A First Look At Friendship Commons, The Big Plans To Redevelop Former GEICO Headquarters

• February 20th

by UrbanTurf Staff

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Plans are coming into focus for how the sprawling former GEICO headquarters will be reimagined in Friendship Heights. 

On Thursday night, developer EYA outlined its plans at a community meeting for the 26-acre site bounded by Western Avenue, Willard Avenue and Friendship Boulevard (map), which will include townhomes, condos and apartments as well as a number of open green spaces. 

The redevelopment plan calls for approximately 520 new residences, split up as follows:

• 175-185 townhomes with two-car garages that will dot the interior of the site. 
• A pair of 48-unit condo buildings that will sit along Willard Avenue.
• A 240-250 apartment building that will be located near the corner of Willard Avenue and Friendship Boulevard. 

The development team also outlined plans for a 40-foot wide promenade that will run along Willard Avenue, and include a walking path, bike lane and green space. EYA said it will make improvements to the 3-acre Brookdale Park on the southern side of the site, and then donate the park back to Montgomery County. 

Demolition of the buildings on site could begin this spring, as GEICO moves to its new headquarters at The Wilson building in downtown Bethesda. If all goes according to plan, construction could begin on the new development next year. 

"With a long track record of delivering thoughtfully designed, walkable urban communities in Montgomery County and across the region, EYA is excited to bring our expertise to this important project," McLean Quinn, President & CEO of EYA, told UrbanTurf. "Last night’s community meeting marked a key milestone in the process."

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a_first_look_at_friendship_commons_the_big_plans_to_redevelop_former_geico_/24343.