Entered by Friendship Heights

Friendship Heights, spanning Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, Maryland, faced a crisis of identity. Long reliant on retail, the area was hit hard by store closures, pandemic disruptions, and suburban-style public spaces that discouraged community use. Residents described the neighbourhood as “empty” or “boring,” reflecting disengagement as much as physical decline.

The Friendship Heights Alliance was founded in 2022 to reverse this trajectory. From the outset, it recognised that physical upgrades and programmes without input would not succeed; citizens needed to be at the heart of shaping the future.