Section 10-A2211. RCE-2.1 TAKOMA CENTRAL DISTRICT

 

2211.1Takoma is one of Washington’s most distinctive communities. It shares its history and its name with Takoma Park, Maryland. Both communities embody classic pedestrian-scale streets and a rich architectural legacy. The area’s principal business district along Carroll Street links the District and Maryland portions of the community. While the border is seamless, the District’s side lacks the streetscape, retail mix, and vitality of the Maryland side. Many Takoma DC residents find themselves shopping across the border in Maryland, even though their own commercial district has the capacity to offer many of the same retail amenities. 2211.1

 

2211.2A number of planning studies for the area have been completed over the years, including a 1977 Plan that anticipated the opening of Metro, a 1999 study that looked at ways to link the Maryland and DC commercial districts, and a 2002 Strategic Plan for the Takoma Central District. The

Central District Plan was developed through an intensive public process and was adopted by the City Council as a Small Area Plan. It covered an area extending from Chestnut Street on the north, the Maryland/DC state line on the east, 4th and 5th Streets on the west, and Aspen and Laurel Streets on the south. The area includes the Metrorail station and the shopping districts along Carroll Street and 4th Street. It includes small shops with a variety of neighborhood serving businesses, a vacant theater, homes and apartments, parking lots, and vacant land. 2211.2

Within Rock Creek East

2211.3The Central District Plan (CDP) seeks to improve neighborhood retail choices, restore vacant buildings and storefronts, accommodate compatible infill housing, address traffic and parking conditions, enhance open space, and improve the safety and quality of the pedestrian environment. Key principles from the CDP are captured in the policies and actions below; the CDP itself should be consulted for additional detail. The Plan describes a vision for Central Takoma as a “Town Center,” with Metro serving as a gateway to new mixed use development, restored historic buildings, and pedestrian friendly streets. It places a priority on preserving the small-town character that embodies historic Takoma DC, emphasizing development that is in keeping with the low scale and businesses that serve the local community. 2211.3

 

2211.4Several specific sites were identified in the Central District Plan as housing opportunities. Since 2002, mixed use development projects such as Elevation 314 and Cedar Crossing have already been completed on some of these sites. A townhome development is currently proposed on the 6.8-acre Metrorail site itself, including live-work space, parking for Metro riders, and a new public park. Improvements to Carroll Avenue and Blair Road are planned to maintain traffic flow, and make the area safer for pedestrians. Future development in the Central Takoma area should maximize Metrorail access while taking care to provide appropriate buffers and transitions to adjacent uses.2211.4

 

2211.5The Central District Plan was immediately followed by preparation of a Transportation Study for Takoma. The Study had several objectives, including improving safety for all modes of travel, reducing cut-through traffic, improving aesthetics, and balancing the needs of autos with those of pedestrians, transit users, and bicyclists. The Study also tested the effects of proposed development on the transportation network to ensure that impacts would be mitigated and that traffic flows would remain acceptable. A number of short-term and long-term recommendations were developed and are currently being implemented. 2211.5

 

2211.6Policy RCE-2.1.1: Historic Preservation in Takoma

 

Recognize and respect Takoma’s rich heritage, architectural character and scale, and small town ambiance in all revitalization, urban design, and marketing strategies and initiatives. 2211.6

 

2211.7Policy RCE-2.1.2: Strategic Public and Private Investment in Takoma

 

Target public investment in the Takoma Central District area in ways that can be leveraged to improve private investment and create public benefits. This should include streetscape and building façade improvements, partnerships with neighborhood and business organizations, and the development of key public properties. 2211.7

 

2211.8Policy RCE-2.1.3: Takoma Central District Housing Strategy

 

Accommodate housing demand at the short-term and long-term opportunity sites identified in the Takoma Central District Plan. Short-term sites include vacant land, an auto service site, and the station parking area. Longer-term development sites include parking lots and light industrial areas which could potentially strengthen the Takoma Central District as a mixed-use, mixed income neighborhood. 2211.8

 

2211.9Policy RCE-2.1.4: Takoma Central District Retail Strategy

 

Concentrate retail activities on key sites along Carroll Street and 4th Street through requirements that mandate ground floor retail space within the established business district. Continuous street walls and active ground floor retail should be encouraged in these areas, consistent with the Small Area Plan. Inappropriate uses, such as storage yards, auto sales, and warehouses, should be strictly limited. 2211.9

 

2211.10Policy RCE-2.1.5: Takoma Central District Transportation Strategy

 

Place a priority on meeting transit needs at the Takoma Metro station and accommodate all Metro and Ride-On services on the station site itself. Incorporate Metropolitan Branch Trail options into all transportation improvements for the area. 2211.10

 

2211.11Action RCE-2.1.A: Traffic Congestion and Parking

 

Mitigate intersection and corridor congestion on Blair Road and Carroll Street. Improve parking for local businesses by encouraging better management of existing parking, including shared parking arrangements with WMATA and other landowners in locations that can better support the commercial district. 2211.11

 

2211.12Action RCE-2.1.B: Pedestrian Safety and Connections

 

Improve pedestrian safety in the Takoma Central District with a coordinated program of physical improvements, including new western entrances to the Metro station that better connect communities east and west of the tracks. 2211.12

 

2211.13Action RCE-2.1.C: Takoma Metro Station Redevelopment

 

Enforce the Takoma Central District Plan redevelopment guidelines for the Metro station and implement the recommendations of the Takoma Transportation Study. 2211.13

 

2211.14Action RCE-2.1.D: Takoma Central District Village Green

 

Create a village green as the Central District’s signature open space feature. 2211.14

 

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.

See the Takoma Central District Plan and the Takoma Transportation Study for additional action items relating to this Policy Focus Area.