Section 10-A1808. POLICIES AND ACTIONS FSS-1 GENERAL POLICIES FSS-1.1 GUIDING GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION

 

1808.1The following general policies and actions should guide growth and neighborhood conservation decisions in the Far Southeast/Southwest. These policies and actions should be considered in tandem with those in the citywide elements of the Comprehensive Plan. 1808.1

 

1808.2  Policy FSS-1.1.1:  Directing Growth

 

The presence of the Anacostia Metrorail Station and the coming redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths Hospital site, including the consolidation of the Federal Department of Homeland Security, offer an unprecedented opportunity to catalyze economic development in the Far Southeast/Southwest area.  The "Great Streets" corridor along Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue from the Anacostia River on the north to just past Malcolm X Avenue on the south, including the St. Elizabeths Hospital site, should be developed with medium to high density mixed uses, offering supportive retail services to office workers and residents alike and providing housing opportunities to people who want to live and work in the area.  Strongly promote mixed use development, including retail, service and residential uses as well as office uses, on the portions of the St. Elizabeths Hospital site along Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue.  Such mixed use development should face the street and be open to the public, outside security barriers that may otherwise be required. Additional opportunities for future housing development and employment growth in the Far Southeast/Southwest should be directed to the area around the Congress Heights Metro Stations and along the Great Streets corridors of South Capitol Street.  Provide improved transit and automobile access to these areas and improve their visual and urban design qualities.  Any increase in zoning or density around the Metro station shall only be available through a planned unit development with the expectation that commensurate benefits shall accrue to the neighborhood in terms of education and job opportunities, new and affordable housing for homeownership, improved urban design, and public infrastructure improvements.  The planned unit development shall provide civic and cultural amenities, promote quality in design of buildings and public spaces, support local schools, create opportunities for cultural events and public art, and enhance the public realm by addressing safety and cleanliness issues.

 

1808.3Policy FSS-1.1.2: Conservation of Lower Density Neighborhoods

 

Protect existing single family housing within the Far Southeast/Southwest by appropriately designating such areas as “Low Density Residential” on the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map, and by zoning such areas for single family, rather than multi-family housing. 1808.3

 

1808.4Policy FSS-1.1.3: Rehabilitation of Multi-Family Housing

 

Support rehabilitation and stronger and more consistent code enforcement for the many garden apartments in the Planning Area, particularly in Shipley Terrace, Knox Hill, and Washington Highlands. Support city programs which provide financial assistance to renovate such complexes, with the condition that a significant portion of the units are preserved as affordable after renovation. 1808.4

 

1808.5Policy FSS-1.1.4: Infill Housing Development

 

Support infill housing development on vacant sites within the Far Southeast/Southwest, especially in Historic Anacostia, and in the Hillsdale, Fort Stanton, Bellevue, Congress Heights and Washington Highlands neighborhoods. 1808.5

 

1808.6Policy FSS-1.1.5: Transportation Improvements

 

Undertake transportation improvements and design changes that reduce the amount of “cut through” commuter traffic on local streets. These changes should include new bridges over the Anacostia River, redesigned ramps, and better connections between Downtown, I-295, and Suitland Parkway. 1808.6

 

1808.7  Policy FSS-1.1.6:  Anacostia Streetcar Project

 

Coordinate land use and transportation decisions along the proposed route of the Anacostia Streetcar.  Future development along the streetcar line should be clustered around proposed transit stops.  In addition, the streetcar route should be designed and planned to minimize impacts on traffic flow and to avoid negative impacts on the historic character of the Anacostia community.

 

1808.8Policy FSS-1.1.7: Retail Development

 

Support additional retail development within the Far Southeast/Southwest, especially in Historic Anacostia, and in the neighborhood centers at Malcolm X/Martin Luther King Jr Avenue and South Capitol/Atlantic. Projects which combine upper story housing or offices and ground floor retail are particularly encouraged in these three locations. 1808.8

 

1808.9Policy FSS-1.1.8: Supermarkets and Services

 

Attract additional supermarkets, family-style restaurants, full-service gas stations, and general merchandise stores to the Far Southeast/Southwest. The area’s larger commercial sites should be marketed to potential investors, and economic and regulatory incentives should be used to attract business. The upgrading and renovation of the area’s existing auto-oriented shopping centers is strongly encouraged. 1808.9

 

1808.10Policy FSS-1.1.9: Parking

 

Support additional dedicated off-street parking and loading areas in the business districts at Martin Luther King Jr Avenue/Malcolm X Avenue, Alabama Avenue/23rd Street, and Historic Anacostia. Work with local merchants in each area to identify potential sites. 1808.10

 

1808.11Policy FSS-1.1.10: Minority/Small Disadvantaged Business Development

 

Provide technical assistance to minority-owned and small businesses in the Far Southeast/Southwest to improve the range of goods and services available to the community. Joint venture opportunities, minority business set-asides, business incubator centers, and assistance to community-based development organizations should all be used to jumpstart local business and provide jobs in the community. 1808.11

 

1808.12Policy FSS-1.1.11: Workforce Development Centers

 

Support the development of additional vocational schools, job training facilities, and workforce development centers. Encourage the retention of existing job training centers, and the development of new centers on such sites as the St. Elizabeths Campus and DC Village to increase employment opportunities for local residents. 1808.12

 

1808.13Policy FSS-1.1.12: Increasing Home Ownership

 

Address the low rate of home ownership in the Far Southeast/Southwest by providing more owner-occupied housing in new construction, encouraging the construction of single family homes, and by supporting the conversion of rental apartments to owner-occupied housing, with an emphasis on units that are affordable to current tenants. 1808.13

 

1808.14Policy FSS-1.1.13: School Modernization

 

Strongly support the modernization of schools in the Far Southeast/ Southwest Planning Area. Plans for additional housing must be accompanied by a commitment to improving educational facilities to meet current and future needs, and recognition that education is among the community’s highest priorities. 1808.14

 

1808.15Action FSS-1.1.A: R-5-A Zoning

 

Evaluate the continued appropriateness of the R-5-A zoning that occurs throughout the Far Southeast/Southwest Planning Area. Currently, this zoning applies to many row house, duplex, and single family areas within the community. Rezoning should be considered to better match existing character, and to ensure that future infill development is compatible. The use of R-5-A and other, more dense multi-family zones should continue in areas where multi-family development exists or is desirable in the future. 1808.15

 

1808.16Action FSS-1.1.B: Façade Improvements

 

Implement urban design and façade improvements in the established commercial districts along Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Good Hope Road SE and South Capitol Street SW. 1808.16

 

1808.17Action FSS-1.1.C: Retail Development

 

Complete construction of the Camp Simms retail center by 2008 and support efforts to bring quality retail services to the site. 1808.17

 

1808.18Action FSS-1.1.D: UDC Satellite Campus

 

Pursue the development of a satellite campus for University of the District of Columbia or another university (in consultation with local colleges and universities) either in this Planning Area or in the adjacent Planning Area to the north. Possible sites could include vacated DC Public Schools, the St. Elizabeths Campus, Poplar Point, and the Anacostia Metro Station area. 1808.18

 

1808.19Action FSS-1.1.E: East of the River Development Zone Initiatives

 

Continue implementation of the various East of the River Development Zone Initiatives, designed to foster housing and economic development along Alabama Avenue SE and Martin Luther King Jr Avenue (in Anacostia) through financial and tax incentives. 1808.19

 

1808.20Action FSS-1.1.F: Transportation Improvements

 

Implement the recommendations of the Middle Anacostia Crossings Study, prepared by the District Department of Transportation in 2005. These recommendations include redesign of interchanges along I-295 to reduce traffic congestion on surface streets in Historic Anacostia and its vicinity. 1808.20

 

1808.21Action FSS-1.1.G: Streetcar Extension

 

Study the feasibility of extending the proposed Anacostia streetcar from Bolling Air Force Base south to DC Village and National Harbor. 1808.21

 

1808.22  Policy FSS-1.1.14: District government Incentives for Economic Development

 

Use the full range of incentives and tools available to the District Government, including tax abatements, tax increment financing, PILOTs, eminent domain, and planned unit developments  to promote and leverage economic development in the Far Southeast/Southwest area.

 

authority

Pursuant to the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1-306.01 et seq.), the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital: District Elements of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (10 DCMR A300 through A2520) (“Comprehensive Plan”).

source

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300) published at 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361) published at 58 DCR 908, 926 (February 4, 2011).

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.