2313.1 At the Van Ness Metro station on the Connecticut Avenue corridor, the commercial district is a multi-neighborhood center with a shopping district, institutional and office buildings, and several mid- to high-rise residential buildings. The area includes the 20-acre campus of the UDC, which has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students, as well as the International Chancery Complex.

2313.2 Recent improvements to the Van Ness commercial district include the new UDC Student Center, the Park Van Ness redevelopment, and the creation of the Van Ness Main Street organization. However, this section of the corridor experiences a challenging street environment that is not welcoming to pedestrians, with an excess of hardscaped surfaces and noted parking problems. A lack of distinctive facades and storefronts offers a limited range of retail goods and services. Meanwhile, ground-floor retail space has been lost to institutional and school uses. Opportunities exist for greater synergy between UDC and nearby shopping areas along Connecticut Avenue NW.

2313.3 A Campus Plan for UDC was completed in 2011 to guide campus growth and development at Van Ness through 2020 at its flagship location. The Campus Plan recommends optimizing the university's facilities, providing an environment for cultural exchange, enlivening the surrounding community, and greening the campus. As the Campus Plan is implemented, efforts should be made to improve the public space around the Metro station and make future facility development compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

2313.4 In 2016, OP in partnership with community members and UDC, completed the Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy to improve the corridor, with a focus on public space, retail, sustainability, and commercial opportunities. The Action Strategy includes new streetscape and façade improvement recommendations.

2313.5 Policy RCW-2.3.1: Public Space in Van Ness Enhance the linear public space on both sides of Connecticut Avenue NW with larger landscaped areas and increased café seating where appropriate. Create focal points with public art and activate plazas with temporary placemaking and other programming.

2313.6 Policy RCW-2.3.2: Retail in Van Ness Support Van Ness Main Street and the ANC in efforts to develop a more cohesive and vibrant retail environment, focusing on creating top quality retail space near the Metro station and developing a coordinated marketing approach for Van Ness.

2313.7 Policy RCW-2.3.3: Sustainability in Van Ness Support stakeholder collaboration in Van Ness to enhance sustainability in the Van Ness commercial district. Incorporate green infrastructure into the landscape amenity zone as part of any major streetscape work by the District or a private property owner.

2313.8 Policy RCW-2.3.4: Commercial Opportunities in Van Ness New building construction and major renovation projects should produce high-quality retail space that engages with the sidewalk and increases housing near the Metro station where possible.

2313.9 Policy RCW-2.3.5: UDC and Van Ness Community Continue to enhance coordination and communication between UDC officials, Van Ness Main Street, and the surrounding Van Ness community on issues such as parking, traffic, property maintenance, and facility development. UDC and community stakeholders should collaborate to leverage the university's cultural resources and promote activities that can enliven the street and serve the community.

2313.10 Action RCW-2.3.A: Van Ness Streetscape Improvements Improve the streetscape on Connecticut Avenue in Van Ness to support commercial revitalization of ground-floor retail, enhance public life on the street, and reduce impervious area between building face and curb.

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)).