Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all under construction. They were phasing out the businesses for years so they could redo it all. When it's done, it will be like old times.

Here is the general plan: https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_1500_units_in_the_friendship_heights_pipeline/21020

Here are the plans for the stretch above old TJ Maxx: https://www.popville.com/2023/06/tishman-speyer-dc-friendship-heights-shopping-mall-mixed-use-mazza-gallerie/

And here is what is in store for across the street where Maggiano's is: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/12/02/friendship-heights-apartments-affordable-housing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if the bus depot is indeed replacing the Lord and Taylor? I know it was in discussion. Still holding out hope that it could be something better...

There's a landmark application pending for the Lord & Taylor site. L&T will be redeveloped, but design review will ensure that it does not become a bus depot.

What makes you think that it will pass through to become a landmark?

It is a mediocre example of suburban department store design, totally cookie cutter with no other redeeming architectural value.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The interesting thing is that one of the nicest parts of the Friendship Heights commercial strip (on the Maryland side, as it turns out) is the east side of Wisconsin from Clydes up to Tiffany's. It relates well to pedestrians, without feeling canyon-like, and feels very walkable on both Wisconsin as well as the east side, where mostly underground parking sits beneath a terraced plaza. It offers a very attractive experience like Bethesda Row and Georgetown, without feeling "big box" like other parts of FH, Columbia Heights, etc.

You mean the oversized two story dreck that was built 15 years ago as a temporary placeholder? Heck no, that needs to be replaced with more housing and retail. Total waste of space.

There's a height limitation on much of the east side of Wisconsin Ave. because it backs directly to low-scale Chevy Chase Village. It's never going to be high-rise like the west side of Wisconsin.

Yeah I don’t think that’s temporary, I think that was them taking their best shot. That development is owned by the original company that developed Chevy Chase. I think it’s still privately held.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The interesting thing is that one of the nicest parts of the Friendship Heights commercial strip (on the Maryland side, as it turns out) is the east side of Wisconsin from Clydes up to Tiffany's. It relates well to pedestrians, without feeling canyon-like, and feels very walkable on both Wisconsin as well as the east side, where mostly underground parking sits beneath a terraced plaza. It offers a very attractive experience like Bethesda Row and Georgetown, without feeling "big box" like other parts of FH, Columbia Heights, etc.

You mean the oversized two story dreck that was built 15 years ago as a temporary placeholder? Heck no, that needs to be replaced with more housing and retail. Total waste of space.

There's a height limitation on much of the east side of Wisconsin Ave. because it backs directly to low-scale Chevy Chase Village. It's never going to be high-rise like the west side of Wisconsin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all under construction. They were phasing out the businesses for years so they could redo it all. When it's done, it will be like old times.

Here is the general plan: https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_1500_units_in_the_friendship_heights_pipeline/21020

Here are the plans for the stretch above old TJ Maxx: https://www.popville.com/2023/06/tishman-speyer-dc-friendship-heights-shopping-mall-mixed-use-mazza-gallerie/

And here is what is in store for across the street where Maggiano's is: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/12/02/friendship-heights-apartments-affordable-housing

It looks like the current set of plans will add 1300+ units housing a very close walk to the FH metro. I bet there's even more in the pipeline if the buildings fill quickly. Geico corporate site has a TON of empty, valuable land. Jenifer Street NW has some terrible old and smaller Class C office buildings that can easily come down.

This is going to end up like downtown Bethesda within 5 years. The demand for housing is still there. Plus both sides of the border feed to good schools.

The Geico site is not available for dense development. Geico agreed to preserve the original buildings and the lawns as part of an expansion plan some time ago. It's actually nice having the openness in the midst of tall FH on the Maryland side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bookstore, a movie theater, a cafe. Missing all of these things and used to have these things.

Exactly. Let's hope for businesses and services that meet the needs of the local area. These will be sustainable longterm, rather than twisting ourselves into pretzel knots on how to make or keep FH as a "regional destination" in competition with other such destinations like the Wharf or downtown Bethesda, etc.

It is a "regional destination" by virtue of the metro and bus depots. The coming retail,etc will probably be a regular mix of neighborhood and regional serving.

A Metro stop and bus routes doesn't automatically make a neighborhood a "regional destination." Look at Cleveland Park, for example.

Re-read what wrote.

depot =/= route

Chevy Chase DC has a bus depot. Does that make it a "regional destination", too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The interesting thing is that one of the nicest parts of the Friendship Heights commercial strip (on the Maryland side, as it turns out) is the east side of Wisconsin from Clydes up to Tiffany's. It relates well to pedestrians, without feeling canyon-like, and feels very walkable on both Wisconsin as well as the east side, where mostly underground parking sits beneath a terraced plaza. It offers a very attractive experience like Bethesda Row and Georgetown, without feeling "big box" like other parts of FH, Columbia Heights, etc.

You mean the oversized two story dreck that was built 15 years ago as a temporary placeholder? Heck no, that needs to be replaced with more housing and retail. Total waste of space.

There's a height limitation on much of the east side of Wisconsin Ave. because it backs directly to low-scale Chevy Chase Village. It's never going to be high-rise like the west side of Wisconsin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bookstore, a movie theater, a cafe. Missing all of these things and used to have these things.

Exactly. Let's hope for businesses and services that meet the needs of the local area. These will be sustainable longterm, rather than twisting ourselves into pretzel knots on how to make or keep FH as a "regional destination" in competition with other such destinations like the Wharf or downtown Bethesda, etc.

It is a "regional destination" by virtue of the metro and bus depots. The coming retail,etc will probably be a regular mix of neighborhood and regional serving.

A Metro stop and bus routes doesn't automatically make a neighborhood a "regional destination." Look at Cleveland Park, for example.

Re-read what wrote.

depot =/= route

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bookstore, a movie theater, a cafe. Missing all of these things and used to have these things.

Exactly. Let's hope for businesses and services that meet the needs of the local area. These will be sustainable longterm, rather than twisting ourselves into pretzel knots on how to make or keep FH as a "regional destination" in competition with other such destinations like the Wharf or downtown Bethesda, etc.

It is a "regional destination" by virtue of the metro and bus depots. The coming retail,etc will probably be a regular mix of neighborhood and regional serving.

A Metro stop and bus routes doesn't automatically make a neighborhood a "regional destination." Look at Cleveland Park, for example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The interesting thing is that one of the nicest parts of the Friendship Heights commercial strip (on the Maryland side, as it turns out) is the east side of Wisconsin from Clydes up to Tiffany's. It relates well to pedestrians, without feeling canyon-like, and feels very walkable on both Wisconsin as well as the east side, where mostly underground parking sits beneath a terraced plaza. It offers a very attractive experience like Bethesda Row and Georgetown, without feeling "big box" like other parts of FH, Columbia Heights, etc.

You mean the oversized two story dreck that was built 15 years ago as a temporary placeholder? Heck no, that needs to be replaced with more housing and retail. Total waste of space.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if the bus depot is indeed replacing the Lord and Taylor? I know it was in discussion. Still holding out hope that it could be something better...

There's a landmark application pending for the Lord & Taylor site. L&T will be redeveloped, but design review will ensure that it does not become a bus depot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bookstore, a movie theater, a cafe. Missing all of these things and used to have these things.

Exactly. Let's hope for businesses and services that meet the needs of the local area. These will be sustainable longterm, rather than twisting ourselves into pretzel knots on how to make or keep FH as a "regional destination" in competition with other such destinations like the Wharf or downtown Bethesda, etc.

It is a "regional destination" by virtue of the metro and bus depots. The coming retail,etc will probably be a regular mix of neighborhood and regional serving.

Anonymous wrote:The interesting thing is that one of the nicest parts of the Friendship Heights commercial strip (on the Maryland side, as it turns out) is the east side of Wisconsin from Clydes up to Tiffany's. It relates well to pedestrians, without feeling canyon-like, and feels very walkable on both Wisconsin as well as the east side, where mostly underground parking sits beneath a terraced plaza. It offers a very attractive experience like Bethesda Row and Georgetown, without feeling "big box" like other parts of FH, Columbia Heights, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if the bus depot is indeed replacing the Lord and Taylor? I know it was in discussion. Still holding out hope that it could be something better...