D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 2111
2111.1 The Shaw/Convention Center area is bounded by Massachusetts and New York Avenues NW on the south, 12th Street and Vermont Avenue NW on the west, U Street and Florida Avenue NW on the north, and New Jersey Avenue NW on the east. This area has a long history as an economically and ethnically diverse residential neighborhood. An urban renewal plan for the area was adopted in 1969 in response to the unrest in 1968 and deficient housing conditions in much of the area. The urban renewal plan took a more incremental approach than was taken in Southwest, selectively clearing alley dwellings and substandard housing rather than calling for wholesale clearance. As a result, the area contains a mix of affordable housing complexes from the 1970s and older row houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2111.2 Recent market trends in the District, as well as the opening of the Washington Convention Center in 2004 and other notable real estate developments such as the O Street Market, have increased development pressure on the neighborhood. This has helped revitalize the underserved business districts along 7th, 9th, and 11th Streets NW but has also brought displacement pressures for long-time, low-income residents. Development and revitalization efforts have contributed to transforming the area alley system as well. Blagden Alley has experienced a renaissance, with many creative businesses moving in and the establishment of the DC Alley Museum through a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCHA) and support from the Blagden Alley Neighbors, which funds artists to create murals and public art in the alley. Two historic districts were created in the area in 1999 to manage growth, preserve places of architectural and cultural significance, and blend new buildings into the neighborhood.
2111.3 In 2005, OP completed the Convention Center Area Strategic Development Plan to guide development, revitalization, and conservation in this area. The plan identified several issues, including the need to conserve affordable housing, generate new quality housing, revitalize local businesses, improve sidewalks and public spaces, upgrade parks and public facilities, provide stronger design controls, and expand the Shaw Historic District. In 2006, nearly one-fifth of the housing units in the study area received some form of public subsidy and were considered affordable. Based on 2017 estimates, the share of affordable housing units in the same area dropped to seven percent, making it a much less economically diverse real estate market and community.
2111.4 In 2014, the D.C. Council approved the Mid-City East Small Area Plan (SAP), which provides a strategic framework for revitalization of Bates/Truxton Circle, Bloomingdale, Eckington, Hanover, LeDroit Park, and Sursum Corda, as well as sections of Edgewood and Stronghold. The study area is predominately in Ward 5, with portions of Wards 1 and 6, and is traversed by five major corridors: North
Capitol Street and New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Florida Avenues. The vision for the Mid-City East SAP is to improve quality of life and enhance neighborhood amenities and character while supporting a community of culturally, economically, and generationally diverse residents. The Mid-City East SAP is a community-based plan guided by market-based solutions and a shared vision and principles. The plan builds from previous work and provides analysis and recommendations for land use, redevelopment of underutilized and/or underdeveloped sites, walkability, retail readiness along commercial corridors, and improvements to parks and open spaces.
Preserve existing affordable housing within the Shaw/Convention Center area and produce new affordable housing and market rate housing on underutilized and future development sites. Use a range of tools to retain and develop affordable housing in the Planning Area, including tenant organization and public education, inclusionary zoning, renewing project-based public housing contracts, tax abatements, public-private partnerships, and affordable housing when development on publicly- owned land includes a residential component.
Stabilize and maintain existing moderate-density row house areas within the Shaw/Convention Center area. Locate multi-unit buildings in areas already zoned for greater density, including areas near the Mount Vernon Square and Shaw/Howard University Metro stations, and on publicly owned land with the potential for housing. Ensure that development on infill sites scattered throughout the row house portions of the Shaw/Convention Center area is sensitive to and complements the neighborhood’s character.
Encourage mixed-income residential development with underground parking adjacent to the Shaw/Howard and Mount Vernon Square Metro stations, particularly on existing surface parking lots and Metro station entrances.
Encourage adaptive reuse and mixed-use infill development, with special consideration for cultural, creative, and art uses, along Blagden Alley, a residentially zoned block with historic structures such as carriage houses, garages, and warehouses. Appropriate measures should be taken to safeguard existing residential uses as such development takes place.
Support and sustain retail development within the Shaw/Convention Center area in a manner that best serves residents, creates the best environment for businesses
to thrive, and uses land already zoned for commercial uses. Continuous ground floor retail uses should be encouraged along sections of 7th and 9th Streets NW as designated in the 2005 Strategic Development Plan to create a traditional pedestrian-oriented Main Street pattern and establish a unified identity for the community. These corridors should attract convention-goers, residents, and visitors, and should include both new and existing businesses.
2111.10
Improve streets and open spaces throughout the Shaw/Convention Center area. Open space in the area should promote a sense of community, provide a high level of public safety, and address multiple needs. Connections between the area’s parks and open spaces should be strengthened and opportunities for new recreational activities should be accommodated where feasible.
2111.11
Design the streetscapes in the Shaw/Convention Center area to clearly differentiate between residential streets and commercial streets, and to highlight the distinct role of avenues, retail streets, greenways, and primary and secondary residential streets.
2111.12
Support the development of mixed-income housing above retail space on 7th and 9th Streets NW, and encourage development of multi-family apartments and condominiums on parcels that are vacant or that contain buildings identified as non-contributing to the Shaw Historic District on 11th Street NW.
2111.13
The long-term vacant lots known as Parcel 42 at the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and 7th and R Streets NW represent an opportunity to add new affordable housing units in the Shaw neighborhood. The District and the Zoning Commission should support redevelopment of the vacant lots at Square 442 and Lots 106 and 803 with a mixed-use project of up to 110 feet in building height, to include ground floor retail uses with both destination and neighborhood-serving retail; a residential component that maximizes affordability beyond the requirements of the Inclusionary Zoning Program; and publicly accessible open space on Lot 803 as per public input shared during the community engagement process for the redevelopment of the site.
2111.14
Undertake the following actions to improve the public realm in the Shaw/Convention Center area:
Develop, maintain, and enforce standards for residential and commercial streets that address sidewalks, tree boxes, and public rights-of-way;
Improve the appearance of gateway intersections at New Jersey and Rhode Island Avenues NW, New Jersey and New York Avenues NW, Mount Vernon Square, 11th Street, and Massachusetts Avenue NW; and
2111.15 Action NNW-2.1.D: Expiring Public Housing Contracts
Implement the DC Housing Preservation Strike Force recommendations for expiring project-based public housing contracts within the Shaw area and beyond, recognizing the vulnerability of these units to conversion to market rate housing. Consider the redevelopment of these sites with mixed-income projects that include, at a minimum, an equivalent number of affordable units, additional market rate units, and measures to avoid displacement of on-site residents.
2111.16 Action NNW-2.1.E: Former Shaw High School Site
Complete redevelopment of the former Shaw Junior High School site for the renovated Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in alignment with DCPS strategic planning and capital funding availability. Continue to conduct engagement and analysis to identify any additional facility needs and programs on the DCPS and DPR portions of the site.
2111.17 Action NNW-2.1.F: Mid-City East SAP
Implement recommendations provided in the Mid-City East SAP.
2111.18 Action NNW-2.1.G: Mid-City East Livability Study
Implement recommendations provided in the Mid-City East Livability Study.
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)).