2013.1 U Street NW and the adjacent Cardozo and Shaw neighborhoods are an important part of Washington, DC's Black cultural history. Black residents first settled in the neighborhood in the 1880s, capitalizing on new streetcar lines and the absence of residential segregation rules. By the 1920s, the neighborhood had become the center of Black life in Washington, DC. Black-owned theaters, restaurants, night clubs, billiard parlors, and dance halls extended along U Street NW from 7th Street NW to 14th Street NW. During its heyday, legendary jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Pearl Bailey performed at U Street NW venues. Today, the neighborhood is home to the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum and a Black Heritage Trail that commemorates important historic landmarks in Black history.

2013.2 Some of the U Street NW area's historic venues have been restored, and a new generation of restaurants and nightclubs is emerging. Thousands of new housing units have been added, particularly west of 12th Street NW. The neighborhood has become more socially, culturally, and economically diverse. The downside of U Street NW's vibrancy is that many of the longtime businesses, including those providing basic services like barber shops and bookstores, have had difficulty paying the higher rents and taxes that have come with change. Efforts to retain the street's character must do more than just preserve its buildings; measures to retain and foster diverse businesses and culture should continue.

2013.3 In 2004, the District completed a Strategic Development Plan for the Uptown Destination District, called DUKE, focusing on the area along U Street NW between 6th Street NW and 13th Street NW and along 7th Street NW/Georgia Avenue NW between Rhode Island Avenue NW and Barry Place NW. The plan proposed revival of these blocks as a cultural destination, anchored by a restored Howard Theater, new retail and entertainment uses along 7th and U Streets NW, outdoor performance space, and up to 800 new housing units on vacant and/or underused sites. Office and hotel uses also are discussed as possible uses, capitalizing on the proximity to Howard University.

2013.4 The confluence of a strong real estate market, a location near Metro stations and Howard University, and the desire of several government agencies to develop their vacant properties has catalyzed this area's redevelopment during the last decade and will continue to shape its future. The DUKE Plan focuses on 16 publicly owned sites, including sites owned by the District, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA). It also addresses sites owned by Howard University and the private sector within the study area. As development takes place, efforts to improve the streetscape and public space, provide affordable housing, preserve historic buildings, and mitigate development impacts (particularly those associated with

the increased numbers of restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment uses) should continue.

2013.5 Policy MC-2.3.1: Uptown Destination District Encourage the growth and vibrancy of U Street NW between 6^th Street NW and 12^th Street NW and Georgia Avenue NW/7^th Street NW between Rhode Island Avenue NW and Barry Place NW as a mixed-use center with restored theaters, arts and jazz establishments, restaurants, shops, and housing serving a range of incomes and household types.2013.6 Policy MC-2.3.2: Uptown Subareas Create a distinct and memorable identity for different subareas in the Uptown District based on existing assets such as the Lincoln Theater, Howard University, the African-American Civil War Memorial, and the Howard Theater.2013.7 Policy MC-2.3.3: Uptown Design Considerations Ensure that development in the Uptown District is designed to make the most of its proximity to the Metro stations at Shaw and 13^th Street NW, respect the integrity of historic resources, provide new affordable and mixed-income housing opportunities, and transition as seamlessly as possible to the residential neighborhoods nearby.2013.8 Policy MC-2.3.4: Cultural Tourism Promote cultural tourism initiatives, public art, signage, and other improvements that recognize the Black historic and cultural heritage of the Uptown District. Such initiatives should bring economic development opportunities to local residents and businesses and establish a stronger identity for the area, both as a nationally significant Black landmark and a district with prominent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) community sites.2013.9 Policy MC-2.3.5: Multimodal Management Encourage the development of shared parking facilities in the Uptown District, better management of existing parking resources, and improved surface transit to manage the increased trips to the area that will be generated by new development.2013.10 Policy MC-2.3.6: Small Business Retention Incorporate small business retention and assistance programs in the Uptown District's revitalization, possibly including zoning regulations, tax relief, and other measures that assist small businesses as redevelopment along U Street NW, 9^th Street NW, and 7^th Street NW takes place.2013.11 Policy MC-2.3.7 Use of Public Sites Utilize public land at the Reeves Center, Housing Finance Agency, Garnet-Paterson, Engine 9, and MPD 3^rd District Headquarters to create mixed-use

neighborhood landmarks that acknowledge and continue the history of U Street as a Black business corridor. Added density at these public sites should be used to create a significant amount of new affordable housing, establish space for cultural uses, and provide for additional public facilities, such as a new public library. New construction should concentrate density towards U Street and use design strategies to visually reduce building height and bulk to provide appropriate transitions to adjacent lower density areas.

See the Near Northwest Area Element for further information about the Shaw/Convention Center Area Plan.

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)).