TOLL BROTHERS LAUNCHES SITE, POSTS RENDERINGS FOR HAMPDEN ROW CONDOS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Toll Brothers City Living has launched the official website for its future ultra-luxury condo development, Hampden Row. They also have posted some new renderings (including interiors), which are not currently on the website. There are also images of formally-dressed couples out on the town, and a promise of an "unparalleled lifestyle" for residents of Hampden Row. Construction is still in the earliest stage at the corner of Hampden Lane and Arlington Road, in downtown Bethesda. Click photos to enlarge for greater detail:

MOCO'S MILLENNIAL PROBLEM: BLAME COUNTY'S WEAK JOB GROWTH, SAYS DEVELOPER OF BETHESDA CONDOS

One of the big puzzles (for some) in Montgomery County is, how can more millennials be attracted to live and work here? Two panelists at Bisnow's Montgomery County Boom! event last week at the Marriott North Bethesda Conference Center managed to dodge the popular myths, and hit the nail on the head.

Stephen Alfandre of Toll Brothers City Living, which is currently building the Hampden Row luxury condos in downtown Bethesda, got it right. Alfandre argued "poor job growth in Montgomery is holding [attraction of millennials] back," according to Bisnow. His examples of locations where efforts have been more successful - Arlington County and DC's 14th Street - both share one thing in common: proximity to high-wage government, defense and government contracting jobs. If Montgomery County can add more of those type of jobs, it will provide the same draw for young professionals.

Rich Jordan of The JBG Companies identified another major draw - affordable housing. Although, one could argue, if there were enough new high-wage jobs, that would increase the spending power of millennials for housing. If you look where the studies show millennials are currently located in downtown Bethesda, they are clustered most in the Battery Lane and Bradley Boulevard corridors. With demolitions of several older apartment buildings already approved for Battery, that street will have a net loss in affordable units. We're hearing more and more rumors about redevelopment (a.k.a. demolition of existing housing) in the Bradley area, as well. Those ideas will have to be reversed, if Montgomery really is serious about retaining the millennials it has now, much less attracting new ones.

I give both of these guys credit for cutting through the nightlife/"vibrant places" baloney. Millennials vacation and party in Las Vegas, but they sure as heck aren't moving there like they are to DC, Rosslyn, Pentagon City, Clarendon, etc. to start their professional careers.

HAMPDEN LANE DEMOLITION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

The houses on Hampden Lane are gone. Demolition continues at the future site of the Toll Brothers City Living project, Hampden Row. If you look at the pictures below, you can get a sense of the footprint of the future condo building, between Arlington Road at one end, and the building by the yellow backhoe on the other.

DEMOLITION OF HOMES BEGINS AT FUTURE TOLL BROTHERS CONDO SITE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Single-family homes that once lined the lower part of Hampden Lane near Arlington Road began to fall yesterday, clearing room for Hampden Row, an ultra-luxury condo development by Toll Brothers City Living.

UPDATE: TOLL BROTHERS SETTING UP OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

UPDATE: September 18

I have now confirmed the purpose of the new Toll Brothers City Living office at 7940-A Wisconsin Avenue. The space has been leased as a business office for the City Living operations team. Toll Brothers' Hampden Row condo sales office (which has been more of a display ad so far) will remain at 4912 Hampden Lane.

The less-than-swanky setting is a bit out of sync with the product being sold, though - the office will be located above the Sapphire Cafe, in a decidedly unluxurious office building.

Demolition work for Hampden Row continues at the corner of Arlington Road and Hampden Lane.

BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: TOLL BROTHERS LUXURY CONDOS (PHOTOS)

The houses near the corner of Hampden Lane and Arlington Road are still standing, but demolition operations are really just beginning on the Toll Brothers City Living Hampden Row luxury condos.

You can see where a utility right-of-way along the side of Hampden Lane has been excavated. All utilities, from electricity to communication to water/sewer, will have to be of higher capacity for a building, than for a few older homes.

Some damage back here,
but the main structures
are still standing

Exposed utilities (likely
newly-installed, based on
their condition)

HAMPDEN ROW CONDO AMENITIES REVEALED

Toll Brothers City Living is constructing a 7-story, 55-unit luxury condominium building called Hampden Row on Hampden Lane at Arlington Road. For the first time, I have a list of amenities that the future building will offer to residents.

A rooftop terrace will have a trendy feature found on most new Bethesda rooftops today - grilling stations. There will also be a fitness center, resident lounge, private underground parking and a 24-hour front desk.

They are currently demolishing the existing structures on the site.

DEMOLITION BEGINS AT TOLL BROTHERS CITY LIVING SITE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Before development giant Toll Brothers can build its Hampden Row luxury residential project on Hampden Lane at Arlington Road, it first has to demolish what's there now. That work has begun this week, starting with driveways, front walks and other hardscaping at these vacant houses.

Doubt anybody's trying to
park here at this point,
but the permit parking sign
is still on duty

Former veterinary office

Get off my lawn!!

FIRST LOOK: RENDERING OF HAMPDEN ROW CONDOS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Here's a sneak preview of the future Toll Brothers City Living luxury condo building, Hampden Row, at the corner of Arlington Road and Hampden Lane in Bethesda. One interesting detail to note: the facade eerily resembles that of The Hampden, a garden apartment building about to be demolished further up Hampden Lane.

Hampden Row will have 55 condominiums, which will range from 1-3 bedrooms. The plan for the building to open for sale late this year doesn't sound very realistic at this point, however. They have not even broken ground yet, much less demolished the existing homes on the properties.

Rendering courtesy of Toll Brothers City Living
All rights reserved
Photos: Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row