying White Flint, just like I do with Montgomery Mall, whoops, Westfields.....

I'd go with Metro White Flint

[phoenixmike11]

White Flint developers hope their new branding label of

looks like it will be called Pike District

[uggabugga]

A ghost mall in White Flint (Photos) - WTOP.com

[Mr Beco]

when is this thing coming down?