Economic Development: A Vision for the Neighborhood
In 2025, the Alliance has undertaken three projects to cast a vision for the neighborhood and also gauge its financial impact on the region.
Vision Framework: Built on months of outreach to stakeholders, the Alliance worked with respected urban design planners Uwe Brandes from Brandes Partners and Otto Condon from ZGF Architects to create and refine a long-term vision document for the neighborhood. The Urban Design Vision Framework looks at the enormous potential of Friendship Heights, with its transit connectivity, location, walkable streets, wonderful schools, and green and open spaces. However, the neighborhood’s public environment is dominated by cars, and the retail environment grew stagnant over the past few years (although that’s changing now!) In addition, the neighborhood lagged far behind the rest of the region in building new housing, with no new housing built from 2010 to 2025, when Residences at Mazza opened.
The Vision Framework outlines a vision for MORE in Friendship Heights: more walkability, more housing choices, more vibrancy, and more gathering spaces. This vision is built on four key components: 1) Reimagining Wisconsin Avenue as a more walkable, enjoyable place; 2) Creating a network of lively side street destinations off the main thoroughfare; 3) Adding more housing options and welcoming new residents; and 4) Cultivating more connected and active green spaces.
Interested in learning more? Please reach out if you’d like to host a presentation and discussion of the framework.