The Latest Development Plans for the Bethesda Farm Women’s Cooperative Market

July 29, 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

Farm Women's Cooperative Market site plan revisions. Click to enlarge.

The development plans surrounding Bethesda's historic Farm Women's Cooperative Market have changed a lot since being unveiled last spring.

Last week, EYA and Bernstein Management Corporation presented a revised concept for 7155 Wisconsin Avenue (map) to the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Committee which aims to make the single-story market building the focal point of the project while reducing the adjacent proposed housing.

Under the new proposal, the market will be physically moved 13 feet northward on a new foundation, and an addition would be affixed to the rear of the restored building. The existing parking garage beneath the site will also be reconfigured so it is no longer beneath the historic building. Cunningham Quill Architects is designing the restoration and addition to the market building and is currently exploring four different roof options. The overall project will also deliver new open space and gardens and a shared woonerf with mobile furniture.

December 2018 northwest rendering of 7121 Wisconsin Avenue, courtesy of FXCollaborative Architects. Click to enlarge.

Massive Mixed-Use Development Planned Adjacent to the Bethesda Farm Women's Market: Figure 1 — May 2018 rendering of 7121 Wisconsin Avenue. Click to enlarge.

The redevelopment also involves both 7126 and 7121 Wisconsin Avenue (map), although plans have not been filed for the former. The latter was initially intended to include Lots 10 and 24, which are now designated to be a playground and a dog park, and create 18 townhouses and an L-shaped building with 342 apartments. More recently, the property at 7121 was envisioned as a 230-unit building.