Up to 380 Apartments in a 180 Foot-Tall Building: The Plans for Friendship Heights "Rodeo Drive"

• June 10th 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

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The plans for a new residential development on what was once known as the "Rodeo Drive" of Friendship Heights are starting to take shape.

A few months after announcing their acquisition of 5500 and 5520 Wisconsin Avenue (map), Carr Companies and The Donohoe Companies are sharing their plans for a mixed-use redevelopment at the addresses. On Wednesday night, plans for a building delivering up to 380 rental apartments above up to 15,000 square feet of retail was shared with the public. The new development will replace the 44,700 square-foot retail structure that was previously home to Brooks Brothers and Saks Jandel; a Courtyard by Marriott hotel will remain on the site.

The new development, designed by SK+I Architecture, would have two seven-story "shoulders" in a more traditional style, and an 18-story tower at the center will be primarily glass with balconies and bay projections. A woonerf, or a 47 foot-wide curbless pedestrian-friendly right-of-way, will run between the hotel and the new building.

Because the new building will share below-grade parking with the hotel, the development team is able to average the height of the proposed construction with that of the hotel to get 180 feet plus a penthouse. Between 45-57 of the apartments at the new development will be moderately-priced dwelling units (MPDUs).

The development team is working toward filing a sketch plan application and hopes to have a Planning Board hearing this fall.

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• The Future of Friendship Heights?
• DC's Mazza Gallerie Mall To Be Redeveloped Into a Residential/Retail Development

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/up-to-380-apartments-in-a-180-foot-tall-building-the-plans-for-a-friendship/18366.