Foulger-Pratt Breaks Ground On 343-Unit Project Near Westfield Montgomery Mall
A new apartment project is moving forward on the site of a former car dealership near Westfield Montgomery, a Bethesda mall with its own massive redevelopment planned.
Foulger-Pratt broke ground on The Rae at Westlake, a 343-unit project designed by KTGY, the architecture firm announced Tuesday. It is expected to deliver in Q3 2023.
The project sits at the intersection of Motor City Drive and Westlake Terrace, across the street from the mall. The site was formerly occupied by an Ourisman Ford dealership.
The developer had initially planned to include more than 50K SF of retail, but it pivoted in 2017 to an all-residential project. The Montgomery County Planning Board approved its revised plans in September 2018.
The five-story building is designed with outdoor amenities including a swimming pool and courtyard with grills, hammocks and a fireplace. Its indoor amenities include a fitness center, coworking lounge, clubroom and pet spa. It also has sustainability elements including a 7K SF green roof.
The apartments range from studios to two-bedroom units, with floor plans ranging from 486 SF to 1,157 SF. The building includes 44 apartments designated as moderately priced dwelling units.
“The project will bring attainable housing to a predominately commercial area and will enable residents to be uniquely situated in a location that boasts a premier shopping destination, access to major freeways and the allure of a highly livable community,” Foulger-Pratt Vice President of Development Josh Etter said in a release.
The owner of Westfield Montgomery, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, received Montgomery County approval in July for a 3M SF redevelopment of the 59-acre mall property. The project's first phase would demolish the mall's two vacant Sears buildings and replace them with a 100-foot-tall apartment building with 413 units.
Despite the Sears closing, URW told Bisnow last year that Westfield Montgomery is one of the best-performing malls in its 124-property portfolio. The project is one of several mall redevelopments moving forward around the region as developers seek to create more vibrant, mixed-use environments.
