The 1818 Society Urban and Water Thematic Group invites you to a Zoom presentation on urban revitalization using the case of Friendship Heights, a once thriving neighborhood that borders Washington DC and Montgomery County—Urban Revitalization with a Twist: Can a Once Up-scale District Be Reborn into an Equitable and Vibrant Neighborhood? Our speakers are Bob Peck, and Katie Bucklew who had lead roles in the discussions and development of current proposals. This presentation is a continuation of the Urban & Water Thematic Group’s “Talk Shop” series.
The once up-scale Friendship Heights neighborhood that borders Washington DC and Montgomery County has experienced a steady decline of its retail businesses over the last few years. Based on a request by the DC Office of Planning (DCOP), the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, a multidisciplinary Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) led by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) evaluated the current conditions in Friendship Heights and the evolution envisioned for its future. In its report, the panel addressed and made recommendations concerning key development issues facing Friendship Heights including: The future of retail in the area; Market demand, particularly for expanded housing at all income levels; Design options including building heights, floor area ratios, and density transitions; Public realm improvements including streetscape, roadways, open space; Placemaking and reimagining the identity of the area; Transit access improvements to existing Metro and bus facilities; Coordination of public and private sector activity to foster a cohesive and collaborative approach to redevelopment; and Coordination of activities across jurisdictions.
When we talk about urban revitalization, we refer most of the time to areas which have a socio-economic profile far different from the one of Friendship Heights. So, what went wrong in Friendship Heights? While many other districts in DC have undergone thriving rebirths, what explains the decline of retail business over time in spite of several attempts for a come-back? What impact does this have on the real estate market? What is the current thinking on the revitalization of the area? What are the key challenges ahead? What lessons can we learn which can be applied elsewhere?
Speakers:
- Bob Peck is the head of the Government practice area for Gensler, a worldwide architectural and planning firm. Bob has been head of public buildings for the US government and a private sector commercial real estate attorney and consultant, with a specialty in public-private development. He is a longtime DC resident and was president of the DC Preservation League in its early years.
- Katie Bucklew is Vice President of Mixed Use at AvalonBay Communities, a public REIT who owns, operates and manages distinctive apartment communities in major US markets. Katie oversees the mixed-use portfolio from development to leasing and operations
Facilitator: Catherine Farvacque-Vitkovic
Host: Alex Bakalian
Note: The host will open the meeting room at 10:30 AM for a half-hour of socializing for those who are interested
Read more about ULI Washington’s work in Friendship Heights here:
https://planning.dc.gov/page/friendship-heights-tap
https://washington.uli.org/get-involved/community-engagement/technical-assistance-panels/friendship-heights-tap/
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