Residences at Capital Crescent Trail to add Amazon Hub Locker

The Residences at Capital Crescent Trail apartments at 5325 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda plans to add an Amazon Hub Locker to its amenities in the coming months. Formerly known simply as "Amazon Locker," an Amazon Hub Locker provides a secure way to receive packages if you are not at home during the day. The recipient can retrieve their package without having to work through building staff. At this location, the Amazon lockers will be installed in the lobby conference room area.

Firefighters respond to alarm at Residences at Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda

Montgomery County firefighters are responding to a fire alarm at the Residences at Capital Crescent Trail at 5325 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. An unidentified odor has been reported on the sixth floor, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. There are no reports of smoke or flames yet, but there is a large number of units on-scene because that is a standard response for a high-rise.

Montgomery County to add 8 antennas, diesel generator to Bethesda TV tower

Montgomery County has proposed adding eight new antennas to the existing telecommunications tower located at 5202 River Road in Bethesda. They have also proposed adding a new diesel-powered generator and utility building below the tower, which is in close proximity to the Westwood Tower apartments on Westbard Avenue. The stated purpose of the new antennas and equipment is improvement of public safety radio communications.

Motorola Solutions document showing types
and placement of the proposed antennas on the
River Road TV tower

Documents submitted by the County and contractor Motorola Solutions state that six of the antennas will be "whip-style" antennas, and two will be dish antennas. However, Motorola's diagram shows a different mix of antennas: 5 whip antennas, 3 dish antennas, and 2 VHF antennas.

Site plan of proposed utility building and
diesel-powered generator at the base of the tower

The Motorola document shows the planned locations of the new antennas on the tower, which is owned by Pinnacle Towers, LLC. Montgomery County will pay Pinnacle $48000 a year to lease the required space on the tower, and on the ground for the utility building, generator, and necessary HVAC equipment.

Google Maps satellite photo showing proximity of
Westwood Tower apartments (left) to the proposed
diesel-powered generator (right)

Motorola's diagram shows the range of the antennas, which will be aimed at Grosvenor, Potomac, and Takoma Park. The County says the RF radiation emitted by the new antennas, which at high levels of exposure has been shown to rapidly heat biological tissue, will be within the FCC exposure limits. How loud the diesel-powered generator will be to residents of Westwood Tower and the Residences at the Capital Crescent Trail apartments - and beyond - is not addressed in the County's application.

Firefighters respond to report of smoke at Residences at Capital Crescent Trail (Photos)

Firefighters responded to a report of smoke at the Residences at Capital Crescent Trail apartment building at 5325 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda just after 12:00 AM this morning. The response was significant, as it is in any potential high-rise fire. According to scanner reports from firefighters inside the building, formerly known as the Park Bethesda, the search initially centered on the building's fourth floor. Finding nothing, they started at the bottom level and worked their way to the top.

Ultimately, no fire or source of smoke was found. At least one person was carried down to the building's lobby to receive medical treatment. Firefighters were well-prepared for any potential, however, as they had immediately connected hoses to nearby hydrants upon arrival.

Park Bethesda rebrands as The Residences at Capital Crescent Trail

Ahead of the construction of a second 110' apartment tower on Capital Properties' Westbard Avenue site, the developer has rebranded its existing Park Bethesda high-rise. The building's brand-wrapped shuttle bus and website are both displaying the new name, The Residences at Capital Crescent Trail.

It is a somewhat curious change, as Park Bethesda reflected both the aspirational location of Bethesda, and the adjacent Little Falls Stream Valley Park that gives units on that side a forest view. Now the popular trail, formerly a CSX rail line from Silver Spring to Georgetown, is the selling point.

The apartment tower has been undergoing renovations in recent years. It began its life as a federal government office building. Park Bethesda has long been considered a steal for its lower-than-downtown rent, while offering several high-end features, including floor-to-ceiling windows.

A set of townhomes will also be developed on the property's Westbard Avenue-fronting parking lot. Perhaps the rebranding is meant to create a common name for the three multifamily developments that will eventually share the site.

Neighbor Equity One is rapidly moving forward with its New Westwood redevelopment; Capital Properties has not announced a timeline for its projects yet.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S TALLEST BUILDING PROPOSED FOR WESTBARD AVENUE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Should a 25-30 story building be constructed far away from any Metro station? Some at Capital Properties appear to think so. The previous owner of the Westwood Complex, a massive portfolio of properties along Westbard Avenue, Ridgefield Road and River Road, still holds the Park Bethesda apartments after selling the rest to Equity One. At a presentation to planners during the Westbard Sector Plan charette Wednesday morning, Capital Properties proposed adding two new high-rise apartment towers to its existing one, and demolishing the large surface parking lots that exist on the site today in favor of an underground garage.

Planner Marc DeOcampo makes
recommendations to owners of
the Park Bethesda site

A CP representative showed a series of renderings and said the firm was using downtown Bethesda's new 17-story buildings as the baseline, and wondered if they could go even higher. How high? 25 to 30 stories, he said, which are more indicative of White Flint's height limits than the current zoning in downtown Bethesda. The renderings showed options for the two towers of 300'/150', 200'/150', and 250'/150'. With the tallest tower on Westbard Avenue next to the existing Park Bethesda, the shorter 12-14 story tower would be close to the potential Crown Street bypass planners are considering. Planner Marc DeOcampo suggested CP flip the two buildings, as the one near Crown Street is significantly below the grade of Westbard Avenue. That would reduce the impact of such a tall building on the adjacent townhomes at Westbard Mews and Westland Middle School. DeOcampo noted that residents were interested in a much shorter height of 6-8 stories.

CP was open to a new road such as Crown Street on or through its property, but had mixed feelings about the feasibility of the proposed Crown Street bypass from Westbard to River Road.  It has its own Crown Street extension concept that goes through the property, rather than behind it. Their representative said mixed-use with retail on the ground floor was still a possibility, and that the taller buildings would allow for more green space on the site. One tower would be a "low-amenity building."

Not surprisingly, a good number of residents in attendance at the meeting expressed displeasure at the proposal, with one asking how a potential 2000 cars could be accommodated. Capital Properties suggested there could be 700-1000 units in total when the two towers are completed.

Capital Properties holds some leverage over the potential construction of a Crown Street bypass for Westbard Avenue, as it owns part of the land between the 2 existing County rights-of-way that the project would use. A 25-30 story building would take the title of Montgomery County's Tallest Building from North Bethesda Market. Park Bethesda is a former NIH office building converted into luxury apartments, and at 11 stories is a non-conforming structure grandfathered into the new zoning code.

FEDERAL REALTY SWITCHES MANAGEMENT FOR PERSEI APARTMENTS AT PIKE & ROSE

One week before residents are expected to begin moving into the new PerSei luxury apartments at Pike & Rose in White Flint [a.k.a. Rockville/N. Bethesda/Pike District/your name here], developer Federal Realty has switched management for the property. While as of this writing, the PerSei website continues to list Bozzuto as the management firm, a source tells me Riverstone Residential is taking over the role there as of today.

Riverstone is also a large management firm, operating 170,000 units nationwide. They are best known in Bethesda for their prior management of the Park Bethesda apartments on Westbard Avenue. That property is now managed by its landlord, Capital Properties. The Riverstone PerSei management team is scheduled to arrive on-site today, according to a source.

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

Ski Mask Gang Stays Underground Yet

Another Week; Lights On or Off on Westbard?

Another fairly uneventful week in the ongoing search for the Ski Mask Gang. First, Montgomery County Police confirmed that the Willard Avenue robbery last week does not fit the masked trio. There was only one robber, and he is identified as a white male. So there is a lone robber out there, too, now.

Second, masked robbers were in the news in western Montgomery County. A white truck with 2 masked armed robbers has rammed vehicles to simulate an accident, then robbed the victim when he or she gets out to exchange information. MCPD reminds you to remain in your vehicle and call police if you are involved in a suspicious "accident" like this.

No relevant crimes in the MCPD report. The following crimes were reported by SpotCrime:

Assault, 5600 block of Wisconsin Ave./Somerset Terrace, Chevy Chase Village, 4/16/12

- This, like the Willard Ave. incident, is in the Ski Mask Gang's territory. They last struck in Montgomery County just south of there on Wisconsin in February. But not enough information here to implicate the SMG.

Robbery, 36th St. and Porter St. NW DC, 4/15/12.

- Kind of far from Friendship Heights, Tenleytown and Van Ness. No mention of guns, masks or multiple assailants. Verdict: Not the SMG.

There were a couple of robberies on Benton St. NW earlier this week; the only suspect is listed as a 60 year old man. Doesn't exactly sound like the SMG.

The search continues!

Meanwhile, in the ongoing saga of the Westwood Shopping Center, owner Capital Properties has now turned all of the parking lot lights back on. They did this one other time during the period since February during which large portions of the lot have been left dark at night. And then they went off again. So we can't be sure if CP will leave them on. But they can be sure I will keep readers posted if they take the irresponsible action of turning them off again! It has been bad public relations for Capital Properties to put shoppers at risk by turning off the lights where Park Bethesda and Westbard Mews residents walk over to the Giant and Rite Aid.

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

Ski Mask Gang Continues to

Elude Capture after Winter

Crime Spree

Another week has passed without developments in the case of the 3 masked, armed robbers who struck in Friendship Heights, Northwest Washington, and the Westbard area during January and February.

As you recall, last week there was a report of two armed robbers near the Van Ness Metro in NW.

There are no related crimes in this week's Montgomery County Police crime report.

So once again, we turn to the unofficial SpotCrime report:

Assault, 6900 block of Arlington Road at Bradley Blvd., 3/29/12

Assault, 4900 block of Newport Ave. at Massachusetts Ave., 3/30/12

Assault, 3700 block of East West Highway at Cypress Pl., 3/30/12

Theft, 5300 block of Westbard Ave., 4/2/12

*I'm not typically listing thefts as related to the Ski Mask Gang, but given the crime spike in the Westbard area, I'm listing any serious crimes in that location

Assault, 4200 block of Massachusetts Ave. NW, 4/2/12

Robbery, 5000 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW, 3/29/12

Nothing here fits the description of the masked trio.

Westwood Shopping Center Update: Capital Properties kept large sections of the parking lot pitch dark for another week, as of last night. The company remains aloof regarding safety concerns of patrons crossing the darkened lot from Park Bethesda and Westbard Mews to reach the Giant and Rite Aid.

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE

UPDATE

Has the Park Bethesda Ski Mask

Gang Reemerged on DC Side of Line?

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The January 19 Park Bethesda armed robbers remain atop Bethesda's "Most Wanted" list.

No incidents fitting their description (3 robbers using firearms, wearing ski masks, assaulting and robbing victim of property) are found in the Montgomery County Police official crime report.

However...

Let's check SpotCrime's unofficial report:

Assault, 5000 block of Dalton Road, Bethesda, 3/24/12

Robbery, 4200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW, DC, 3/28/12

***Armed Robbery, 4000 block of Connecticut Ave. NW, DC, 3/28/12

According to SpotCrime:

Metropolitan Police Department officers reported an armed robbery "at gunpoint" at 2:01 PM on Tuesday, March 28. Suspects described as 2 black males, who fled the scene and are still at large.

This sounds somewhat like the ski mask gang, fits their m.o. of operating near Metro stations on the Red Line (Van Ness, in this case), but there are only two robbers mentioned. And there is no specific mention of them wearing masks. Is this a different group, or have they lost their Third Musketeer?

Were they the same guys who committed that second robbery on Connecticut that same day? That second incident (above) does not mention "armed" but it is reminiscent of how the ski mask gang struck on Wisconsin Avenue one night, the victim escaped, and then they struck again just a few blocks south.

It's a waiting game at this point. Certainly, there were no armed robbery incidents reported in nearby NW or Bethesda for several weeks. No official information on this incident is available, which is strange, because the SpotCrime source for this says the robbery was reported by MPD units.

No crimes of any kind were reported in the Westbard Sector this past week. Police remain on patrol in the area.

Nothing's changed at the Westwood Shopping Center; large portions of the parking lot were pitch black again for the entire week, as of last night. Park Bethesda residents must brave the darkness to walk over to the Giant or Rite Aid, as Capital Properties - for reasons still known only to them - simply refuses to activate full lighting on the property at night.

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

Park Bethesda Ski Mask Gang

Still at Large

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Another week without an armed robbery has passed, and the Montgomery County Police official crime report contains no incidents related to the 3 armed, ski mask robbers who struck in the Park Bethesda parking lot January 19.

Let's check the unofficial SpotCrime report for any incidents that might relate to the Ski Mask Gang or a similar group:

Robbery, 4400 block of Reservoir Rd., NW, DC, 3/18/12

Assault, 7900 block of Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 3/19/12

Assault, Bethesda Metro Center, 3/17/12

Assault, 9600 block of Forest Rd., Bethesda, 3/19/12

Assault, 5800 block of Conway Rd., Bethesda, 3/16/12

None of these sound like the ski mask trio. Police continue stepped up patrols in the Westbard area. It seems that the ski mask folks are laying low indefinitely. Meanwhile, Capital Properties maintained its reduced lighting policy in the Westwood Shopping Center parking lot, which reduces safety for patrons at night. Except for a short return of the lights two weeks ago, large portions of the lot have been pitch black at night for more than a month.

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE

UPDATE

No New Armed Robberies to Report,

Capital Properties Takes

Westwood Shopping Center

Back to Dark Ages

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The Jan. 19 Park Bethesda armed, masked trio is still at large. No armed robberies fitting the gang's method of operation have been reported.

Let's examine any other crimes within the group's operating area, which centers on the Western Avenue border between Maryland and the District. Specifically, assaults, robberies and auto thefts. This trio clearly has utilized vehicles, given the distance of the Park Bethesda from the nearest Metro station. Criminals in this situation could make use of stolen cars, and switch them as necessary.

Assault, 5100 block of Dalecarlia Place, Bethesda, 3/13/2012 (SpotCrime)

Assault, 7359 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, 3/13/2012 (SpotCrime)

Robbery, 2800 block of New Mexico Avenue, NW, DC, 3/13/2012 (SpotCrime)

Assault, 4900 block of Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, 3/11/2012 (SpotCrime)

Assault, 4900 block of Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, 3/10/2012 (SpotCrime)

Robbery, 4800 block of Nebraska Avenue, NW, DC, 3/9/2012 (SpotCrime)

The only notable incident reported by the Montgomery County Police was a theft of vehicle at Macarthur Blvd. and Brickyard Rd., outside of the Park Bethesda robbers' area of activity.

In other news, Capital Properties bizarrely has turned off the lights in one-third of the parking area at the Westwood Shopping Center. Apparently, they think the community is not intelligent enough to realize the lights are off. Once again, it is a dark and dangerous trip to the grocery and drug stores for residents of Park Bethesda and Westbard Mews, who walk across the darkened area of the lot.

After Friendship Heights retailers agreed to leave on more exterior lighting, and Pepco replaced some faulty streetlights, it is beyond embarrassing for Capital Properties to decrease public safety in the Westbard area by extinguishing lights that have been lit at night for decades.

The lights have been off three nights, as of Thursday night. Lighting remains on in parking areas directly in front of stores in the shopping center, as it did during the three week blackout that ended eight days ago.

Now that the lights are out again, nearby residents are wondering what Capital Properties' message is to the neighborhood, even as the developer hopes to win community support for redevelopment of the Westbard sector. Not a great way to go about winning support!

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

Capital Properties Restores Full

Lighting to

Westwood Shopping Center

Parking Lot

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The big news is that Capital Properties has heard and responded on the issue of lighting at the Westwood Shopping Center on Westbard Avenue.

Three weeks ago last night, about a third of the venerable retail center's parking lot was suddenly plunged into darkness. The cutoff of those area's lights was particularly questionable given that an armed assault and robbery had occurred January 19, directly across the street in the Park Bethesda parking lot. Since the Park Bethesda masked assailants are still at large, and are now known to await victims in parking areas among other settings, many wanted to know why that side of the lot would be blacked out. Furthermore, Park Bethesda residents regularly cross that side of the lot to reach the Giant and Rite Aid, because the only signaled crosswalk is at the shopping center's property line.

Regular readers know that I have been reporting on this story since shortly after the blackout began. With increased concerns about crime in the area, the timing of the lighting reduction was not a great community relations move.

The good news is that Capital Properties has responded and turned the lights back on. Park Bethesda, Westwood Tower and Westbard Mews residents can once again safely cross the lot, and Westbard Avenue is once again well-lit, as it has been for decades, by the shopping center's lights.

It was a particularly timely decision, because 1) I was about to write this story noting that the lights had been out for a third full week, and 2) The Gazette had just published a story which reported that retail properties near Western Avenue, and Pepco, were improving lighting in that area, which has been a hot spot in this recent Bethesda/Northwest DC crime wave.

But on Westbard, you had lighting already in place. Someone had simply decided to turn it off.

There have been no official incidents reported in the last week that match the method of operation of the Park Bethesda trio - masks, guns, assault, and theft of property from the victim.

Here is what unofficial SpotCrime is reporting that in any way relates to the Park Bethesda robbers:

Robbery, 3900 block of Morrison Street, NW, 3/6/2012

(this would be the 2nd hit on Morrison since this crime wave started)

Assault, Parking Garage 40, 4935 St. Elmo Avenue, 3/4/2012

Assault, 4200 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, 3/2/2012

Assault, 5800 block of Johnson Avenue (Bethesda), 3/6/2012

(that would be a stretch for them; they've stuck within walking distance of Metro stations with the exception of the Park Bethesda incident)

Remember, those are not official police reports, but they are out there, and you can never have too much information. These unofficial reports suggest a fair increase in assaults in downtown Bethesda, if you add in the one from Wisconsin and Hampden last week.

In any case, the more dots you can place on a map, the easier it is to connect them, and ultimately complete a picture.

Only the Morrison robbery sounds remotely like a match.

Montgomery County Police continue to have a greater uniformed presence in the Westbard area. In fact, I saw two police cruisers when I was at the shopping center. Police have said tactical units are also working in the area. Again, this is a big reason why no further armed robberies have been reported since those efforts began.

With the lights restored, a continued police presence, and no new armed robberies, West Bethesda is likely feeling safer at the moment.

WEST BETHESDA

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

No Armed Robberies Reported in Latest

Police Report; Unofficial Reports of Assaults, Robberies

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Montgomery County Police continue stepped up uniformed patrols and tactical operations in the Westbard area. No armed robberies were reported in that vicinity.

An unofficial crime reporting website lists some crimes not included in the official report.

Remember, the Park Bethesda robbers were 3 individuals, armed with at least one gun, wearing ski masks, and usually assault their victim. A group matching this method of operation has struck other times on both sides of the Western Avenue border since January.

So, we're looking for armed robbery reports primarily, and assaults or robberies in crime reports.

Here is what SpotCrime lists under those categories since my update last Friday:

Assault at 7300 Wisconsin Avenue near Hampden Lane. February 27.

Robbery at 4500 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW, February 27.

Assault at 4900 block of Sentinel Dr., February 27.

"Theft of vehicle" at 5100 block of River Road, February 25.

County police representatives have stressed that online crime reporting websites not affiliated with actual police departments are not necessarily accurate. I simply present these cases so that citizens can be alert to suspicious activity, and continue to be aware of their surroundings while the Park Bethesda robbers are still at large. SpotCrime provides no detail, so there is no positive indication of those robbers' involvement in these cases. However, they fall within the range of criminal activity so far displayed by that operation.

In related news, last evening was the 14th straight night that Capital Properties darkened large portions of the Westwood Shopping Center parking lot, despite recent crime and safety concerns. It is not a winning public relations strategy with the community, and I am aware of no other shopping center in Bethesda having reduced its lighting, despite the county's Draconian energy tax.

POLICE REPORT:

MASKED ROBBERS

MATCHING DESCRIPTION

OF WESTBARD ASSAILANTS

STRUCK TWICE FEB. 13

Park Bethesda Suspects Remain at Large,

May Be Responsible for Bethesda/NW DC Attacks

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

A trio of armed and dangerous masked men may have attempted more than one armed robbery on February 13, in the Friendship Heights/West Bethesda area. It had previously been reported that a robbery occurred in the 5200 block of Western Avenue that evening. But the latest crime report indicates the same group may have tried - and failed - to rob another victim the same night.

According to the report, three masked, black males assaulted a pedestrian in the 5500 block of Wisconsin Avenue at 9:45 PM. Wearing ski masks, they were unsuccessful in obtaining personal property from the victim.

Presumably, they then walked to Western Avenue and attacked a second victim, this time successfully.

As reported here this week, police continue stepped up patrols in the Westbard area. They also continue to work with the Metropolitan Police Department, as the crime wave has hit both jurisdictions along the Western Avenue corridor. Tactical units are assisting on both sides of the border. Meanwhile, Westwood Shopping Center owner Capital Properties left large portions of its parking lot dark for the 8th consecutive night, casting a shadow over Westbard Ave. Patrons, especially those walking over from the Park Bethesda apartments, are at greater risk without the additional lighting.

GUARDIAN ANGELS

DEPLOY TO

COMBAT NW DC

CRIME WAVE THAT

HAS CROSSED INTO

WEST BETHESDA

The group of armed robbers who have struck multiple times in Northwest Washington, D.C., along Western Avenue, and in the Westbard area of Bethesda, are still at large.

Last Monday's attack was the most recent, occurring in the 5200 block of Western Avenue, which delineates the Maryland-D.C. border.

The victim's description of the robbers was very similar to that in the Park Bethesda parking lot robbery Jan. 19: Masked and armed assailants.

Montgomery County Police continue stepped-up patrols of the Westbard area, which has so far pushed crimes back to the DC side of the border. But the Western Avenue incident was only blocks away from the Westbard area.

On the DC side, District 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh is said to have scheduled a meeting with constituents for this Thursday evening. I would pass along the time and location, but both are apparently top secret, as they are not listed anywhere on the internet.

Finally, a local chapter of the Guardian Angels is deploying in Northwest DC beginning this morning, according to WJLA 7.

In contrast to these actions on both sides of the border, Capital Properties is taking a strange approach at the Westwood Shopping Center: eliminating lighting in a full third of the parking lot, thereby further darkening those areas of Westbard Avenue. This action was taken within 72 hours of the last Western Ave. incident.

A second robbery in January occurred at the old WDCA 20 building on River Road, but was a theft of property from a business,

rather than a hold-up.

STILL DARK

Large Sections of Westwood Shopping Center

Remain Unlit for Fourth Consecutive Night

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Two large parking areas at the Westwood Shopping Center remained in darkness for the fourth night in a row.

As I reported yesterday, the reduced lighting has also reduced safety for patrons, Westbard pedestrians, Bowlmor customers and residents of Park Bethesda and Kenwood Place.

Bowlmor patrons were shadowy figures on the sidewalk outside the bowling nightspot, now that illumination from the shopping center is gone.

It remains unknown why shopping center owner Capital Properties has ordered or allowed the blackout, or if the reduced lighting is permanent.

Stay tuned for further updates.

HEY,

WHO TURNED OUT

THE LIGHTS?

Capital Properties Plunges One-Third of

Westwood Shopping Center into Darkness,

Reducing Safety of Patrons, Neighbors

Is County Energy Tax to Blame?

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

A full third of the Westwood Shopping Center property on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda has been shrouded in darkness for consecutive nights. This despite a recent spike in crime in the Westbard area.

In fact, as previously reported here, a resident of the Park Bethesda apartments directly across the street from the shopping center was a victim of armed robbery January 19. The crime occurred in the Park Bethesda parking lot.

Montgomery County Police have added additional officers to the area at night since then. Residents note that those officers continue to be in evidence as recently as last night. No further robberies have been publicly reported since police stepped up patrols.

It is therefore strange that shopping center owner Capital Properties, of New York, would order - or allow - major portions of the parking lot to be pitch black at night.

Ironically, the darkest area is the large parking area between the Rite Aid and the property line alongside the Kenwood Place condominium driveway. Kenwood Place continues to light its driveway. It's ironic, though, because that area of the shopping center is directly across the street from Park Bethesda, where the night robbery took place just four weeks ago.

This darkness is dangerous for several reasons. The robbers who struck in West Bethesda, and across the DC line in NW, are still at large.

Second, many Park Bethesda residents walk across that section of the lot after shopping, to reach the only signal-controlled crosswalk for the building on Westbard. They have no choice unless they drive. We keep hearing about walkable communities, so why would the county and Capital Properties discourage those practicing that lifestyle? The past several nights, those residents have had to make a dangerous walk through a dark area, where anyone could be lurking.

Third, the loss of lighting now makes the job of the police more difficult. If they spot or chase a suspect, they will have to employ their own flashlights or mounted light cannons on their cruisers to illuminate that area.

Fourth, both sidewalks along Westbard are now darker at night, without the illumination usually provided by the shopping center.

Fifth, with lights turned off at the other end as well, more opportunity for would-be thieves to lurk around that wing of Kenwood Place exists.

The portion of the lot directly in front of Giant, Rite Aid, and other businesses remains well-lit.

So why are the lights out? Of course there might be temporary repairs underway. But if this is intended to be permanent, one must assume it is to save money in regard to the county's punitive, draconian energy tax.

The darkened portions of the lot tend to be used only sporadically, for afterschool sports, nighttime patrons of Bowlmor, and those visiting businesses in the commercial wing of Kenwood Place.

But while "smart" growth gurus would claim that's "excessive, wasteful surface parking," the space has been much appreciated by everyone from truckers to the National Treasure 2 film crew. In fact, the Obama campaign used the Westwood Shopping Center parking lot as a staging area on the day of his historic election in 2008.

This is a well-regarded shopping center by longtime residents, and features what is arguably the best Giant in Montgomery County.

It's time to reconsider the unwise decision to severely reduce lighting in the property's parking lot. Particularly at a time when crime activity has been higher than usual in the area. This is another unforced error by Capital Properties, who are seeking to redevelop the Westbard area. Decreasing the safety of the area is not a winning public relations strategy. Also, why were the high-quality shopping center signs replaced with lesser designs that aren't illuminated? That move had reduced lighting already.

Perhaps the blackout was not a decision made in New York. But it's Capital Properties' shopping center now, and they have ultimate control over all decisions there.

In the wise words of Morgan Freeman, "Turn it back on, man!"