news & updates

2024-10-11
Pepco to Underground Powerlines
Pepco has started undergrounding power lines along the 5500 block of Wisconsin Avenue to support the upcoming redevelopment at 5500 Wisconsin. This involves replacing overhead lines with underground conduits and removing the power poles. The relocation of overhead lines will begin in early October, with two planned outages, and the work is expected to be completed by the end of November. Temporary impacts on vehicle and pedestrian traffic are anticipated, and signage will be in place to guide the public.​ Read more here. 
2023-04-13
Site Plan Approved by MoCo Planning Board
The Sketch Plan Amendment and Site Plan applications for 5500 and 5520 Wisconsin have been approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. Finalized plans include: 
  • 300 apartment units, including 45 MPDU units
  • 185 foot building
  • 316 underground parking spots with 240 spots dedicated to residents
  • Off-street loading
2023-01-11
Sketch Plan Amendment & Site Plan Applications Submitted
We have completed the submission of our Sketch Plan Amendment and Site Plan applications for 5500 and 5520 Wisconsin with the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission. These documents reflect the plans that we shared with the community at last November’s community meeting.

You can view all of the documents associated with our filing here.  There are a lot of documents in the filing, so you may want to start by reading our Statement of Justification, which provides a great overview of the plans.
2022-11-03
Site Plan Pre-Submission Community Meeting
Thanks to the more than 50 local residents who “Zoomed” into our November 3 Community Meeting.  We shared updated plans for 5500 Wisconsin such as the proposed building’s architecture and an inviting streetscape including a new shared street and retail setting.  Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share comments. We’re in the process of completing the Site Plan application and hope to submit it to the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission within the next 30 days.  

View the November 3 presentation.
2022-09-12
Circuit Court Upholds Planning Board Approval of 5500 Wisconsin Redevelopment
The Friendship Heights Village Council and Donohoe Development/Carr Companies signed an agreement on September 2, in which the Village Council withdrew its opposition to the proposed redevelopment of 5500 Wisconsin Avenue and pledged to support the project moving forward.

For more information visit Donohoe.com and WAMU.
2021-12-08
Windows on Wisconsin Art Exhibition at 5500 Wisconsin
While 5500 Wisconsin is in the development planning stages, Ch/Art presents WOW! (Windows on Wisconsin) art exhibitions in our windows over this next year. View a rotating display of works by neighborhood artists through December 2022. 

For more information visit ChevyChaseArt.org.
2021-11-17
5500 Wisconsin Sketch Plan Unanimously Approved by MoCo Planning Board
The proposed re-development of 5500 Wisconsin has achieved Sketch Plan approval from the Montgomery County Planning Board in a unanimous 5-0 decision.

"Over the course of more than 17 public meetings, we've been really pleased to see so much community interest in bringing new energy and new investment to Friendship Heights. Our thanks to the people of Friendship Heights who have written or spoken up on behalf of change. We look forward to further engagement with neighbors and local organizations to continue crafting this project to fit into the fabric of the neighborhood," said Jad Donohoe, Senior Vice President of Donohoe Development.

For more information visit Donohoe.com.
2021-10-21
Suggested Changes to the Shared Street ("Woonerf")
We had a productive meeting last week with representatives of the Village Council. Much of the conversation focused on the proposed Shared Street and how it would function. Based on their comments, as well as comments from Montgomery County Planning Board staff, our design team has suggested modifications. You can read about the changes in our October 20 email to the Village Council, which also responds to other comments. 
2021-08-17
5500 Wisconsin Sketch Plan application submitted
Things are moving forward in the approval process for 5500 Wisconsin redevelopment.  We recently submitted our Sketch Plan Application to the Montgomery County Planning Board.  The Statement of Justification provides a good overview of our proposal and is part of the application.  The Planning Board will likely schedule a public hearing and vote on the application late this fall.

Click here to view the Statement of Justification and all the Sketch Plan files. 
​
Our application describes a mixed-use, predominately residential development containing up to 380 residential units, including 15% Moderately Priced Dwelling Units ("MPDUs") (or up to 57 MPDUs), and up to 12,500 square feet of ground floor commercial use.  Keep in mind that the 12,500 square feet of retail does not include the additional 3,300 square feet of new commercial use at the base of the Courtyard Marriott, which brings the total commercial space to more than 15,000 square feet.
 
A Sketch Plan shows the maximum densities for residential and non-residential development, including building massing and height, locations of public use and other spaces, and the relationship to existing and proposed buildings and properties.
2021-08-16
Over the past few months, we’ve presented our plans at meetings with numerous Friendship Heights organizations and condominium associations, chatted with neighbors at our table at the Friendship Heights Farmers’ Market, held a community-wide forum and presented our plans to the Friendship Heights Village Council.  We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many of our neighbors and hearing their comments.  If you would like to schedule a presentation or share your thoughts with us, please email us at [email protected].
2021-08-10
We had an excellent Zoom meeting with the leadership of Somerset I on August 10.  We felt most welcome and received excellent comments from everyone.  Thanks to Lisa Mezzetti for giving us the opportunity to present. 
2021-07-29
We enjoyed getting to know our neighbors at our in-person meeting at The Elizabeth on July 29.  Special thanks to Joe Bucherer for helping to organize this meeting.  
2021-07-22
Thanks to our neighbors at The Carleton for hosting a 5500 Wisconsin project presentation for residents. 
2021-07-21
Thanks to the Citizens Coordinating Committee for Friendship Heights for including 5500 Wisconsin on their agenda to share the project with the community.
2021-06-14
Thanks to the more than 100 people who registered for our June 9 virtual Community Meeting.  We appreciated everyone’s interest in the project and the neighbors’ comments were most helpful.  View our presentation slides.
2021-06-10
​Bethesda Nights Blog:  Bethesda-based The Donohoe Companies and D.C.-based Carr Companies unveiled their proposal for 5500 Wisconsin Avenue in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of Chevy Chase at a required public meeting last night. Read more.
2021-06-10
Urban Turf:  The plans for a new residential development on what was once known as the "Rodeo Drive" of Friendship Heights are starting to take shape.  Read more.  
2021-06-08
Our development team presented the plans for 5500 Wisconsin at a special meeting of the Friendship Heights Village Council on June 7.  We look forward to continuing our conversation with the Council as we move forward.
2021-01-04
Joint ventures between Carr Companies and The Donohoe Companies, Inc. have announced the $74MM combined acquisition of 5500 Wisconsin Avenue, a residential development site and 5520 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Learn More.