D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 2000

Overview

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

2000 OVERVIEW

2000.1 The Mid-City Planning Area encompasses the 3.1 square miles located in the geographic center of Washington, DC. It extends from Rock Creek Park on the west to the CSX rail corridor on the east. Its southern edge is formed by Florida Avenue NW and U Street NW, and its northern edge is formed by Spring Road NW and Rock Creek Church Road NW. The boundaries are shown in the map at left. Most of this area has historically been in Ward 1, although the easternmost portion is currently part of Ward 5 and the southernmost portion is currently in Ward 2.

2000.2 Mid-City is one of the most diverse parts of Washington, DC. Although it is one of the smallest of the 10 planning areas geographically, it is the most populous and most dense. Much of the area was developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, giving it a rich and historic urban character. The area includes row house neighborhoods, such as Adams Morgan, Bloomingdale, Columbia Heights, Eckington, LeDroit Park, Park View, Pleasant Plains, and Mount Pleasant. It includes large apartment communities along streets such as 14th Street NW, 16th Street NW, and Columbia Road NW. It is also home to several large institutions, such as Howard University, Howard University Hospital, and the McMillan Sand Filtration Site.

2000.3 The Mid-City Planning Area is a cultural hub, with a strong international flavor. It is the heart of District's Latino business community and the home to one of the District's historic Black business corridors. . It includes the vibrant nightlife and ethnic restaurants of 18th and U Streets NW and other walkable neighborhood centers that embody the best qualities of urban living. The area is well served by the District's transportation system, including the Metro Green and Yellow Lines, numerous bus lines, several cross-town arterials, and bikeshares. The Metropolitan Branch Trail passes through the southeastern portion of the area. This shared-use trail provides new transportation and recreational opportunities for residents, as well as much-needed park space and lively cultural displays at key locations.

2000.4 Many Mid-City neighborhoods have a strong sense of identity, including the historic districts of U Street NW, Mount Pleasant, LeDroit Park, Bloomingdale, and Striver's Section and their historic landmarks, such as the True Reformer Building, Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, the Lincoln and Howard Theaters, and the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. Activities like Adams Morgan Day and the DC Funk Parade on U Street NW celebrate local culture and build community pride.

2000.5 The area also has a tradition of neighborhood activism, embodied by groups such as the Kalorama Citizens Association and the Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force. Nonprofits like the Latino Economic Development

Corporation and the Columbia Heights Development Corporation are also active in community affairs, as are cultural organizations like the Gala Hispanic Theater and the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation.

2000.6 Parts of the Mid-City Planning Area have changed rapidly during the last 10 years. Already one of the densest areas in Washington, DC, Mid-City contains approximately 19 percent of the District's new housing units, and almost 14 percent of the area's housing units are affordable. Although Mid-City is close to having a fair amount of affordable housing, the distribution of that affordable housing has been concentrated in a few neighborhoods such as Columbia Heights, Reed-Cooke, and the U Street corridor. Additionally, many of these affordable units are at risk of expiring; thus, Mid-City will be a target-rich area for investments by the administrators of the Housing Preservation Trust Fund, which is to be used to preserve affordable housing units when their covenants of affordability are expiring.

2000.7 Mid-City includes many public and lower cost units that are at risk of conversion to market rate rents or condominiums. The District has also assisted tenants in their efforts to renovate and purchase apartment properties throughout the community, particularly in Columbia Heights. Millions of dollars have been invested to create new affordable housing opportunities for current and future Mid-City residents. This investment must be sustained, especially through the use of the District Opportunity to Purchase Act, which the Housing Preservation Strike Force recommended as an important strategy to preserve affordable housing.

Please see the Housing Element for additional information, policies, and actions.

2000.8 Some Mid-City neighborhoods are still facing challenging economic and social conditions. Despite the real estate boom, buildings continue to lie vacant along commercial corridors such as lower Georgia Avenue NW, Florida Avenue NW, and North Capitol Street NW. The Planning Area also has a severe shortage of parkland. As the densest part of the District, and one with many young children, recreational needs are among the highest in the District. Most of the Planning Area's parks lack the land and amenities to meet these needs.

2000.9 The 14th Street NW and U Street NW corridors experienced remarkable change over the last 10 years. Reinvestments made by the District and the private sector reinvigorated the Logan Circle area. The vitality of these two corridors is demonstrated by a mix of dining, retail, residential, entertainment, and cultural offerings. Revitalization has increased the need to improve mobility, manage traffic and parking, and assist small businesses. In some instances, poorly designed alterations are diminishing an important part of Washington, DC's architectural heritage. Some have benefitted from the tremendous rise in property

values, but many others have either been unable to capitalize on that rise in values or have been displaced from their homes.

2000.10 Mid-City also has expanded opportunities to enhance the resilience of its neighborhoods. The area has experienced significant flooding, particularly in the neighborhoods of Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park, due to the limited capacity of the existing stormwater management systems. The projected increase in frequency and severity of rainfall events elevates the risk for these neighborhoods. Ongoing efforts to expand the capacity of the stormwater system in the area, including DC Water's Northeast Boundary Tunnel and interim McMillan Stormwater Storage Project, will significantly reduce this risk, but not for the most extreme events.

Please see Infrastructure and Environmental Protection Elements for more information.

2000.11 In 2016, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) undertook the Cross-Town Multimodal Transportation Study to identify improvements along the east-west connections that traverse Wards 1 and 5, address safety concerns, optimize mobility and operations, and improve efficiency for all modes along the corridor. Recommended improvements in the study include transit priority treatments along Irving Street NW and Columbia Road NW and a new bicycle facility along Kenyon Street NW that would connect to a multiuse trail, Washington Hospital Center, and adjacent institutions. The study also recommends rationalizing the access ramps west of the hospitals into a grid of streets, which would eliminate redundant turning movements, improve pedestrian crossing visibility, create new sidewalk connections, and simplify movements for all modes. The reconfiguration of land created by this new street grid will require additional planning analysis in the years to come, as it presents an opportunity for both new housing and for new parks or other open space.

2000.12 The issues described above should be addressed to preserve the quality of life, balance growth and conservation, and provide economic opportunity and stability for all members of the community.

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)).