Foulger-Pratt Scraps Retail At Bethesda Multifamily Project
The mixed-use project Foulger-Pratt had planned near the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has been reduced to a single use.
The developer is amending its proposal to scrap the ground-floor retail and increase the number of residential units at the Ourisman Ford redevelopment, Bethesda blogger Robert Dyer reports.
The vacant car dealership sits at the corner of Motor City Drive and Westlake Terrace, across the street from Westfield Montgomery.
Foulger-Pratt had initially proposed more than 50K SF of retail space, including a 12K SF restaurant space, in addition to its 340 rental units. After determining the market for restaurant and retail is not strong enough to support that component, it revised its plan to get rid of the retail and add eight units.
This is not the first time this year Foulger-Pratt has cut retail from a project plan, a sign it may be concerned by the struggling retail sector. In April, the developer halved the retail component at an office development it is planning in Tysons. In both instances, adjacent properties — Westfield in Montgomery County and The Boro in Tysons — have major retail components. Some developers remain bullish on the ability to successfully incorporate retail into mixed-use developments.
