sugoiben

Kinda old, but I just came across this video that I think most everyone on here would appreciate: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/121

Similar is an understatement. It is clearly the same building... Which makes me think the foreground building is just a generic, plop this down whereever, creation. Not something designed to fit properly into it's surroundings.

I ride the DC metro everyday. They have signs on all the platforms that tell you how long till the next train is coming. During rush hour if it's anything higher than 3 or 4 minutes ppl generally look rather exasperated at that horribly long wait.

Well I just happened to have to go to Home Depot today, which from top of their parking garage you get a decent view of this new development in Merrifield. So here's the pic. It's one big development, but at least two separate buildings I believe. Condos, with ground floor retail. Kinda hard to see but their is a lot of parking garage attached there to the left side. Whole thing is pretty far along. There were 3 tower cranes up for all this at one point, but those are all gone now. Not too tall. I believe 8 or 9 stories. Don't believe they took anything significant down for this. Most of the area where these buildings are now were gravel lots, where I believe the neaby BMW dealership stored some cars. The movie theater in Merrifield is just to the right, and Gallows Rd runs parallel to the building behind it from this vantage. It was my understanding that a lot of stuff in that area is on hold till the Silver line comes thru. The idea being that once metro is in place, the height restrictions throughout Tyson's area will go way up. So they are waiting for that to build as big as they can.

There's a ton of stuff in Merrifield. Or maybe it's just one really long building. But it's large. Sitting over between the movie theater and gallows rd. Maybe I'll swing by tomorrow and snap a pic or something.

The only thing going up in Tyson's right now is the Park Crest Condos. I was bored, so I drove by and snapped a few pics:

I have several friends who live close to the Fairfax Wegman's, and since it's opened they don't shut up about how great it is. One buddy of mine, drives past several other grocery stores just to go to Wegmans. And he claims it's cause it's cheaper. It certainly looks like an expensive place inside, but everyone tells me that it's comparable to other grocery stores, but blows them away on quality and selection.

Mmmm Brazilian BBQ. Good Stuff. Ya, it's definitely not limited to that one chain. There are at least three I know of near me up in Nova(one in MD actually). One of them is a Texas de Brazil. And I have to say, that's the worst of the three. But the most affordable at least. One in MD is called, I think, Green Tree Churasscuria... (or however you spell that word) and there is a brand new one that just opened in Tyson's called Chima. So if you get a chain or just a unique one, or whatever, just go hungry. They'll fill ya up.

The nearest grocery store to my apt is a Whole Foods. Which is annoying since I have to drive past it to get to the Giant that I actually shop at. Dunno what scale of Whole Foods I have. But I swear it's nothing but stuff for vegetarians. Everything is organic, or made of soy. Great if I wanna make a salad, I guess. But otherwise, completely useless to me.

Anyone noticed that something new is going in to Fairview Park? (Rt. 50 & I495) There are already several office towers and a hotel back in there, but driving past on the beltway you can see something new. Large area cleared, some foundation work done, and the base for a tower crane is visible. No idea what it is though.

Point, counterpoint: Housing starts plunge A lot of people are saying that's a sign of the bubble popping. And even in the article you posted vdogg, it said homes are selling, but it's the cheaper ones that are selling. The affordable ones. So hopefully developers will catch on and stop building only rediculously expensive homes, and more things that ppl can actually afford.

Tunnel Backers Given New Hope May 2008 Deadline Offers Enough Time To Switch Tysons Plans, Advocates Say http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7020600941.html

I think part of the reason that it's going to take so long is that they can't get the density they want until the new metro stops are in place. And that's going to take about 10 years to complete. If they could get permits to do it now, I bet they would jump on the chance. But as for Pembroke, I would hope that something similar eventually does happen. Given time that is. Like vdogg said, get City Walk built, and then I would think all those big empty lots around the mall would become the next most enticing place to build. Maybe once the development crosses the Blvd, we can go back to calling the area Pembroke, instead of Town Center

Wow, that pdf was quite detailed, and a very interesting read. Will be interesting to see how much of those visions come to fruition. Thanks!

Wonder how long before all the space between and Rosslyn and Courthouse is filled in with new stuff. I had heard it rumoured for a while now that Dr. Dremo's lot was going to be replaced with condo's or some other kinda high rise. But have never heard anything concrete about that. Anyone else hear that one?