D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1508
Protect and preserve historic structures, places, and landmarks on Capitol Hill, including the Congressional Cemetery. Recognize the neighborhood’s defining physical features—including the L’Enfant street plan—as important and nationally significant cultural resources.
Consistently implement and enforce historic preservation laws and guidelines for new construction, alterations, and public space uses. Expand public access to surveys and evaluations of properties and areas eligible for historic designation in the Planning Area. Solicit additional community input on historic preservation needs and opportunities. The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) should concentrate on Capitol Hill, including the surveying of additional areas, considering expansion of existing historic districts, and potentially increasing the number of landmarked buildings in the District’s current inventory. The HPO should concentrate its efforts in the areas north and east of the Capitol Hill Historic District. Clarify and consistently implement zoning incentives intended to preserve structures along H Street NE.
Protect and preserve the special character, scale, and historic features of the major L’Enfant Plan avenues that cross Capitol Hill, especially Massachusetts Avenue NE/SE, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and East Capitol Street NE.
Promote continued investment in, and maintenance and modernization of, important community public facilities in the Capitol Hill Planning Area, including schools, libraries, and social services facilities. Particular attention should be given to sustaining the renovated Eastern High School, the William H. Ramsey Aquatic Center, and the Hill Center as community anchors. Existing community spaces should be flexible to accommodate and support a wide range of users and activities. Renovate the Southeast Library to create more efficient and usable spaces reflecting a modern library.
Ensure that the proposed Anacostia waterfront parks are designed and planned to benefit Capitol Hill residents, enhance waterfront resilience, and promote access. Create safe pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections to the shoreline, and provide park facilities and services that respond to the needs of Hill East neighborhoods. Pedestrian paths should accommodate users of all ages and abilities. Benches should be available for users with limited mobility and older
adults.
1508.6
Improve parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities throughout Capitol Hill, with a priority on the Near Northeast neighborhood (between H Street NE and Florida Avenue NE). Continue efforts to improve safety, security, and maintenance levels at all parks in the Capitol Hill Planning Area. Optimize use of the many triangle parks throughout Capitol Hill. Explore design features that might include senior fitness equipment and pedestrian paths that serve a wide range of users, such as older adults and persons with limited mobility. Determine if there is a need for additional or expanded recreational spaces such as courts and fields, or additional aquatic centers.
1508.7
Recognize that most of the parkland in and around the Capitol Hill Planning Area is owned and operated by NPS, and consequently that a high level of coordination is required between the District and federal governments to ensure that this land is managed in the best interest of Capitol Hill residents. NPS parks include Lincoln Park, Stanton Park, Folger Park, Garfield Park, Seward Square, Marion Park, and the Virginia Avenue playground, as well as the RFK Stadium area. These spaces should be conserved and improved with a focus on aesthetics, recreational uses, sustainability, and resilient design.
1508.8
Maintain and enhance functional open space within Capitol Hill, particularly the landscaped areas contained within street rights-of-way. These areas include the Pennsylvania Avenue SE esplanade, East Capitol Street, the numerous triangle parks along diagonal avenues, public plazas such as the area around Eastern Market Metro, and the front yards of most Capitol Hill row houses, portions of which are located within the public right-of-way.
1508.9
Complete historic surveys for the portion of Stanton Park not currently in the Capitol Hill Historic District, and for the Near Northeast, Hill East, Rosedale, and Kingman Park neighborhoods. Based on the findings of those surveys and additional community input and recommendations, prepare nominations to the National Register as appropriate. Consideration should be given to extending the Capitol Hill Historic District eastward to the boundary of the 1791 L'Enfant Plan.
1508.10
Develop graphic design guidelines for the Capitol Hill Historic District, illustrating appropriate architectural design features for new construction, renovation, and alterations.
Actively participate in efforts by NCPC, NPS, District agencies, Events DC, local ANCs, residents, and neighborhood groups to develop a long-range plan for the RFK Stadium complex, extending from the DC Armory north to Benning Road NE. The plan should include provisions for a substantial amount of waterfront open space, as well as measures to enhance and restore the natural environment in this area. Improve shoreline access where possible, reduce land occupied by surface parking, and encourage new land uses that maximize access and activity at the waterfront. Recreational spaces and pedestrian and cycling paths should accommodate a wide range of users and abilities.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).