Section 10-A1508. CH-1.1 GUIDING GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION

 

1508.1The following general policies and actions should guide growth and neighborhood conservation decisions on Capitol Hill. These policies and actions should be considered in tandem with those in the citywide elements of the Comprehensive Plan. The Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Element should be consulted for policies relating to the future of the adjoining Southeast Waterfront Area. 1508.1

 

1508.2Policy CH-1.1.1: Conserving Residential Uses

 

Maintain the integrity and quality of Capitol Hill’s residential uses, and recognize the importance of its historic architecture and housing stock to the entire District of Columbia. Ensure that Comprehensive Plan and zoning designations for Capitol Hill neighborhoods sustain its moderate density land use pattern. 1508.2

 

1508.3Policy CH-1.1.2: Renovation of Housing Stock

 

Encourage the rehabilitation and renovation of the building stock throughout the Capitol Hill Planning Area, taking steps to preserve and restore important historic features. Where infill development occurs, its scale and character should be compatible with prevailing neighborhood densities and its design should contribute to neighborhood continuity and quality. 1508.3

 

1508.4Policy CH-1.1.3: Upgrading Commercial Districts

 

Reinforce and upgrade the major commercial districts of Capitol Hill, including the H Street and Benning Road corridors, the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor, 7th and 8th Streets SE, and Massachusetts Avenue between Union Station and Stanton Park. Support the further development of these areas with local-serving retail services, provided that such uses are compatible with surrounding land uses and the historic architecture and scale of the shopping districts themselves. Support the retention of existing neighborhood-serving businesses in these areas through programs that provide technical and financial assistance to small, locally-owned establishments. 1508.4

 

1508.5Policy CH-1.1.4: Directing Growth

 

Direct growth in the Capitol Hill Planning Area to commercially zoned land, with a particular emphasis on the H Street/Benning Road corridor. Mixed use development combining ground floor retail and upper story residential uses should be supported in this area, along with streetscape improvements\ that improve visual and urban design qualities and enhance pedestrian, bus, and auto circulation. As in all parts of the city, the scale of development must be sensitive to adjacent uses and should reflect the capacity of roads, infrastructure, and services to absorb additional growth. 1508.5

 

1508.6Policy CH-1.1.5: NoMA/Capitol Hill Transition Areas

 

Improve buffering and urban design transitions between the emerging office and high-density residential corridor north of Union Station (“NoMA”) and the adjacent row house neighborhoods of Capitol Hill. Use zoning, design guidelines, historic preservation review, and other measures to avoid sharp contrasts in scale and character where high density and moderate density areas abut one another. 1508.6

 

See the Urban Design Element for additional policies on scale transitions where high density Downtown uses abut row house neighborhoods. See the Central Washington Element for policies and actions on the NoMA neighborhood.

 

1508.7Policy CH-1.1.6: Inappropriate Commercial Uses

 

Prevent the proliferation of fast food outlets, self-service gas stations, convenience mini-marts, and other “drive-through” businesses along Capitol Hill’s commercial corridors, recognizing that these streets are part of the historic L’Enfant Plan and shape the city’s identity and national image. 1508.7

 

1508.8Policy CH-1.1.7: Alleys

 

Protect Capitol Hill’s system of historic alleys and develop plans for the use of large block interior spaces where appropriate. These plans should be developed in coordination with the affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, residents, and community groups. 1508.8

 

1508.9Policy CH-1.1.8: Encroachment of Non-Residential Uses

 

Strictly limit the conversion of housing to non-residential uses and the replacement of housing with non-residential uses in the Capitol Hill Planning Area. This includes the development of private clubs, apartment houses, rooming houses, single room occupancy homes, museums, colleges, universities, and dormitories within the Capitol Hill Historic District. 1508.9

 

See also Land Use Element Action LU-3.2.B to amend the R-4 Row House Zoning District so that museums, dormitories, colleges, etc. are not permitted as “matter of right” uses. H Street NE

 

1508.10Policy CH-1.1.9: Conversion of Non-Residential Structures

 

Allow the conversion of obsolete or vacant non-residential structures (including schools, churches, warehouses, and institutional uses) to housing, provided that important architectural resources are conserved and the resulting development is consistent in density with surrounding uses. 1508.10

 

1508.11Policy CH-1.1.10: Public Housing

 

Rehabilitate public housing projects on Capitol Hill, ensuring that any units that are removed are replaced in-kind by new public housing units within the community. Where feasible, rehabilitation projects should provide home ownership opportunities for public housing residents. 1508.11

 

1508.12Policy CH-1.1.11: 15th Street Commercial District

 

Discourage the further expansion of commercial uses along 15th Street SE. This corridor should gradually transition to predominantly residential uses, compatible in density with adjacent row house blocks. As this transition occurs, efforts should be made to retain the existing corner stores and small businesses which serve the community. 1508.12

 

1508.13Policy CH-1.1.12: RFK Stadium Area

 

Provide improved buffering and landscaping screening along 19th Street and elsewhere in the vicinity of RFK Stadium in order to reduce the effects of noise, dust, vibration, and air pollution on the adjacent Hill East community. Work collaboratively with the National Park Service and National Capital Planning Commission on long-range plans for the stadium and adjacent parkland and parking lots. Waterfront open space in this area should be retained and improved for the benefit of Hill East, Kingman Park, and Rosedale residents. 1508.13

 

1508.14Policy CH-1.1.13: Traffic Management Strategies

 

Establish traffic management strategies to reduce commuter traffic on East Capitol Street, Independence Avenue, C Street NE, 17th Street SE, and other predominantly residential streets that also function as through streets. These strategies should include limiting additional one-way streets on Capitol Hill (and possibly restoring existing one-way streets to two way traffic), improving signal timing on Benning Road and Pennsylvania Avenue, and improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. Measures should also be implemented to route through-traffic around residential neighborhoods, and to restrict trucks and heavy vehicles on local streets. 1508.14

 

1508.15Policy CH-1.1.14: Southeast/Southwest Freeway

 

Mitigate the effects of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway; including noise, emissions, dust, and visual blight on adjacent Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Continue to evaluate the transportation and land use impacts associated with the freeway’s proposed replacement with an at-grade boulevard and tunnel. 1508.15

 

1508.16Policy CH-1.1.15: Transit Service

 

Maintain and improve mass transit service in the Near Northeast section of the neighborhood, particularly along the corridor extending from Union Station along H Street to Hechinger Mall and continuing on Benning Road to the Minnesota Avenue Metro station. 1508.16

 

1508.17Action CH-1.1.A: Façade Improvements

 

Support urban design and façade improvements along H Street, Benning Road, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Barracks Row. Such improvements should preserve and enhance the historic features, scale, and texture of existing structures. 1508.17

 

1508.18Action CH-1.1.B: 15th Street Rezoning

 

Rezone the 15th Street commercial district for residential uses, consistent with the corridor’s designation on the Comprehensive Plan. 1508.18

 

1508.19Action CH-1.1.C: Transportation Studies

 

Complete DDOT’s Capitol Hill Transportation Study and implement its major recommendations. Also, implement the Middle Anacostia and H Street transportation study recommendations, aimed at reducing throughtraffic on neighborhood streets within Capitol Hill, limiting truck traffic, and improving conditions for Capitol Hill pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. 1508.19

 

1508.20Action CH-1.1.D: H Street Streetcar

 

Implement proposed streetscape improvements for the H Street/Benning Road corridor, including the development of a streetcar line between the Minnesota Avenue Metro station and Union Station. 1508.20

 

1508.21Action CH-1.1.E: Eastern Market Shuttle

 

Provide shuttle bus service from the Eastern Market Metrorail station to the future Washington Nationals ballpark site on South Capitol Street, including stops along 8th Street SE to further promote businesses along Barracks Row. 1508.21

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.