Council Vice President Andrew Friedson introduced an expedited bill on Tuesday to establish an urban district in the Friendship Heights area, working with the nonprofit Friendship Heights Alliance to improve the area along the Wisconsin Avenue corridor for residents and businesses alike.
Since the nonprofit includes property owners from the D.C. and Maryland sides of the Friendship Heights area, it requested legislation from both councils. Friedson’s bill coincides with D.C. Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin’s proposed legislation to develop a business improvement district on the D.C. side of the area, according to a press release.
Bill 13-23 would develop a commercial district charge, meaning anyone who leases commercial or residential property to tenants will need to pay a certain amount per room, unit or square foot depending on the property. These funds will be allocated toward public services such as street maintenance or community events. The annual charges will also help support the work of the Alliance in revitalizing the neighborhood as an appealing location with a Metro stop on the Red Line.
Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton are the other urban districts in the county and each is required to have an advisory committee or an urban district corporation board of directors. A five-person advisory committee for Friendship Heights will be created with two commercial property owners nominated by the Alliance, one resident renter, one residential property owner and one business owner nominated by the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, according to the bill.
A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for March 14 and an Economic Development Committee work session will be set for another date.
(Photo by Ben Schumin on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) | https://www.flickr.com/photos/schuminweb/50106084052)
