Planning for the Future of Friends House
In 2017, Montgomery County approved a campus master plan that allows for a total of 316 independent living residences and 130 assisted living or nursing beds at Friends House. The plan envisioned development occurring over several phases across the campus.
Since that time, the senior housing landscape has changed significantly. Independent living residences are increasingly in demand, and modern senior communities require building designs that support accessibility, efficiency, and connection to shared services and amenities.
After evaluating the campus and the needs of current and future residents, Friends House leadership determined that the northern portion of the property provides the best opportunity to build additional independent living residences in the near term without displacing current residents and without altering the overall density previously approved by the County.
The proposed North Forest Addition allows Friends House to move forward with this next phase in a way that better reflects today’s housing needs and long-term campus planning.
The North Forest Project
The North Forest Project is a proposed new independent living building on the northern portion of the Friends House campus. The project would relocate and consolidate independent living residences that were previously approved by Montgomery County into a single, more efficient building designed to better meet today’s senior housing needs. Importantly, the proposal does not increase the total number of independent living units already approved for the campus.
The proposed North Forest Project would include a new independent living building designed to be integrated into the existing wooded landscape on the northern portion of the campus.
Rather than constructing three smaller buildings that were previously approved for this area, the updated plan consolidates those residences into a single, more efficient structure. This approach allows the building to be thoughtfully positioned within the site while reducing surface parking and improving operational efficiency.
The proposed building is designed to visually read as two structures joined by a smaller connecting element and will include structured parking beneath the building. By utilizing the natural grade of the site and preserving mature trees where possible, the design aims to minimize visual impact while maintaining the character of the surrounding environment.