Why is Friendship Heights so empty and lame?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The details of the killing are pretty awful:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/03/homicide-dc-student-college/

Oh that is horrible, senseless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The details of the killing are pretty awful:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/03/homicide-dc-student-college/

Oh that is horrible, senseless.

This is incredibly sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The details of the killing are pretty awful:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/03/homicide-dc-student-college/

Oh that is horrible, senseless.

This is incredibly sad.

Really unimaginable for someone to lose their life like this. The grandfather really said it best:

"And this city tells these kids they can be stupid, and that nobody is going to be held accountable. It’s shameful.”

Even a few years ago, carrying a gun into a NY Eve party at a hotel and firing indiscriminately was just not something that happened. Why would you even need a gun at a NY Eve party in Friendship Heights? But the grandfather is absolutely right, now the message is that you can do whatever you want without fear of repercussions.

[Anonymous]

I moved to DC in 2009 and even back then it felt like a relic of a bygone era for mass market shopping. Weird vibes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was dying before Covid. Expensive stores, no parking.

This.

There was a ton of parking there. Every building had a lot.

Only in buildings where you had to pay. Cannot be bothered with that. Want to pull up, go in the store, and leave and not pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was dying before Covid. Expensive stores, no parking.

?? There was plenty of parking!

I don’t want to pay for a lot when I can go to the same stores and park for free in Rockville.

Then go to Rockville. Really, you won't be missed.

For most people, the cost of gas and the cost of the time to go to Rockville is more valuable to shop online to shop in the neighborhood.

This is what's really happening. I do most of my shopping online and only shop in Rockville or other places if I happen to be there. I cannot be bothered when I can just shop online. Its so much of a hassle to shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was dying before Covid. Expensive stores, no parking.

This.

There was a ton of parking there. Every building had a lot.

Only in buildings where you had to pay. Cannot be bothered with that. Want to pull up, go in the store, and leave and not pay.

This is only possible in places where (a) land is cheap, AND (b) there aren't a lot of other people who also want to be able to do that with their cars. Land in Friendship Heights is not cheap.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it being redeveloped. I think it will be nice. The scale of the old area was not welcoming. I think the new building at Mazza will be nice and hopefully the scale will be closer to Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was dying before Covid. Expensive stores, no parking.

This.

There was a ton of parking there. Every building had a lot.

Only in buildings where you had to pay. Cannot be bothered with that. Want to pull up, go in the store, and leave and not pay.

This is only possible in places where (a) land is cheap, AND (b) there aren't a lot of other people who also want to be able to do that with their cars. Land in Friendship Heights is not cheap.

That is ridiculous. I live in Chicago and free parking at big chain stores is not that hard to find, even in expensive areas. Lots of stores/banks along Wisconsin have free parking, even down to Glover Park. Convenient free parking is expected in an area like FH. Think Rodman’s, Trader Joe’s, etc. Parking validation and 2-hour time limits are OK (3 hours for theatre).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was dying before Covid. Expensive stores, no parking.

This.

There was a ton of parking there. Every building had a lot.

Only in buildings where you had to pay. Cannot be bothered with that. Want to pull up, go in the store, and leave and not pay.

This is only possible in places where (a) land is cheap, AND (b) there aren't a lot of other people who also want to be able to do that with their cars. Land in Friendship Heights is not cheap.

That is ridiculous. I live in Chicago and free parking at big chain stores is not that hard to find, even in expensive areas. Lots of stores/banks along Wisconsin have free parking, even down to Glover Park. Convenient free parking is expected in an area like FH. Think Rodman’s, Trader Joe’s, etc. Parking validation and 2-hour time limits are OK (3 hours for theatre).

If you live in Chicago, why are you expressing opinions about parking in Bethesda and Friendship Heights?

People complain endlessly about the parking in Bethesda, specifically because sometimes they have to pay to park and sometimes there is no space in the nearest parking garage so they have to park in a different parking garage and walk 5 minutes.

[Anonymous]

The stores in friendship heights moved to Bethesda (Williams Sonoma, Anthro, Pottery Barn) or City Center (all the luxury brands). It’s always been an awkward site because the developments were unconnected and it’s relatively unattractive. But when Mazza was in its heyday it was a nice place and a destination. That’s probably 15-20 years ago at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's sad that such a nice area can't support the high-end stores. I loved all the department stores back in the day - the best selection. All supported despite having a thriving Montgomery Mall and White Flint close by.

+1
I grew up here and have great memories of shopping for formal dresses and having nice lunches afterwards with my mom. The week before Christmas my dad and I would go shopping at neimans for my mom. Everything was decorated perfectly for the holidays.

When is the last time you went to a real store for shopping, and then a nice lunch afterwards? And where?

City Center. I do it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's sad that such a nice area can't support the high-end stores. I loved all the department stores back in the day - the best selection. All supported despite having a thriving Montgomery Mall and White Flint close by.

+1
I grew up here and have great memories of shopping for formal dresses and having nice lunches afterwards with my mom. The week before Christmas my dad and I would go shopping at neimans for my mom. Everything was decorated perfectly for the holidays.

When is the last time you went to a real store for shopping, and then a nice lunch afterwards? And where?

City Center. I do it all the time.

You go to Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin for shopping all the time? That's nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The details of the killing are pretty awful:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/03/homicide-dc-student-college/

Oh that is horrible, senseless.

This is incredibly sad.

Really unimaginable for someone to lose their life like this. The grandfather really said it best:

"And this city tells these kids they can be stupid, and that nobody is going to be held accountable. It’s shameful.”

Even a few years ago, carrying a gun into a NY Eve party at a hotel and firing indiscriminately was just not something that happened. Why would you even need a gun at a NY Eve party in Friendship Heights? But the grandfather is absolutely right, now the message is that you can do whatever you want without fear of repercussions.

The kid is in custody and will do life in jail now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The stores in friendship heights moved to Bethesda (Williams Sonoma, Anthro, Pottery Barn) or City Center (all the luxury brands). It’s always been an awkward site because the developments were unconnected and it’s relatively unattractive. But when Mazza was in its heyday it was a nice place and a destination. That’s probably 15-20 years ago at this point.

Aesthetics matter. Especially now when online shopping is so easy. You have to make a place attractive to visit and linger. Expanses of concrete, ugly glass and steel buildings, and a major commuter route running right down the middle of it all is going to make this a heavy lift.

Hopefully the development realizes just how bad the situation is rather than just thinking a minor facelift will fix everything. They need to ask, "where will people want to linger?" and not lie to themselves and investors about that.