The White Flint area of Montgomery County, Maryland is set for a series of new development projects that will dramatically change the communities located along Rockville Pike north of Bethesda. In late 2014, the community voted to rename the area "The Pike District". The White Flint Sector Plan, approved by the Montgomery County Council, transforms large parking lots and suburban shopping centers into a mixed-use, compact urban center.

The new White Flint will be developed with a network of sidewalks and streets to encourage people to leave their cars and walk. The plan won an award for best neighborhood/small area plan from the National Capital Area chapter of the American Planning Association.

The White Flint Sector Plan includes:

• 9,800 new homes, including affordable and workforce units
• 5.69 million square feet of commercial and office development
• an urban boulevard with a tree lined median, on-street parking, bike lanes, crosswalks and space for future bus rapid transit
• an elementary school, library and recreation center
• new parks and open spaces, including a civic green

The Pike District Transportation Improvements

The White Flint Sector Plan establishes guidelines that include transportation and infrastructure improvements as well as upgrades to the White Flint Metro station. A major goal of the development in the White Flint area is to ease traffic congestion on Rockville Pike. Plans include $601 million of targeted infrastructure enhancements to improve mobility throughout the area.

The public transportation plans include establishing a dedicated center-lane for bus rapid transit, removal of the Metro turn-around at Grosvenor, and building a new north entrance to the White Flint Metro at Old Georgetown Road.

Major Development Projects

Pike and Rose (Mid-Pike Plaza) – Now Open! One of the largest projects in the region, Pike & Rose includes 450,000 square feet of retail, more than 1 million square feet of office space, 1,500 residential units, a boutique hotel, an 8-screen movie theater, and a 250-seat performing arts venue. Read more about Pike & Rose.

White Flint Mall - The 45.3-acre White Flint Mall site will be dramatically redesigned and transformed into a complete community featuring residential, office, retail and public uses including a large central plaza, a 2.3 acre addition to the existing White Flint Neighborhood Park, and an elementary school site. A hotel is planned along Executive Boulevard, as well as offices. Residences are planned in a mix of mid-rise and high-rise multi-family buildings. Read more about the White Flint Mall Redevelopment.

North Bethesda Market II –The building will be the tallest in Montgomery County at almost 300 feet tall and will include 400 luxury residences with 120,000 SF of retail and restaurants and 150,000 SF of premier office space. It will be located adjacent to North Bethesda Market I which was built in 2010 featuring luxury residences, restaurants and retail space including the Whole Foods and LA Fitness. Read more about North Bethesda Market

North Bethesda Gateway – The mixed-use development, located just south of Nicholson Lane will include residential and non-residential space. More details to be announced as the project progresses.

Development Partners

B. F. Saul Company - 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500 Bethesda, MD
Federal Realty Investment Trust – 1626 East Jefferson Street Rockville, MD
Gables Residential - 8280 Greensboro Drive #605 McLean, VA
The Holladay Corporation - 3400 Idaho Avenue, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC
The JBG Companies – 4445 Willard Avenue Chevy Chase, MD
The Lerner Enterprises / The Tower Companies - 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard Rockville, MD

Additional Resources

White Flint Sector Plan
White Flint Partnership
Friends of White Flint
Montgomery County Planning Board

Read more about Urban Development in Washington DC