Section 10-A1613. CW-2.3 CHINATOWN

 

1613.1The distinctive “Friendship Arch” at the intersection of 7th and H Streets NW is the center of Washington’s Chinatown. Decorative metal lattice work and railings, Chinese signs, and Chinese façade and roof details greet visitors to the blocks of H Street between 5th Street and 8th Street NW. The area has been a center of Chinese culture since the 1930s, when the city’s original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue was displaced by development of the Federal Triangle. 1613.1

 

1613.2Today, Chinatown is struggling to retain its identity as the area around it booms with new retail, office, entertainment, and housing development. The Chinese population in the area now numbers fewer than 600 residents, and many of the Chinese businesses are having a difficult time keeping pace with rising rents and land costs. National chains have moved in, leading to curious street scenes as businesses like Hooters and Starbucks display signs with Chinese characters. 1613.2

 

1613.3Keeping Chinatown a viable ethnic commercial district and neighborhood will require proactive measures to assist its businesses, attract new Chinese enterprises and cultural activities to the area, and support the institutions and services that sustain the Chinese community today. The area can capitalize on its proximity to the Convention Center and Gallery Place without losing its special character. Although the Chinese population in the neighborhood itself is small, it serves as a cultural and symbolic hub for a metropolitan area with almost 100,000 Chinese-American residents. It is also a destination for tourists (including visitors from Asia) and most recently, the home of the new Chinese community cultural center at Gallery Place. 1613.3

 

1613.4Policy CW-2.3.1: Sustaining Chinatown

 

Retain and enhance Chinatown as a thriving Downtown community including housing, community and cultural facilities, ethnically-oriented street-level retail, related wholesale operations, office and professional uses, and hotels. 1613.4

 

1613.5Policy CW-2.3.2: Protection Chinatown as a Viable Community

 

Protect and conserve Chinatown, not only through Chinese-themed building facades and street signs, but by supporting the cultural traditions of the local Chinese community, assisting Chinese-owned businesses within Chinatown, sustaining the social services that serve the Chinese population, and attracting new activities which expand the area’s role as a regional center for Chinese culture and education. 1613.5

 

1613.6Policy CW-2.3.3: Chinatown’s Architectural Character

 

Support architectural, streetscape, and landscape design criteria for new and renovated buildings that reinforce the identity of Chinatown as a special cultural district. These criteria should provide for the use of Chinese design features in a way that does not harm the historic character or structural integrity of Chinatown’s landmark buildings. 1613.6

 

1613.7Policy CW-2.3.4: Chinatown Wholesaling

 

Support the retention of small food wholesalers and other small non-retail businesses that contribute to the success of Chinatown and help sustain its economic vitality. 1613.7

 

1613.8Policy CW-2.3.5: Chinatown as a Destination

 

Continue to enhance Chinatown’s role as a destination for residents and workers from the District and surrounding jurisdictions, as well as for leisure and business visitors. This can help strengthen the vitality of Chinese-owned businesses, and support the development of new enterprises. Focus in particular on pedestrian connections along 7th Street between H Street NW and the Convention Center. 1613.8

 

1613.9Action CW-2.3.A: Chinatown Design Review

 

Continue to implement design review procedures that support the authentic expression of Chinese culture in new and rehabilitated development, including, as appropriate, building design, signage, streetscape and open space criteria. Periodically review the procedures and update them as necessary. 1613.9

 

1613.10Action CW-2.3.B: Chinatown Best Practices Study

 

Conduct a “best practices” study that analyzes what other cities have done to conserve ethnic business districts (particularly central city “Chinatowns”), through land use and urban design decisions, regulatory controls, business development and economic assistance, and tourist promotion. 1613.10

 

Today Chinatown is struggling to retain its identity as the area around it booms with new retail, office, entertainment, and housing development.

 

1613.11Action CW-2.3.C: Chinese Park at 5th Street and Massachusetts Avenue

 

Support redesign of the park reservation at 5th Street NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW with a Chinese landscape theme, providing a symbolic gateway to Chinatown from Massachusetts Avenue NW. 1613.11

 

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.