Section 10-A1800. OVERVIEW

 

1800.1The Far Southeast/Southwest Planning Area encompasses 10.1 square miles east of the Anacostia Freeway and south of Good Hope Road/Naylor Road. The Planning Area includes neighborhoods such as Historic Anacostia, Congress Heights, Hillsdale, Woodland, Fort Stanton, Barry Farm, Bellevue, Washington Highlands, Douglas/Shipley Terrace, Garfield Heights, and Knox Hill/Buena Vista. Most of this area has historically been Ward 8, but prior to redistricting in 2002, the northern portion was in Ward 6. Planning Area boundaries are shown in the Map to the left. 1800.1

 

1800.2Far Southeast/Southwest is a community of surprising contrasts. It includes the 19th century row houses of Historic Anacostia as well as brand new communities like Henson Ridge and Wheeler Creek. Its housing ranges from single family homes in neighborhoods like Congress Heights, to garden apartments in neighborhoods like Washington Highlands and Fort Stanton, to high-rise apartments such as the Wyngates and Faircliff Plaza. 1800.2

 

1800.3It is home to two National Historic Landmarks-the residence of abolitionist champion Frederick Douglass at Cedar Hill, and the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus, one of the country’s most renowned institutions for the treatment of mental illness for more than 150 years. Its commercial areas range from a brand new shopping center under construction at Camp Simms to more traditional neighborhood centers along Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, Good Hope Road, and South Capitol Street. The community also includes open spaces and natural areas like Oxon Run and Oxon Cove. 1800.3

 

1800.4Anacostia and the surrounding Far Southeast/Southwest neighborhoods that surround it have stayed strong through difficult times. Many middleclass residents left the area in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, affecting the stability of the area’s neighborhoods. Between 1990 and 2000 population in this Planning Area declined by nine percent and the poverty rate increased from 28 percent to 38 percent. The crime rate and unemployment rate remain chronically high and are well above the city and regional average. The average resident must go outside their neighborhood to shop, enjoy a restaurant, and even find basic services like groceries. 1800.4

 

1800.5Today, the priorities are clear: safer streets, better schools, more jobs, and improved housing choices. The Comprehensive Plan reflects these priorities in its policies and maps. Poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, crime, and other social issues must be addressed to improve the quality of life for residents in the Far Southeast/Southwest. For revitalization to truly succeed, all residents must be given opportunities to advance. 1800.5

 

1800.6The area’s social and economic needs affect its physical environment in many ways. They translate to a need for more facilities for vocational training and job placement like the One-Stop Career Center on South Capitol Street. Community priorities mean that aging neighborhood schools like Savoy and Turner must be rebuilt; that aging libraries like the Washington Highlands Branch must be modernized; and that new recreation centers and cultural centers like Bald Eagle and the ARC are provided to create positive alternatives for at-risk youth and others. New opportunities for local entrepreneurs also are needed-providing a chance to start a business, hire local residents, and provide needed services to the community. 1800.6

 

1800.7The strength of the District’s real estate market is already bringing a wave of change to the Far Southeast/Southwest. Thousands of affordable housing units have been constructed or rehabilitated since 2000. The HOPE VI projects have created many first time homeowners, including former public housing residents. Projects such as Monterrey Park, Livingston Apartments, Danbury Station, Royal Court and Congress Park are just a few examples of the improved housing choices in the area. The first new shopping center in over a decade is under construction-and after two decades of waiting, the community will finally have a full-service modern supermarket. 1800.7

 

1800.8Investment in public facilities has been a catalyst for housing development in the area. Bald Eagle Recreation Center and Fort Greble Recreation Center have received major upgrades in the last two years. The new Patterson Elementary School has opened, and several more schools are slated for major renovation or new construction. A new Senior Wellness Center opened in Congress Heights in 2002. 1800.8

 

1800.9The future of the Far Southeast/Southwest depends on active community engagement. The continued involvement of groups like the East of the River Community Development Corporation, Anacostia Economic Development Corporation, Far SW/SE Community Development Corporation, the United Planning Organization and the Far SE Family Strengthening Collaborative can help revitalize the community. Moreover, groups such as the Congress Heights and Fort Stanton Civic Associations, the Frederick Douglass Community Improvement Council, the Anacostia Coordinating Council and the Ward 8 Business Council provide a community resource and are an important voice in neighborhood and citywide affairs. 1800.9

 

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.