Section 10-A1714. FNS-2.4 BENNING ROAD METRO STATION AREA

 

1714.1The Benning Road Metrorail station is located at the corner of Benning Road and East Capitol Street. The station, which is served by Metro’s Blue Line, opened in 1980 and currently has one of the lowest volumes of passenger traffic in the Metrorail system. Surrounding land uses include auto-oriented commercial businesses, including the Shrimp Boat restaurant, single family homes and duplexes, and small two and three-story apartment buildings. A controversial proposal to develop a five-story office building for the Court Supervision and Offender Services Administration at the station was tabled in 2005. While the proposal generated much debate, it did provide an opportunity for area residents to articulate more clearly the type of development that is desired in the station area. 1714.1

 

New senior housing at Capitol Gateway Estates The Shrimp Boat is considered by many to be a local landmark.

 

1714.2The Benning Road station area should become a much more attractive community hub in the future, comprised of pedestrian-oriented housing, retail, and recreational uses. Large-scale office buildings and surface parking lots should be discouraged here; rather the site is most appropriate as a walkable neighborhood center with low-scale moderate density residential buildings containing ground floor retail, service, and similar uses. Amenities such as plazas, public art, attractive facades, and pocket parks should be provided as the area develops, and safe street crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists should be ensured. Special care should be taken to preserve the adjacent neighborhoods, improve the hazardous and confusing street intersections in the vicinity, and emphasize land uses and activities which benefit area residents. 1714.2

 

1714.3Policy FNS-2.4.1: Benning Road Station Area Development

 

Support development of the Benning Road Metro Station area as a pedestrian-oriented mixed use area, including moderate density housing, retail, service uses, and public spaces and amenities that serve adjacent neighborhoods. Future development must recognize and be consistent with the low-density, residential character of the adjacent neighborhoods. 1714.3

 

1714.4Action FNS-2.4.A: Benning Road Station Transit-Oriented Development Plan

 

Undertake a community planning process for the Benning Road Metro station, defining specific land use and urban design improvements, and more clearly establishing the community’s vision for the station area. 1714.4

 

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.