Section 10-A2300. OVERVIEW

 

2300.1The Rock Creek West Planning Area encompasses 13 square miles in the northwest quadrant of the District of Columbia. The Planning Area is bounded by Rock Creek on the east, Maryland on the north/west, and the Potomac River and Whitehaven Parkway on the south. Its boundaries are shown in the Map at left. Most of this area has historically been Ward 3 although in past and present times, parts have been included in Wards 1, 2, and 4. 2300.1

 

2300.2Rock Creek West’s most outstanding characteristic is its stable, attractive neighborhoods. These include predominantly single family neighborhoods like Spring Valley, Forest Hills, American University Park, and Palisades; row house and garden apartment neighborhoods like Glover Park and McLean Gardens; and mixed density neighborhoods such as Woodley Park, Chevy Chase, and Cleveland Park. Although these communities retain individual and distinctive identities, they share a commitment to proactively addressing land use and development issues and conserving neighborhood quality. 2300.2

 

2300.3Some of the District’s most important natural and cultural resources are located in Rock Creek West. These resources include Rock Creek Park, the National Zoo, Glover Archbold Park, Battery Kemble Park, and Fort Reno Park as well as numerous smaller parks and playgrounds. Many of these areas serve as resources for the entire city. Cultural resources include the Washington National Cathedral, American University, the University of the District of Columbia, Howard Law School and George Washington University’s Mt. Vernon Campus; numerous churches; and several museums, including the Kreeger and Hillwood. The neighborhoods themselves are an important cultural resource, with several historic districts and many historic landmarks. Rock Creek West is also the location of the Naval Observatory and the home of the U.S. Vice President. 2300.3

 

2300.4 Despite its residential character, Rock Creek West actually has more jobs than households. The community is host to major corporations such as Fannie Mae and Intelsat, and three of the region’s commercial television stations. It includes a large number of foreign missions, including the International Chancery Complex at Van Ness Street. Several large hotels are located in the community, including the Omni-Shoreham and Marriott Wardman Park near the Woodley Park Metro station. 2300.4

 

2300.5Some of the District’s most vibrant retail districts are located around the area’s Metro stations and along its major corridors. Commercial overlay zones have been created in three of these areas, allowing a mix of retail uses and retaining a human scale and pedestrian character along neighborhood shopping streets. Much of the commercial land use in the area is located along the Wisconsin and Connecticut Avenue corridors in shopping districts like Friendship Heights and Cleveland Park. While the presence of these uses is generally positive and creates some of the most livable neighborhoods in the city, the downside is that major thoroughfares are often congested and residential side streets are burdened with parking problems. 2300.5

 

2300.6The Rock Creek West area has strong economic momentum, leading to past and present concerns about the effects of unrestrained development on traffic, public services, and quality of life. This creates a different dynamic than is present in many District neighborhoods, and reduces the need for government programs to stimulate private investment. The combination of a relatively affluent population, excellent transportation (including five Metro stations with some of the system’s highest non-CBD ridership levels), stable and attractive neighborhoods, high-quality retail, and a limited supply of vacant land, has led to very strong market demand. This in turn has led to an emphasis on growth control rather than growth incentives. The need to appropriately control and guide growth, and to protect neighborhoods, remains a top priority throughout the community and is a major theme of this Element. 2300.6

 

2300.7The demand for housing also has been consistently strong in Rock Creek West. During the 1980s and 1990s, when the District was losing residents, neighborhoods west of Rock Creek Park continued to add households. Growth has resulted from a combination of factors, including relatively low crime rates, numerous neighborhood amenities, accessible neighborhood retail, convenient Metrorail access, active community organizations, and relatively high-performing public schools with strong parental support. 2300.7

 

2300.8These same factors have created a continuing affordable housing dilemma in the community. In 2005, the median purchase price of a home exceeded $800,000 in every zip code west of the Park. Tax assessments have escalated as home prices have increased, placing a burden on many residents- especially seniors and those with low and moderate incomes. Rents have also escalated, and the overall supply of rental units has decreased as apartments have converted to condominiums. Although there are limited opportunities for new housing development in the area, there continues to be a substantial unmet need for new affordable units and a need to protect the remaining affordable units in an environment where affordable units are being eliminated. 2300.8

 

2300.9The preservation and improvement of the natural environment is also a high priority in Rock Creek West. The community is fortunate to have one of the densest tree canopies in the city, several community gardens, the Capital Crescent Trail, and more park and open space acreage than any other Planning Area in the city. However, development on the fringes of the Single family homes in North Cleveland Park parks has caused erosion and diminished water quality and views in some places. Tree and slope overlay zones have been created in several locations to address this issue. 2300.9

 

2300.10The sense of community in Rock Creek West is reinforced by a particularly active network of neighborhood associations, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and involved residents. Well-organized Citizens Associations serve many of the area’s neighborhoods, including AU Park, Chevy Chase, Cleveland Park, Forest Hills, Foxhall, Glover Park, Palisades, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, Tenleytown, and Woodley Park. A number of Historical Societies and interest groups are also actively involved in community affairs. These groups shape local land use and development decisions, and provide guidance on a wide range of issues relating to transportation, community services, public safety, and other long-range planning concerns. 2300.10

 

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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.