D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 2014
2014.1 Adams Morgan is well known for its mix of housing types and historic architecture, community pride, civic activism, and cultural diversity. Among longtime residents and artists who preserved the neighborhood's bohemian feel are newer residents, including young professionals attracted by the lively and progressive culture and amenity-rich neighborhood. The neighborhood's walkability, strong commercial core, access to public transportation, proximity to downtown, and engaged residents continue making Adams Morgan an attractive place to live.
2014.2 In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Adams Morgan was a highly sought after suburb of row houses and apartments. During World War II, many of its homes were divided into apartments (or used as rooming houses), changing the character of the neighborhood. A large number of young adults and immigrants settled in the neighborhood in the post-war years. A new name for the community was coined by community activists, combining the names of two neighborhood schools—the predominantly white Adams and the predominantly Black Morgan.
2014.3 In the 1950s and early 1960s, the neighborhood saw an influx of Cubans and Puerto Ricans. Beginning in the 1980s, waves of immigrants from Central America arrived, many seeking refuge from political and economic turmoil. Today, Adams Morgan has the second-largest Salvadoran population in the United States. The neighborhood's colorful street murals, first painted by Hispanic/Latino residents in the 1970s, are now a District tradition and are emulated throughout Washington, DC. The commercial district along 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW has become a center of nightlife, with an array of ethnic restaurants, coffee houses, bars, and unique shops that attract people from across the region, as well as visitors to the District.
2014.4 The neighborhood continues to be in strong demand for housing and its popular entertainment scene. To the east of 18th Street NW, a zoning overlay was created for the Reed-Cooke area in 1989 to conserve existing housing and ensure compatible infill development on a number of large properties. Several large low-rise condominium projects were developed in the 1990s and early 2000s, and a new grocery store in the former Citadel skating rink has also been completed.
2014.5 Adams Morgan has long been a destination for residents and visitors. From the 1990s-2000s, Adams Morgan was one of the District's de facto neighborhoods for nighttime entertainment. Among the many offerings in the neighborhood were international cuisine, unique bars, and independent shops selling goods not found anywhere else in Washington, DC. As the building boom in the District took off in the early 2000s, Adams Morgan, like other District neighborhoods, saw change. More young professionals began moving in, and buildings were renovated or
constructed to accommodate demand. Customers also changed their retail patterns as more options emerged in other neighborhoods. Longtime restaurants and shops were impacted by the changing retail landscape and would benefit greatly from planning and technical assistance.
2014.6 The history, ethnic makeup, and bohemian characteristics that defined Adams Morgan’s past are still woven into the neighborhood fabric today. Residents continue to be highly engaged in their community, regardless of the neighborhood’s evolving demographic and socio-economic makeup.
2014.7 In the neighborhood, there remains a desire to provide housing for families, diversify eating and business establishments, maintain and grow the number of affordable housing units, and adequately buffer between residential and commercial uses. Renovation and modernization of the Marie Reed School campus and recreation center are complete, providing a new school and community facility for the neighborhood and contributing to the public life of Adams Morgan. New development has raised concerns about additional density, congestion, and the loss of open space. The continued strong involvement of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), local community organizations, and individual residents will be important as these challenges are addressed.
2014.8 In 2014, OP launched the Adams Morgan Vision Framework (AMVF), a strategic planning initiative and engagement process that built upon previous planning studies to define key goals and action items for the neighborhood. Completed in 2016, AMVF identifies opportunity areas to preserve the neighborhood’s physical characteristics, enhance retail and amenities, support sustainability, and improve the quality of life for the community. AMVF includes 17 goals with corresponding implementable recommendations for the neighborhood. The goals are centered around five core categories important for Adams Morgan’s continued development and growth: (1) creating great places; (2) redefining retail; (3) embracing sustainability; (4) strengthening identity through arts, history, and culture; and (5) bolstering community. The policies and actions below reflect key goals and recommendations from AMVF.
Preserve the historic character of Adams Morgan through historic landmark and district designations, and by ensuring that new construction is compatible with the prevailing heights and densities in the neighborhood. Residential density added through the Future Land Use Map should be used to create additional affordable housing above and beyond existing legal requirements, in order to contribute to the neighborhood’s share of dedicated affordable units, which is currently one of the lowest in Mid-City.
Enhance the local-serving, multicultural character of the 18th Street NW/Columbia Road NW business district. Encourage small businesses that meet the needs of local residents, as well as an appropriate mix of establishments that both neighbors and visitors to the area can enjoy. Develop and implement strategies for support and retention of minority-owned businesses.
2014.11 Policy MC-2.4.3: Mixed-Use Character
Encourage retention of the older mixed-use buildings along 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW and facilitate infill projects that complement them in height, scale, and design. Discourage conversion of existing apartment buildings in the commercial area to non-residential uses and ensure the stability of renter households, particularly for Black and Hispanic/Latino residents.
2014.12 Policy MC-2.4.4: Transportation Improvements
Improve accessibility, and the flow of people along key arterial streets, particularly along the multi-modal corridor of Columbia Road NW and residential connector streets such as Kalorama Road NW and Euclid Street NW. Enable highly trafficked areas of 18th Street NW to be transformed into a pedestrian plaza. Implement new measures to address parking problems on residential streets near the Adams Morgan business district. These measures could include extension of the residential permit parking program to a 24/7 time frame, with appropriate consideration given to the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
2014.13 Policy MC-2.4.5: Reed-Cooke Area
Support existing housing within the Reed-Cooke neighborhood, maintain heights and densities at appropriate levels, and encourage small-scale business development that does not adversely affect the residential community.
2014.14 Policy MC-2.4.6: Adams Morgan Public and Institutional Facilities
Encourage the retention and adaptive reuse of existing public facilities in Adams Morgan, including the use of schools for public purposes, such as education, clinics, libraries, and recreational facilities. In addition, encourage the constructive, adaptive, and suitable reuse of historic churches with new uses, such as housing in the event such facilities cease to operate as churches.
2014.15 Action MC-2.4.A: AMVF
Implement the recommendations in AMVF.
2014.16 Action MC-2.4.B: Lanier Heights and Reed-Cooke
Consider design guidelines specific to Lanier Heights and Reed-Cooke. Consider historic designation of Walter Pierce Community Park.
2014.17 Action MC-2.4.C: Local Business Assistance
Explore the feasibility of amending tax laws or developing tax abatement and
credit programs to retain neighborhood services and encourage small local-serving businesses space along 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW. Identify technical assistance needs and priorities of Hispanic/Latino-, Asian-, and Black-owned/operated businesses in the neighborhood and recognize the benefits that naturally arise from cultural variety among tenants.
2014.18 Action MC-2.4.D: Design Guidelines
Develop design guidelines for Adams Morgan, including commercial, residential, and open-space areas. Highlight and identify the principles of compatible design and neighborhood character preservation.
2014.19 Action MC-2.4.E: Commercial District Management
Approach commercial district management as a unified operation while developing targeted marketing and localized strategies that enhance and reinforce the unique identity and needs of each retail cluster.
2014.20 Action MC-2.4.F: Enhance the Neighborhood Retail Experience
Use existing Adams Morgan Partnership BID committees and the BID Board to develop joint retail objectives. Work with retailer and resident liaisons involved in the BID to carry out joint initiatives that enhance the neighborhood retail experience.
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)).