2400.1 The Upper Northeast Planning Area encompasses 8.7 square miles and includes about two-thirds of the District's northeastern quadrant. The Planning Area's western boundary is formed by North Capitol Street (north of Rhode Island Avenue) and the CSX railroad tracks (south of Rhode Island Avenue), and its southern boundary is formed by Florida Avenue, Benning Road, and the Anacostia waterfront area. The northern/eastern border is Eastern Avenue at the District of Columbia line. These boundaries are shown in the map at left. Historically, most of Upper Northeast has been in Ward 5.

2400.2 Northeast is principally known as a residential community, with single-family neighborhoods, including Arboretum, Woodridge, Queens Chapel, and Michigan Park. It also includes row house neighborhoods, such as Stronghold and Trinidad, and apartments and higher-density housing in communities, such as Fort Lincoln, Edgewood, and Carver Terrace. Some communities—Brookland, Ivy City, Fort Totten, and Riggs Park, for example—offer a traditional base of single-family housing and an emerging cluster of transit-oriented development around Metrorail (Metro) stations.

2400.3 The mix of uses in Upper Northeast is particularly diverse compared to other parts of Washington, DC. The Planning Area contains the largest concentration of industrial land uses in the District, following the CSX rail lines north and east from Union Station. It includes three major institutions of higher education—the Catholic University of America (CUA), Trinity University, and Gallaudet University—and numerous other institutions serving other missions. For many years, the CUA planned to repurpose land along Michigan Avenue once occupied by residence halls. In 2014, approximately 11 acres were transformed into Monroe Street Market, a cluster of residences, restaurants, and shops located next to the Brookland/CUA Metro Station. Upper Northeast includes one hospital—the Hospital for Sick Children. It also includes several large federal properties, including the Brentwood Postal Facility and the U.S. National Arboretum, a Federal Express distribution center and the now- revived Hecht's Warehouse site.

2400.4 Upper Northeast is also home to the historic Union Market located within the Florida Avenue Market, which is the District's fresh produce district, as well as dozens of small shops and local businesses along neighborhood commercial streets, such as 12th Street, 18th Street, and Rhode Island Avenue. At one time, Upper Northeast had many more neighborhood shopping districts like these, but the number of shopping districts has been reduced, or in some cases disappeared entirely due to competition from larger auto-oriented and suburban-style shopping centers, including shopping centers in the District.

2400.5 The Planning Area is especially well known for its large concentration of

religious institutions, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. It contains numerous seminaries and ministries, some occupying park-like settings with rolling lawns and impressive buildings. The Franciscan Monastery and the homes of the Josephites, the Carmelites, and many other religious orders are located here. Most of these properties meet the qualifications for historic designations, but few are officially recognized. In addition to these historic institutions, the Planning Area also includes portions of several important public landscapes, all of which are historic: multiple Civil War Defenses of Washington, otherwise known as the Fort Circle Parks, Langston Golf Course, and the National Arboretum.

2400.6 Several major arterial streets, including New York Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, South Dakota Avenue, Bladensburg Road, Michigan Avenue, and Riggs Road, cross the Planning Area. The area also includes the Fort Totten, Brookland/CUA, and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metro stations, as well as NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro station, which is on the border with the Central Washington and Capitol Hill Area Elements. All four of these stations are served by Metro's Red Line. The Metropolitan Branch Trail is being developed through this area, linking Upper Northeast neighborhoods to Downtown Washington, DC.

2400.7 Upper Northeast has experienced significant growth along the Red Line over the past 10 years. This growth is anticipated to continue as underused land, such as surface parking lots and underperforming strip malls near the Metro stations and along the neighboring corridors, redevelop.

2400.8 Upper Northeast neighborhoods are home to many lifelong Washingtonians and have a history of strong civic. Civic associations, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), churches, and community organizations are actively involved in discussions about the community's future. Nonprofit organizations, such as the North Capitol and Brookland-Edgewood Family Support Collaboratives and the United Planning Organization, also play an important role in community life.

2400.9 Upper Northeast shares some of the same challenges facing other parts of the District. The area's poverty and unemployment rates are all above the District average. . Many parts of the area lack access to open space, parks, and retail services. The area has a large population of older adults, many with special transportation, housing, and health care needs. The Planning Area also faces the challenge of an increasingly unaffordable housing market. A new generation of homeowners has invested in Upper Northeast, which has led to increased prices and housing demand. The greatest future challenge will be to respond to change in a way that keeps Upper Northeast a socially, culturally, and economically diverse community.

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)).