Section 10-A2215. RCE-2.5 ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME/IRVING STREET HOSPITAL CAMPUS

 

2215.1The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), formerly known as the U.S. Soldiers and Airmens Home, is a functioning home for almost 1,400 veterans of the U.S. Military. It occupies a 272-acre site in the southeast part of the Planning Area. 2215.1

 

2215.2The AFRH has been an institution of national importance for more than 150 years, and is both a DC Historic Landmark and is a National Register of Historic Places landmark. The property has exceptional significance as a natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resource and is one of the largest contiguous properties in the District of Columbia. President Abraham Lincoln maintained a cottage on the site and wrote parts of the Emancipation Proclamation while residing there in 1862. The Federal Elements of the Comprehensive Plan acknowledge the significance of the AFRH as an important public open space. 2215.2

 

2215.3In 2001, the Secretary of Defense was authorized to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any property of the AFRH determined to be excess to the needs of the Home. The AFRH is in the process of developing a master plan for that purpose. While the District has limited jurisdiction over AFRH as long as it remains in federal use, consultation between local and federal officials is necessary on many redevelopment issues. 2215.3

 

2215.4The prospect of redevelopment creates exciting opportunities but also has raised community concerns about the scale of development, provisions for open space, traffic and environmental impacts, effects on visual and historic Kennedy Street resources, and the compatibility of the development with the surrounding row house neighborhoods. The District will work closely with the federal government over the coming years to promote changes on the site that benefit the community, and to avoid land use conflicts, create community access and open space wherever feasible, and mitigate impacts on traffic and community character. As portions of the site are sold to the private sector, they should be subject to zoning and new Comprehensive Plan Map designations by the District. 2215.4

 

2215.5To the south of the AFRH, the Irving Street Hospital Campus includes approximately 50 acres of health care related uses located between Michigan Avenue NW, Irving Street NW, Park Place NW, and First Street NW. The hospital complex includes approximately 8,000 employees. Facilities include the Washington Hospital Center, Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital. The Washington Hospital Center, founded in 1958, is the largest private hospital in the District. 2215.5

 

2215.6In the future, expansion of hospital facilities may be necessary to maintain appropriate levels of care for a growing population and to support new medical care initiatives. This expansion may include ancillary uses such as medical office buildings, clinics, hotels, and conference facilities. 2215.6

 

2215.7Policy RCE-2.5.1: AFRH Redevelopment

 

Ensure that any future development of the Armed Forces Retirement Home is sensitive to and compatible with surrounding uses. The scale of development should reflect prevailing densities in adjacent communities. The highest densities should be clustered along North Capitol Street and near the Irving Street Hospital area. It is critical that the western edge of the site near the Park View, Pleasant Plains, Petworth, and University Heights areas be retained as open space, with public access restored as it was when these neighborhoods were initially developed. 2215.7

 

2215.8Policy RCE-2.5.2: Housing Opportunities

 

Strongly support a variety of housing types, developed at a range of densities and serving a range of incomes, in the event the Armed Forces Retirement Home is developed. The opportunity to develop larger units suitable for families on the site should be recognized. Gated communities should be discouraged on this site. 2215.8

 

2215.9Policy RCE-2.5.3: Resource Protection

 

To the greatest extent possible, require the protection of panoramic views, historic landmarks, and important historic landscapes on the Armed Forces Retirement Home site. The historic links between this site and adjacent land at the McMillan Sand Filtration site and the 49-acre property acquired by Catholic University should be reflected in its design and planning. 2215.9

 

2215.10Policy RCE-2.5.4: Open Space Conservation

 

Encourage the designation of a substantial portion of the Armed Forces Retirement Home as open space and public parkland as the site is made available for reuse, particularly on the western perimeter of the site where it abuts residential uses. A linear park connection extending from this site south through the Irving Street Hospital Campus and McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration site to LeDroit Park should be pursued. 2215.10

 

2215.11Policy RCE-2.5.5: Irving Street Hospital Campus Development

 

Encourage continued development of the Irving Street Hospital Campus with hospitals and health care services. Promote land uses that are flexible enough to accommodate the future needs of the facilities while considering the impacts to the surrounding residential areas and the additional impacts to the District’s roadway, infrastructure and public service resources. 2215.11

 

2215.12Action RCE-2.5.A: AFRH Master Plan Coordination

 

Coordinate with the AFRH, NCPC, and General Services Administration to review the AFRH Master Plan with attention to desired land uses, zoning, building height, intensity of proposed development, circulation, open space, infrastructure, and public services. Site plan review must be carefully coordinated to address potential impacts. 2215.12

 

2215.13Action RCE-2.5.B: Irving Street Hospital Campus Strategic Planning

 

Coordinate with hospital operators on the Irving Street Hospital campus to ensure that necessary facility expansions are well planned and mitigate potential adverse impacts on surrounding areas. Review existing hospital facility strategic plans to determine appropriate land uses and determine if zoning changes are needed. 2215.13

 

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.