310-Unit Development Pitched In Friendship Heights Will Be Delayed

• 9:05 AM EST

by UrbanTurf Staff

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A large mixed-use development planned for the middle of Friendship Heights will be delayed. 

Federal Realty has filed an application with DC's Zoning Commission seeking a two-year extension of the approval for Friendship Center, a 310-unit development at 5333 Wisconsin Avenue NW (map), formerly home to Maggiano's, Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack. 

"The Applicant requires additional time to continue moving the Project forward and obtain construction financing due to the ongoing economic and market conditions impacting commercial real estate development in the District — specifically, the current interest rate environment and sustained elevated construction costs," the application stated. "The Applicant remains dedicated to delivering the Project and related public benefits, but additional time is necessary to allow market conditions to improve so that the Project can be realized."

Plans approved by the Zoning Commission in 2023 call for a 310-unit residential development above 12,000 square feet of retail. Designed by Shalom Baranes and landscape architect Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, the building is expected to employ biophilic design principles like greening on balconies. Fifteen percent of the residential space will be affordable to households earning up to 60% of median family income.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/310-unit_development_pitched_in_friendship_heights_will_be_delayed/24170.