D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1716

FNS-2.6 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor

Effective Aug 21, 2021Authority: Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)). 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)).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary

1716 FNS-2.6 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUESOUTHEAST CORRIDOR

1716.1 Pennsylvania Avenue SE is one of the busiest arterials in Washington, DC, carrying more than 96,000 vehicles a day across the Sousa Bridge and 53,000 vehicles per day between I-295 and Minnesota and Branch Avenues. Established neighborhoods, such as Fairlawn, Randle Highlands, and Twining surround this mixed-use corridor. The population density here provides an attractive market for the types of amenities that residents are looking for, including hotels, restaurants, and national retailers. In addition, mixed-income housing units that combine residential and retail space would be valuable commodities to residents moving to the area.

1716.2 In January 2008, OP completed the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Corridor Land Development Plan, which was approved by the DC in July 2008. As a result of this planning process, which included extensive community engagement, development options were articulated to guide future decisions for key sites along the corridor determined to have potential to serve as catalysts for corridor-wide revitalization.

1716.3 The 2.3-mile Planning Area included all properties fronting Pennsylvania Avenue SE from Independence Avenue SE eastward to Southern Avenue. The District designated Pennsylvania Avenue SE a major corridor as part of the Great Streets Initiative in 2006, with the intent of spurring redevelopment and enhancing neighborhood livability.

1716.4 Pennsylvania Avenue SE is an important transportation corridor in the District, classified by DDOT as a principal arterial road. It is crossed by collector, local, and minor arterial roads and the Anacostia Freeway on the east side of the Anacostia River and the Southeast Freeway on the west side of the river. The Pennsylvania Avenue Advisory Committee was established to include councilmembers, ANC commissioners, civic associations, residents, property owners, and business owners. An analysis of existing conditions related to land use and zoning, urban design, the real estate market, and public participation resulted in the identification of key redevelopment opportunity sites. Through the study process, eight sites were identified as having the highest potential for redevelopment and revitalization; five of these are underserved communities in the Far Northeast Southeast Area Element. The final plan activated a detailed implementation strategy and includes polices to guide redevelopment along the corridor.

1716.5 The Avenue is one of America's Main Streets and is bordered by moderate-income neighborhoods with residents who are civically engaged. It provides amenities to a community of rolling hills, manicured lawns, red-brick colonials, ramblers, American Craftsman bungalows, Mid-Atlantic Colonial Revival, and

Tudor Revival homes. The area is convenient to the Southeast-Southwest Freeway and is also notable for its streets lined with oak, maple, and dogwood trees. The area has an altitude higher than most of Washington, DC. The surrounding communities—Penn Branch, Hillcrest, Dupont Park, Fort Dupont Park, Fairlawn, Twining, Randle Highlands, Fort Davis, and Fairfax Village—once considered suburbs, are conveniently located close to Capitol Hill and about 15 minutes from the U.S. Capitol. The combination of numerous mature trees, parks, green spaces, and large lots makes these neighborhoods desirable. Metrobus service provides direct transportation to and from downtown, as well as the Potomac Avenue and Naylor Road Metro Stations.

1716.6 The future of Pennsylvania Avenue has profound effects on the adjacent neighborhoods of Fairlawn, Twining, Dupont Park, Penn Branch, Hillcrest, Fort Davis, and Fairfax Village. Its designation by the District as an official Great Street speaks both to its historic reputation as America's Main Street and its capacity to shape the appearance and impression of the surrounding community. Particular emphasis should be placed on upgrading the shopping area between Fairlawn Avenue and 28th Street SE. This corridor, initially developed as a walkable shopping street, experiences a lack of continuity, a lack of retail choices, many vacant storefronts, parking management issues, and traffic patterns that are dangerous for pedestrians.

1716.7 Policy FNS-2.6.1: Pennsylvania Avenue SE Great Street

Plan the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor in a manner that reduces traffic effects on adjacent neighborhoods, transforms its role as a Far Northeast and Southeast commercial center, and restores its ceremonial importance as a principal gateway to and from the nation's capital.

1716.8 Policy FNS-2.6.2: Neighborhood Shopping Improvements

Promote a wider variety and better mix of neighborhood-serving retail shops. Focus on providing targeted growth to the small pockets of new and existing commercial properties along the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Corridor.

1716.9 Policy FNS-2.6.3: Transportation and Infrastructure

Implement the Great Streets roadwork and streetscaping on Pennsylvania Avenue in Wards 7 and 8. Encourage community groups in Wards 7 and 8 to request from DDOT similar streetscape improvements. Explore rapid bus service along the corridor.

1716.10 Policy FNS-2.6.4: Economic Development

Create a marketing strategy to attract new retailers to vacant spaces. Conduct analysis of technical assistance needs of existing businesses. Use commercial façade improvement grant programs to invest in more attractive storefronts where buildings are not expected to be redeveloped.

1716.11 Policy FNS-2.6.6: Land Use

Zoning along Pennsylvania Avenue SE should support the types of redevelopment outlined in the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Corridor Land Development Plan.

1716.12 Policy FNS-2.6.7: Mixed-Use and Affordable Housing

Use District and federal resources to support a variety of mixed-income housing opportunities near key redevelopment sites in Wards 7 and 8. Create attractive, mixed-use, retail-anchored residential sites and affordable housing options along the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor. Some neighborhoods with great potential include Fairlawn, Randle Highlands, and Twining, which surround the mixed-use corridor identified along Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues SE. In addition, mixed-income housing units that combine residential and retail space would be valuable commodities to residents. Invest in the development of mixed-use housing and retail at these locations: 2300-3100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 2200-2300 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, and 2900 block of Minnesota Avenue SE.

1716.13 Policy FNS-2.6.8: Physical Improvements

Continue to improve the infrastructure and physical appearance of the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast corridor as a way to enhance its market perception and attract investors, visitors, shoppers, residents, and new retail businesses and services that benefit the adjacent community and attract pass-through consumer shoppers traveling to and from I-295.

1716.14 Action FNS-2.6.A: Pennsylvania Avenue SE Transportation Study

Implement the remaining recommendations of the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Transportation Study at the Twining roundabout to improve community access and circulation. These recommendations include streetscape, signage, and parking improvements, speed controls, signal timing changes, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, travel lane and pavement marking adjustments, traffic calming measures to avoid cut-through traffic on local side streets, and changes to the I-295/Pennsylvania Avenue interchange.

1716.15 Action FNS-2.6.B: Great Street Improvements

Implement the Great Street Plan to beautify Pennsylvania Avenue SE, maintaining the width of the street, landscaping the avenue from the Sousa Bridge to the Maryland border, and taking other steps to manage traffic flow and avoid negative effects on and cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods.

1716.16 Action FNS-2.6.C: Directing Growth

Direct the growth along the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor. Mixed-use development combining ground floor retail and upper-story residential uses should be supported in this area, along with streetscape improvements that enhance visual and urban design qualities and pedestrian, bus, and automobile circulation. As in all parts of the District, the scale of development should be sensitive to adjacent uses and reflect the capacity of roads, infrastructure, and services to absorb additional growth. In addition, improvements should contribute to and maintain the historic character of the neighborhood. Make use of historic setbacks to bring retail frontage closer to Pennsylvania Avenue and maximize opportunities for rear parking and access (thus easing traffic congestion and flow).

1716.17

Action FNS-2.6.D: Physical Improvements

Improve the infrastructure and physical appearance of the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor as a way to enhance its market perception and attract investors, visitors, shoppers, residents, new retail businesses, and services that benefit the adjacent community and attract pass-through consumer shoppers traveling to/from the District on I-295.

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)).