Section 10-A1913. AW-2.3 NEAR SOUTHEAST

 

1913.1The Near Southeast includes the triangular area between the Southeast/ Southwest Freeway, South Capitol Street, and the Anacostia River. This 350-acre area has played an important role in the history of Washington, D.C.-its initial settlement even predates the creation of the District of Columbia. In the 19th century, this was a community where residential streets came down to the river’s edge, a place teeming with life and maritime activity. Near Southeast suffered substantial disinvestment during the second half of the 20th century, however, along with social and economic decline. The 2000 Census reported that the area had one of the highest poverty and unemployment rates in the city. Much of the land near the shoreline still sits vacant today and is fenced off from public access. 1913.1

 

1913.2Over the last ten years, District and federal initiatives have begun to transform the Near Southeast into a dynamic waterfront neighborhood and workplace. These initiatives have included the relocation of 5,000 federal employees back to the Washington Navy Yard, the redevelopment of the Arthur Capper Carrollsburg public housing project through the federal HOPE VI program, construction of a new headquarters for the US Department of Transportation, and the reconfiguration of the 55-acre Southeast Federal Center to allow new housing, offices, and waterfront parkland. Significant private and public investment has followed, including the construction of new office buildings, hotels, housing, and most recently, groundbreaking for the new Washington Nationals ballpark (see discussion under Section AW-2.2). 1913.2

 

1913.3Revitalization of the Near Southeast has been one of the cornerstones of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. A 2003 AWI Urban Design Plan for the area provides a framework for its redevelopment. The Plan seeks to harness the development momentum in the Near Southeast and provide the direction necessary to help the neighborhood reach its full potential. It also addresses the infrastructure, transportation, open space, and streetscape improvements necessary to support redevelopment. The Near Southeast Plan establishes strategies to reconnect the area to the river, create mixed income housing opportunities, provide pedestrian-friendly streets, and establish great public spaces both on the waterfront and in the adjacent neighborhood. One of its most important principles is to preserve existing low income housing in the area, while adding thousands of units of new market rate and workforce housing. 1913.3

 

1913.4The Near Southeast Plan envisions M Street SE as a great urban boulevard with high-density offices and apartments activated by ground floor retail space, restaurants, and civic uses. It calls for the extension of New Jersey Avenue and other streets in the city grid to the waterfront, terminating at a new shoreline park and waterfront promenade. The Plan calls for the preservation of important historic resources such as the “Blue Castle” trolley barn and Latrobe Gate at the Navy Yard, as well as the historic street grid and network of park reservations laid out by Pierre L’Enfant. Strategies to link the area with adjacent neighborhoods like Southwest and Capitol Hill also are provided. 1913.4

 

1913.5Several subareas are identified by the Near Southeast Plan, with land use and urban design goals set forth for each. These areas are South Capitol Gateway, Canal Blocks, Capper Carrollsburg, the Marine Barracks area, the 8th Street SE historic area, East M Street, the Navy Yard, the Southeast Federal Center, and the WASA pump station area. Strategies to better connect and integrate these areas are provided. The Near Southeast Plan lays out a street and block plan for the entire area, as well a trail system and open space framework. Guidelines for specific sites such as Florida Rock (near the foot of South Capitol) and Maritime Plaza (the former Washington Gas site) are provided to ensure that planned development fits into the framework for the overall area. 1913.5

 

1913.6The Near Southeast Urban Design Plan envisions a net increase of 4,200 housing units, 13.6 million square feet of office space, and 705,000 square feet of retail area within the area’s boundaries. The Plan also identifies more than 40 acres of new parks and open space. Collaborative planning between the District, the federal government, and the private sector has been ongoing since the Near Southeast Plan was completed and will continue during the years ahead. 1913.6

 

1913.7Policy AW-2.3.1: Restoring the Urban Pattern of the Near Southeast

Facilitate redevelopment of the Near Southeast by breaking down large contiguously owned government properties into individual development parcels in scale with the traditional urban street grid. Encourage high density mixed use development and open space on newly configured parcels, with new buildings designed and oriented to make the most of their waterfront or near-waterfront settings. 1913.7

 

1913.8Policy AW-2.3.2: Near Southeast Shoreline Access

 

Improve shoreline access and movement to and through the Near Southeast by eliminating real and perceived barriers, improving public space and street corridors, reducing the amount of land occupied by surface parking and industrial uses, and encouraging new land uses that maximize public activity near the waterfront. 1913.8

 

1913.9Policy AW-2.3.3: Near Southeast Housing Opportunities

 

Significantly increase residential land uses in the Near Southeast, particularly in the Southeast Federal Center, Capper Carrollsburg, Canal Blocks, and South Capitol Gateway areas. Consistent with the existing zoning for these areas, mixed use development that includes housing as well as commercial uses should be strongly encouraged. The mix of housing should accommodate residents of all incomes and household types. 1913.9

 

1913.10Policy AW-2.3.4: M Street Southeast

 

Transform M Street into an attractive pedestrian-oriented thoroughfare, lined with retail shops and services, with upper story office, hotels, and residential uses. The street itself should be designed as a multi-modal boulevard, accommodating pedestrians, bicycles, and transit vehicles as well as cars. It should strengthen connections between the Near Southeast, Southwest, and Capitol Hill. 1913.10

 

1913.11Policy AW-2.3.5: Restoration of the L’Enfant Plan in Near Southeast

 

Restore key elements of the original L’Enfant street plan within Near Southeast, including the city street grid, the extension of New Jersey Avenue and 3rd and 4th Streets SE to the waterfront, and the possible replacement of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway with an at-grade boulevard (Virginia Avenue). 1913.11

 

1913.12Policy AW-2.3.6: Near Southeast Urban Amenities

 

Leverage new development in the Near Southeast to create amenities such as parks, trails, child care facilities, civic uses, and retail space that serve the area’s residents and workforce. 1913.12

 

1913.13Policy AW-2.3.7: Near Southeast Historic Identity

 

Create an identity in the Near Southeast that celebrates the area’s history and integrates important historic and cultural resources. These resources include the Navy Yard, local educational, religious, and cultural institutions, and historic landmarks, including industrial and utility buildings like the DC Pumping Station. 1913.13

 

1913.14Action AW-2.3.A: Near Southeast Urban Design Plan Implementation

 

Implement the recommendations of the Near Southeast Urban Design Framework Plan, including zoning, financing, phasing, and infrastructure improvements. 1913.14

 

1913.15Action AW-2.3.B: Canal Blocks and Waterfront Park

 

Create the Canal Blocks Park on the three blocks between M Street and I Street that once contained the historic Washington Canal. Create a waterfront park of at least five acres along the shoreline at the Southeast Federal Center. These two parks should be designed as attractions and amenities for Near Southeast residents, employees, and visitors. They should be linked to each other and to Garfield Park and the Virginia Avenue playground by trails and greenways, and connected to other waterfront open spaces by the proposed Anacostia Riverwalk and Trail system. 1913.15

 

1913.16Action AW-2.3.C: Zoning Incentives

 

Continue to develop and apply zoning incentives to promote residential uses within the near Southeast, such as the Capitol Gateway Overlay District. Zoning changes should not diminish established provisions for transfer of development rights into the Capitol South area. 1913.16

 

1913.17Action AW-2.3.D: Cushing Place

 

Consider Cushing Place to be an “alley” rather than a “street” for the purpose of regulating future driveway locations, thereby ensuring that future development may be designed to minimize disruption of the street environment with curb cuts, and to maximize access to sunlight. 1913.17

 

See also the Capitol Hill Area Element for policies on the connection between this area and Barracks Row and the importance of retaining the historic scale of 8th Street SE.

 

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.