Wild Abandon: The Story of "Reed Street"

Should the County abandon some of the most needed and valuable right-of-way land - and what has been called some of the "last best" open space - in Bethesda???

Many people are familiar with the problems caused when the Lot 31 development did not leave sufficient space for a Capital Crescent Trail head plaza and decent trail shoulders. Those problems were then compounded by Ourisman Honda's further encroachment on the trail easement. If you don't know about that situation, we'll cover it in another post. But what is happening across the street???

The space outside MonAmiGabi and the Landmark Theater (and possibly soon to be Dean and Deluca) is supposed to contain the Purple Line "tail tracks," the Capital Crescent Trail, AND a new public Civic Green Park. Though, as can be seen from this slide from the Apex building hearing, they have not quite figured out how all of that will really fit. (Yellow=trail; Purple=train tail tracks)

But lets back up......We are lucky this space even still exists today. There was a very contentious and controversial decision in 2009 when JBG and Federal Reality requested the County abandon "Reed Street" to them to develop it into a mixed use development called Woodmont East II --- and despite extensive community testimony that it would be needed for continued public use and access --- it was given to the developers. Read: 2009 Controversial Decision about Reed Street

But the development didn't proceed, the abandonment expired, and the land reverted back to County right-of-way. And it turns out community members were right to question the decision..... 

The new Downtown Bethesda Plan has now designated the general area for a Capital Crescent Civic Green AND also the Capital Crescent Trail. Additionally, in July 2017 "Reed Street" was also franchised to the MTA for Purple Line access.

However, JBG recently entered into an agreement to be able to landscape and hardscape "Reed Street." JBG then requested for the land to be abandoned to them - AGAIN - based on the fact that they had invested landscaping and hardscaping in the location and felt it wasn't needed for "highway" purposes - even though part of it was designated to be the trail. The Planning Board meeting for this abandonment was supposed to occur this week but was cancelled - and postponed indefinitely - until there is future coordination between JBG and DOT.

The Planning Staff - knowing that at least part of this land is needed for public use and access (with 854,945 trail users in 2016!) - did NOT support the abandonment this time. Read: Staff Report - Does Not Recommend Abandoning Reed Street

The County is also working to acquire the land adjacent to Reed Street (the rest of the slice). They need it for the Civic Green and the Purple Line easements. It appears funding would initially be coming from ALARF.

UPDATE: The County approved the purchase of the .4 acres of land next to Reed Street for $8.5 Million...
Bethesda-Beat/2017/County-Parks-System-Looks-To-Buy-Bethesda-Property-For-Capital-Crescent-Public-Park/

Bethesda-Beat/2017/Council-Approves-Purchase-of-Bethesda-Row-Land-for-Future-Park-Use/

JBG is currently continuing to landscape / hardscape the area (though the plans and the current plantings don't include shade trees like in the renderings). It will be important to watch whether the abandonment of this valuable land comes up - yet again....

• Will the County abandon Reed Street again? What would they get in return if they did? 
• Will JBG treat the Trail area better than Lot 31 or Ourisman have? 
• How long until this "LAST BEST" open space is actually transformed into the attractive public park that has been designated in the Downtown Bethesda Plan.