1616 CW-2.6 GOLDEN TRIANGLE/K STREET NW

1616.1 The Golden Triangle/K Street Policy Focus Area includes the Golden Triangle BID and the area to the east around Franklin Square. The area is roughly bounded by Massachusetts Avenue NW on the north, New Hampshire Avenue NW on the west, and Pennsylvania (west of the White House) and New York Avenues NW (east of the White House) on the south.

1616.2 This is the largest concentration of office space in Central Washington, encompassing more than 60 square blocks almost completely developed with office buildings. The area also includes complementary land uses that support the office market, such as hotels, retail stores, and restaurants. It also contains important open spaces, such as Farragut, McPherson and Franklin Squares. Golden Triangle/K Street shares its southern edge with major institutional and federal neighbors, including the White House, the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, the Renwick Gallery, and the Executive Office Building. The area around 19th and G Streets NW has emerged as the District's international financial center, accommodating global banking and monetary institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

1616.3 On the eastern side of this Focus Area, lower 16th Street NW has a unique and historic character that sets it apart from the area around it. The five blocks between H Street NW and Scott Circle are the ceremonial gateway to the White House and provide significant vistas of the White House and Washington Monument. The street's green space and exceptionally wide right-of-way (including 40 feet between the sidewalks and property lines) are defining elements of its character. In addition, the corridor includes notable architecture and a mix of uses, including high-density housing. For these reasons, this section of lower 16th Street NW was designated as an extension of the 16th Street historic district.

1616.4 The Golden Triangle/K Street area was Central Washington's major development area from 1950 to the early 1980s. Today, the area is almost completely built out and almost no vacant land remains. Some of the area's buildings are being replaced or modernized as Class A and trophy class office space. This is especially true for its 1950s and 1960s vintage office buildings, many of which lack current amenities. These buildings have seen sustained elevated vacancy rates since the Great Recession and the emergence of newer and more competitive office development in other parts of the District. As infill and renovation take place, there will be opportunities to introduce new uses, such as housing, and to improve architectural quality and street-level activity.

1616.5 Because the area has been so heavily dominated by a single use (office space) in the past, its streets are often empty at night and on the weekends. The lack of

residents forces many of the retailers to limit hours of operation. Organizations such as the Golden Triangle BID should continue to activate and program private and public spaces to add vibrancy to the area throughout the day and evening. The area's architecture is also repetitive, with many buildings almost identical in height and width and similar in exterior design. This should change in the future as the area takes on a more mixed-use character and high-quality architecture becomes more valued as an amenity. More work needs to happen to create a strategy to bring residents and vibrancy to this part of Central Washington. Some of the strategies may require public funding, subsidies, or creative financing tools. Others might include design and urban policies that make this area more appealing to future residents.

1616.6 Housing and retail uses should be considered in this area to balance the office concentration and create after-hours street life. The area has some of the best transit access in the District, with four Metro stations. The Circulator bus on K Street NW has improved connectivity between this area and the rest of downtown, as well as the Mount Vernon District and NoMa area.

1616.7 Policy CW-2.6.1: Golden Triangle/Franklin Square as a Prestigious Employment Center

Sustain the Golden Triangle/Franklin Square area as a prestigious employment center, strongly supporting reinvestment in its office buildings to meet market demand. Continue to develop programs to meet the transportation needs of the local workforce, manage congestion on area streets, address security needs, and improve access for transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

1616.8 Policy CW-2.6.2: Diversification of Land Use

Encourage the gradual diversification of land uses in the Golden Triangle, capitalizing on opportunities for housing and ground floor retail use as the aging building stock is replaced.

1616.9 Policy CW-2.6.3: Golden Triangle/K Street Amenities

Retain and enhance the unique characteristics of the Golden Triangle/K Street area. Specifically, Franklin Square, McPherson Square, and Farragut Square parks, should be retained as attractive, high-quality open spaces, with programmed activities that encourage their use and enjoyment. Historic buildings throughout the area should be restored, preserved, and adaptively reused. As the area is renovated and older buildings are refurbished and replaced, the streetscape and public realm also should be improved.

1616.10 Policy CW-2.6.4: Connecticut Avenue Corridor

Support the continued concentration of active ground-floor retail uses along the Connecticut Avenue corridor between K Street NW and Dupont Circle.

1616.11 Policy CW-2.6.5: Pennsylvania Avenue NW West of the White House

Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 17th Street NW and Washington Circle should become a cultural destination, using its position next to the White House and proximity to the World Bank, IMF, numerous embassies, and other international institutions. Because of the avenue's importance in the context of L'Enfant's 1791 plan for the City of Washington, it should be treated as a showcase for public space design, public art, mobility, and green infrastructure.

1616.12 Policy CW-2.6.6: Cultural Destinations South of Dupont Circle

Build on existing cultural assets like the Heurich House Museum and support the creation of one or more cultural destinations in the area south of Dupont Circle, between Connecticut Avenue NW and New Hampshire Avenue NW from M Street NW northward, to enhance the cultural elements of the neighborhood's dining and nightlife.

1616.13 Policy CW-2.6.7: East-West Circulation Improvements

Improve east-west circulation through the Golden Triangle to better connect the area to the Retail Core, Gallery Place, and Mount Vernon areas on the east, and the West End and Georgetown business districts on the west. These improvements should reinforce K Street's NW role as the area's Main Street.

1616.14 Policy CW-2.6.8: Lower 16th Street NW

Preserve and enhance the special character of lower 16th Street NW between H Street NW and Scott Circle. The street's historic, ceremonial role as the approach to the White House and Lafayette Park should be recognized and conserved. Future development shall be compatible with the street's established architectural character and scale. Uses and activities that are appropriate to maintain the street's appearance and historic significance, particularly its open space and greenery, should be encouraged.

1616.15 Policy CW-2.6.9: Downtown West Transportation Study

Improve east-west travel for pedestrians and cyclists on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and persons using public transit along H and I Streets NW.

1616.16 Action CW-2.6.A: K Street Transitway

Implement the K Street Transitway Project, including exclusive transit lanes from 12th Street NW to 21st Street NW.

1616.17 Action CW-2.6.B: Strategic Park Investments

The District, in partnership with NPS and NCPC, should invest in capital improvements and programming at Farragut Park and Franklin Park in order to create vibrant, central public squares in Central Washington.

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)).