Bainbridge name dropped from apartment properties in Montgomery County

The Bainbridge name is gone, as is the fancy-font signage above the lobby entrance at 4918 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Now the apartment tower that opened a decade ago will be called "Ellis Bethesda." And in Rockville, the Bainbridge Shady Grove at 15955 Frederick Road is now "The Reed." "Ellis" has no obvious connection to Bethesda; "The Reed" is likely commemorating the historic Reed Brothers Dodge dealership, for which there are already two tributes on-site: Dodge Hemi engine piston-inspired street lamps, and a public art installation. No explanation has been given for the change of branding. 

Virginia's air-sea-land logistics advantages over Maryland to expand even further

A new interview with Eric Jehu, Vice President of Logistics for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), for a Business Facilities magazine podcast sheds more light on that state's overwhelming infrastructure advantages over Maryland, and provides a preview of the Old Dominion's near-term plans to expand that edge even further. The magazine named Virginia as its 2024 State of the Year, following CNBC’s declaration of the Commonwealth as "America’s Top State for Business 2024." According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics' latest report on ports published last month, the Port of Virginia ranks 9th in total tonnage of all American ports; the Port of Baltimore ranks 16th. Among ports handling over 1000 TEUs (a standard cargo container size) per year, the Port of Virginia ranks 6th, while the Port of Baltimore is 15th.

Why does the Port of Virginia enjoy such greater volumes of cargo? Its shipping channel is "the deepest and widest on the coast, to accommodate the largest of the largest container vessels that are operating in the marketplace today, and as well as [the container ships of] the future," Jehu says. The port's cranes are capable of reaching "all the way across those very wide ships, so that, again, the productivity is faster than any other port on the coast. We're the only place where you can actually bring those large ships in and out efficiently. It's two-way traffic, so you don't have to stop all of the traffic to let one big ship come in."

Jehu considers the Port of Virginia's performance after the collapse of Maryland's Key Bridge last year to have been a tremendous opportunity to woo truckers and shippers from Baltimore to Norfolk. He says Virginia's port was able to demonstrate that it works faster and more efficiently during an emergency than Baltimore and other ports do under normal conditions. "So, out of every tragedy there's opportunity right? There's a silver lining, however the saying goes. And each time an event like that takes place, it shines a light on Virginia's ability to adapt. So, the Key Bridge collapsing was a human tragedy and maritime disruption for our friends in Baltimore. [But] operationally [when traffic was diverted from Baltimore to Norfolk], there was virtually no impact" on service at Norfolk.

The interview also covers Virginia' ongoing projects to expand highway capacity to-and-from the Port of Virginia through the Hampton Roads area. This includes the latest project, widening the current four-lane segments along nearly ten miles of the I-64 corridor in Norfolk and Hampton, with new twin tunnels across the harbor. It will be the largest highway project in the history of the state, and follows the construction of many other highways, as well as Express Lanes from Fredericksburg to Washington, D.C.

But the Old Dominion isn't resting on its laurels. Dulles International Airport has already helped lure many major corporate headquarters to the state. Northern Virginia cities enjoy direct access to the airport, which is the only one in the region that meets the needs of international businesspeople in terms of departure frequency, and in the number of international business destinations. Maryland leaders have - intentionally - failed to construct a new Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area that was planned decades ago. Now Virginia is actively going to expand its Dulles advantage.

A study ordered by the state found that Dulles is an "underused asset," that has the potential to steal cargo traffic from the current leading airports for air cargo in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. Jehu notes that such new cargo service would attract more pharmaceutical companies to Virginia, as many of their products require swift air transport around the globe. Montgomery County could take advantage of that new cargo capacity, but only if it constructs the new Potomac River crossing that would extend I-370 to Dulles. Without that bridge, Virginia will continue to rapidly close in on Maryland's rapidly shrinking advantage in the biotech field, which has been the one bright spot in Montgomery County and Maryland's otherwise-moribund economies this century.

One other logistics and infrastructure jewel in Virginia's crown not mentioned by Jehu is the new addition of commercial passenger flights out of Manassas Regional Airport expected later this year. Meanwhile, all the talk around Montgomery County's Airpark is about wanting to curtail air traffic there, rather than expanding it. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Moore administration fast-tracking Baltimore Red Line despite Maryland budget crisis

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) and other elected officials are openly and actively pushing tax and fee increases, as well as new taxes and fees, through the General Assembly in Annapolis at the moment. Their justification for hitting already-overtaxed taxpayers in the wallet is that, well, the state is broke and has no money. Someone forgot to tell the Maryland Transit Administration, which is promoting the $7.2 billion Baltimore Red Line light rail boondoggle as if it is fully funded in a newsletter emailed out this week.

"We've set ambitious goals for 2025," the project's director declares in the opening sentence, even as the state is at this very moment facing a nearly $3 billion shortfall. "Aerial survey mapping" is underway, and soil "field surface investigations" are scheduled to begin "soon." Meanwhile, a $457 million cut to developmental disabilities programs is under consideration, as are the elimination of itemized tax deductions, the addition of a new tax that would raise the cost of "sugary drink" 12-packs by several dollars, and the creation of a 75-cent fee on all Amazon retail and DoorDash/Uber Eats-style food deliveries.

The similar Purple Line light rail project in Montgomery and Prince George's counties has been a fiscal disaster. It is about a decade behind schedule, and has been mismanaged from the beginning. The potential ridership for it remains an open question, and any shortfall in its budget once service begins will be filled by taking money from other transit priorities. Red Line advocates - largely real estate developers, and radical war-on-cars extremists still terrified that I-70 might one day connect to downtown Baltimore like it was supposed to - have subsisted on champagne wishes and caviar dreams for 15 years. Pour another glass, and LARP along with the MTA on a project that redefines pie-in-the-sky, by and by.

Below Zero opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Below Zero is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cold therapy skincare boutique is targeted at those who want to look younger and extend their lives. That's a pretty large potential clientele for their "Swiss Science" skincare products and devices.

"Many animal species live longer at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures," Below Zero notes. "Researchers found that the sense of cold activates a genetic program that enhances lifespan. The research shows that enzymes and hormonal frameworks have a role in reactions to low temperatures, which affects aging and lifespan." Below Zero will open this spring on Level 2 of the mall, next to California Pizza Kitchen.

Wegmans Effect: Rockville Safeway store closing before nearby Wegmans even opens (Photos)

The Rockville Wegmans hasn't even opened yet, and the competition is already starting to move out of town. Safeway at 1800 Rockville Pike is closing, and a closing sale is underway, according to a sign posted at the supermarket. That Safeway is only a couple of blocks south of the future Wegmans store, which is opening later this year at the new Twinbrook Quarter development. Don't expect massive savings, as the closing sale is currently touting only 30%-off "selected merchandise," meaning most of the store's inventory is likely to be transferred to other local Safeways or other Albertsons-owned stores.

This Safeway was so new that there is probably very little nostalgia about the store, compared to the Veirs Mill Road Twinbrook Safeway it replaced last decade. Not only is Wegmans roaring into town, but Montgomery County's crime wave that is entering its fifth year was often in evidence at this Safeway. A number of assaults were reported at the store each of the last few years, in addition to the rampant shoplifting that has plagued nearly all retail businesses in the county this decade. 

When this store closes, there will be two Safeway stores left in Rockville, at the Rock Creek Village Center and at the King Farm Village Center. If you get your prescriptions filled at this store, your file will be transferred to the Rock Creek Village Center Safeway pharmacy at 5510 Norbeck Road.

Marvel Adventure Lab relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Face front, true believers! The Marvel Adventure Lab kiosk has moved at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It was formerly located in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2. Look for it now outside of Forever 21. The Marvel Adventure Lab is a photo booth that allows you to pose with your favorite Marvel Comics superhero, or insert yourself into a page from a comic book. The final product prints out for you to take home. Excelsior!

Maryland governor's false claim of tax cuts for some is really a tax hike for nearly everybody

Despite claims by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore that some Marylanders will receive a tax cut under his budget proposal, the math is adding up otherwise. Moore's proposed changes to the tax code would provide the average low-income resident with an annual tax cut of $300, and "middle class" taxpayers with an average savings of $173. Even in another dimension where those taxpayers would actually end up in the black on Tax Day with those amounts, you could still imagine Dr. Evil rubbing his hands together over that paltry "one-hundred and seventy-three dollars." But imagining is all that taxpayers who were promised a "tax cut" will be able to do next April 15, based on new numbers emerging from the state and economists in recent days.

For those working and middle-class taxpayers, the new, doubled vehicle registration fee alone will wipe out their entire tax cut. The Moore plan also eliminates deductions such as mortgage payments for homeowners. This is not only insane at a time when homeownership is already incredibly expensive and hard to attain, but is also an embrace of a radical idea designed to discourage people from even owning a home, by removing one of its key advantages over renting. With mortgages and other costs no longer deductible, most taxpayers making a modest $75,000 and up would find Moore's deduction-elimination plan delivering a tax hike. And even the low-income taxpayers are unlikely to realize any savings once all of the new, regressive tax hikes and fees are factored in.

A proposed new tax on "sugary drinks" is misleadingly promoted by sponsors as a "2-cent tax." In reality, it is 2-cents per ounce. That means $2.88 per 12-pack of sodas. $3.84 for a 12-pack of Monster Energy drinks. Multiply that by 26 or 52 weeks, depending on consumption level, and you're talking about a serious escalation in price, at a time when groceries are already obscenely-expensive for all but the wealthiest. Why in the world would our elected officials do this to their constituents?

The average Amazon Prime member places 100 orders from Amazon per year. And the average American orders food from a food delivery service like DoorDash or Uber Eats around 60 times per year. That means Moore's new 75-cents tax on all retail and food deliveries from Amazon, DoorDash, Uber Eats and other equivalent services would cost the average Marylander an additional $120 per year.

I've already reported on the massive tax hikes Moore has proposed for marijuana and sports betting. But there's yet another target for new taxes: guns. Two proposed bills would place a new 12% excise tax on all firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition.

We haven't even factored in the skyrocketing energy bills that are the direct result of Moore and the Maryland General Assembly's Communist EmPOWER MD fee hike, and their forced closure of 8 power plants across the state to meet a 100% "clean" energy target by 2035.

Conservative news outlets wringing their hands over the potential flight of the rich from Maryland are actually underplaying the threat to the state's future, because such departures of the well-off were an established fact following former Gov. Martin O'Malley's disastrous "millionaire's tax" of 2012. Only two years after that tax hike, there were 1000 less such "millionaires" filing tax returns in Maryland, and it's only gotten worse since.

So why would Moore press ahead while knowing this? Because he knows that, like before, it's the working stiffs and modestly well-off white collar workers who are really going to pick up the tab. In fact, The Washington Post calculated that Marylanders who make under $500,000 will actually contribute about 60% of the new revenue generated by the Moore tax plan. And as many economists have noted, in a real estate market as expensive as we are in now, those lucky enough to be in home are unlikely to relocate to avoid taxes, unlike the rich who can afford to move and often have more than one home.