D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 2015

MC-2.5 Mount Pleasant Street NW

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

2015.1 The Mount Pleasant Street NW shopping district was developed around the end of a streetcar line and has served the surrounding community for more than a century. Mount Pleasant has been a designated National Register Historic District since 1987 and is one of the Washington, DC Main Streets. Today, the commercial district includes a variety of small businesses and services, many oriented toward the large Hispanic/Latino population in the area. The area between Mount Pleasant Street NW and 16th Street NW is one of the densest in the District, with numerous large apartment complexes.

2015.2 There is broad agreement that Mount Pleasant Street NW should remain a culturally diverse, pedestrian-oriented, local-serving shopping street in the future and that the local flavor of the business mix should be preserved. As in other Mid-City neighborhoods, there are concerns about rising rents and the loss of business diversity. There is strong interest in attracting new arts establishments and locally owned restaurants to the neighborhood and in promoting multiculturalism through outdoor fairs, public art, and street performances. There is also strong interest in preserving the architectural integrity and historic proportions of Mount Pleasant's residential streets and in acquiring additional open space for public access and community use.

2015.3 In 2010, the D.C. Council approved the Mount Pleasant Street Commercial Revitalization Strategy. This Small Area Plan provides a framework to revitalize commercial activity along the historic corridor and set the stage for long-term future growth. The policies and actions below reflect key goals and recommendations from the plan.

2015.4 Policy MC-2.5.1: Mount Pleasant Street NW's Character Maintain and preserve Mount Pleasant Street NW's local neighborhood shopping character to serve the surrounding neighborhood. Support creative cultural design while preserving historic landmarks.

2015.5 Policy MC-2.5.2: Involving the International Community Promote bilingual outreach and communication with local merchants and residents to more effectively address business impacts and create a better match between neighborhood businesses and the needs of the community.

2015.6 Policy MC-2.5.3: Mount Pleasant as a Creative Economic Enclave Support creative and multicultural expression in Mount Pleasant through display, performance, festivals, and economic development strategies. The neighborhood should be a creative economic enclave, where incubators and small businesses that combine cultural and small-scale technological initiatives are supported. Cultural arts should be more fully integrated into the landscape of Mount Pleasant

Street NW and should be part of the experience of living or shopping there. Additional arts, crafts, galleries, licensed market vendors, and space for business incubators and consulting services in the creative professions should be encouraged.

2015.7 Policy MC-2.5.4: Open Space Access Pursue improvements to existing open space in the Mount Pleasant community, including better connections to Rock Creek Park, enhancements to pocket parks and plazas, and encouraging the joint use of school facilities to meet local recreational needs.2015.8 Policy MC-2.5.5: Promoting Affordable Housing in Mount Pleasant Preserve existing affordable housing in Mount Pleasant and support opportunities for new affordable housing as a component of mixed-use infill development along Mount Pleasant Street NW and in the area between Mount Pleasant and 16^th Streets NW.2015.9 Policy MC-2.5.6: Strengthen Small Business Implement technical assistance to strengthen existing small businesses and increase opportunities for new entrepreneurs to capture more of the neighborhood customer base.2015.10 Policy MC-2.5.7: Promote and Market Mount Pleasant Street NW Attract additional consumers to the corridor by promoting the unique character of Mount Pleasant Street NW.2015.11 Policy MC-2.5.8: Enhance the Appearance of Mount Pleasant Street NW Improve the Mount Pleasant Street NW streetscape and physical appearance by transforming it into a green street that can be used as a model for eco-friendly development practices.2015.12 Policy MC-2.5.9: Increase Creative Uses on Mount Pleasant Street NW Undertake temporary urbanism initiatives to transform vacant and underused sites and spaces into vibrant destinations and creative showcases.2015.13 Action MC-2.5.A: Incentives for Mixed-Use Development and Affordable Housing Consider planning and zoning tools in Mount Pleasant to create incentives for ground floor retail and upper story, mixed-income residential uses along Mount Pleasant Street NW, with performance standards that ensure the compatibility of adjacent uses. Provide the necessary flexibility to encourage innovation and creative economic development, possibly including ground floor small businesses on alleys and walkways in the area between 16^th and 17^th Streets NW.

2015.14 Action MC-2.5.B: Expanding Mount Pleasant Open Space Maintain the space at 19th Street NW and Lamont Street NW– once planned to be a continuation of Lamont Street – as a public park. The intersection of Mount Pleasant Street NW and Kenyon Street NW has long been an important gathering space and should be improved to create an enhanced public plaza. Any future redevelopment of properties at this location should maintain or enhance accommodations for public space and ensure visual compatibility with the Mount Pleasant commercial corridor. Consideration should also be given to combining Asbury and Rabaut Parks (at 16th, Harvard, and Columbia Road) into a single park. Access for pedestrians, persons using wheelchairs, and bicyclists between Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights should be provided through this area.

2015.15 Action MC-2.5.C: Mount Pleasant Street Façade Improvements Encourage urban design and façade improvements in the established commercial district along Mount Pleasant Street NW.

2015.16 Action MC-2.5.D: Mount Pleasant Street NW Commercial Revitalization Strategy Implement Mount Pleasant Street Small Area Plan recommendations.

2015.17 Action MC-2.5.E: Market the Unique Character of Mount Pleasant Street NW Led by the Mount Pleasant Main Street, coordinate a marketing campaign to promote Mount Pleasant businesses to District residents outside the neighborhood.

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)).