Reply to Why is Friendship Heights so empty and lame?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]why so much big box outlet stuff? Its so cheesy and unappealing.[/quote]

It might be unappealing to you, but these are often destination trips that bring people in — and then many of those people also shop, eat, and spend money at the smaller shops and restaurants.  Originally, Friendship Heights was an upscale shopping destination, with the first Saks and the first Lord and Taylor in the area, plus Woodies.  Restaurants and smaller shops grew to support the destination shoppers.  Then the Mazza Gallery — with Neiman Marcus, restaurants, William’s-Sonoma, and movie theaters expanded the audiences for the neighborhood as a destination.   Places like Borders, Linens N Things, and the strip of stores where the GAP is appealed to different types of shoppers, so: Mom could go to Saks, Sis could go to the Limited, Dad could shop at Brooks Brothers, and Chip could go to Borders and the music store, and refresh himself at McDonalds.

The growth of Tyson made doing all of this easier on the Virginia side.  White Flint and Montgomery Mall developed as destinations on the Maryland side. The “Rodeo Drive” strip of shops was a horrible fit for the neighborhood— despite the demographics.  As leases ended, shops fled to Bethesda (the Pottery Barn/ William’s Sonoma group) and City Center (The upscale transplants.)  There really was enough to interest shoppers until internet shopping grew popular and successful department stores got trashed by buyers who saddled them with debt, and, eventually, like dominos, things tumbled.

It’s a lovely, convenient neighborhood that needs to find it’s footing as something other than a shopping destination. [/quote]

Suggestions for what this could be if not shopping destination? Agree it can’t compete with nearby Bethesda row. But the infrastructure is there to support large scale retail / transit hub, hard to imagine it as a cozy neighborhood vibe with small local stores alone a Main Street. Wisconsin will stay a major transit thoroughfare that makes it hard to support pedestrian traffic. The roads and large scale (ugly) retail buildings aren’t going away any time soon. [/quote]

I disagree with the last bit. I was fine as a pedestrian— when there was somewhere to go.  Losing Borders, CVS, and Giant has meant going outside of the neighborhood for basics, which means that instead of meandering from one store to another in Friendship Heights, I just pick up everything in other neighborhoods, with fewer spontaneous stops at local stores.

I think the Trader Joe’s that’s planned will make a big difference.  I’m not sure what a good destination would be — since a library or movie theater seems unlikely.  I think it could be a shopping destination again, but it would take a lot of work to get a mix of stores that could be both destinations and useful for the neighborhood. A farmer’s market with a food truck or two would be nice — and something that could be expanded if there’s interest.[/quote]

Library won't happen, since the Tenley-Friendship library is just up the street. I wish they'd put a new movie theater in, but not sure that makes sense for any commercial developments in 2024. A few good bars and restaurants would probably do well; beyond that, the best thing they could do would be to set rents that are affordable for stores besides national chains. Agree that Trader Joe's will be a big draw, and with parking and traffic as bad as it is in the area, plenty of people who live nearby will probably walk there.[/quote]

Friendship Heights Village includes a large cohort of highly educated, financially stable people, many with time on their hands. My guess is that they’re not actively using the Tenleytown library much since, unless things have changed, MD residents can’t fully access all of the amenities— such as reserving study or meeting spaces.

I think cultural activities that pull people in would be welcomed and utilized. Again, I think communication is a problem. There is a group that has arranged for things like occasional “street” activities, and once even had a bookshop pop up. I know about some of them because they’ve put up a few low (ground level) signs — on the DC side.  I’m not clear that such signs would register with anyone other than a very alert meandering pedestrian—who happened to be in the right place at the right time. So new activities get underutilized and under appreciated if most people don’t know that they’re out there.

There used to be a privately run website that highlighted activities in the upper North West / MD neighborhoods that was a wonderful resource. I think a generally known source of information about what’s already in the neighborhood would be a great next step — to alert people to what’s available throughout the neighborhood.  One could go to Whole Foods dozens of times — and never realize that The Heights food hall had opened, let alone get some sense of what the might offer just steps away.  Someone who used to shop at Giant, and was turned off by Amazon Fresh, might have no idea that new restaurants and other businesses— including what looks like an arts and crafts studio for children — are even there.

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