Section 10-A1701. CONTEXT HISTORY

 

1701.1Most of Far Northeast and Southeast was still countryside until the early 20th century. In fact, large tracts of land were farmed until as recently as the mid-1900s. Early settlements in the area included the communities of Good Hope (near Alabama Avenue and Naylor Road), Benning Heights (near Fort Dupont), and Deanwood. 1701.1

 

1701.2Far Northeast and Southeast took on strategic importance during the Civil War, when Fort Dupont, Fort Davis, and other encampments were built to protect the nation’s capital from attack. Woodlawn Cemetery-another local landmark-was established in 1895 to provide a site for African-American burials, which were largely prohibited at other cemeteries in the region at that time. By the late 1800s, Deanwood had emerged as a working class community of black and white families and was known for its self-reliance and strong sense of economic independence. 1701.2

 

1701.3The first large-scale urban development in the area took place during the 1920s. The pace accelerated during World War II, as defense and government workers flocked to the city. Naylor Gardens, for example, was developed for the federal government and later served as cooperative housing for returning war veterans. Rapid development continued through the 1950s, as sewers, paved streets, and sidewalks were provided to most areas. Neighborhoods like Hillcrest (originally called Summit Ridge) and Benning Ridge (originally called Bradbury Heights) date from this period. 1701.3

 

1701.4Following the removal of restrictive housing covenants in the late 1940s, the racial composition of the community shifted. By 1960, a majority of the area’s residents were African-American. The pace of development slowed after 1970, and the community entered a period of population decline as many families left the city for suburban Maryland and elsewhere. Despite the loss of residents, many high-quality neighborhoods remain in Far Northeast and Southeast, and today there are signs of reinvestment in nearly all parts of the community. 1701.4

 

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.