Section 10-A2311. RCW-2.1 CONNECTICUT AVENUE CORRIDOR

 

2311.1From the Taft Bridge across Rock Creek, Connecticut Avenue extends 3.5 miles northwest to the Maryland State Line. Along the way, the avenue passes through the Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, and Van Ness/UDC commercial districts (with Metro stations of the same name at each location), as well as the Chevy Chase commercial district at its northern end. The avenue is a broad, attractive boulevard for most of its length, handling over 35,000 vehicles on an average day. The areas between the commercial districts are generally developed with mid- to high-rise apartments and condominiums, although there are pockets of less dense development as well. In many respects, Connecticut Avenue epitomizes the model of a “great street” that the city seeks to emulate in other parts of the District. 2311.1

 

2311.2Land use issues vary from one segment of the corridor to the next. The Woodley Park and Cleveland Park segments are historic districts and contain almost no undeveloped land. In Woodley Park, there are ongoing parking and traffic issues relating to the presence of two large hotels with a combined total of over 2,100 rooms. Proposals to convert rooms to condominiums and develop additional units at one of the hotels could generate the need for additional traffic and parking improvements during the coming years. 2311.2

 

2311.3Further north, the Van Ness commercial district includes a multi-neighborhood shopping district (with a supermarket, several national retailers, and smaller businesses), office buildings, and several mid- to high-rise residential buildings. Intelsat and the International Chancery Complex are located here. The area also includes the campus of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), enrolling 6,000 students from across the city. 2311.3

 

2311.4While the Van Ness area functions as an important community shopping district, it suffers from a harsh street environment, an excessive amount of hardscaped surfaces, parking problems, a lack of distinctive facades and storefronts, a limited range of retail goods and services, and a loss of ground floor retail space to institutional and school uses. The area does not create the same welcoming appearance that is present in the older commercial districts to the south. The UDC plazas, in particular, could be redesigned to provide a more inviting civic space for students and area residents. 2311.4

 

2311.5Complementary uses such as public art, greenery, and additional local serving ground floor retail space could help make this center a more attractive gathering place. If and when private redevelopment of older commercial properties is proposed in the vicinity, every effort should be made to achieve more attractive architecture, and a mixing of residential and pedestrian-oriented retail uses rather than further concentration of office space and ground floor institutional/school space. 2311.5

 

2311.6A Campus Plan for UDC was completed in September 2005 to guide campus growth and development for the next 20 years. As the Plan is implemented, efforts should be made to improve the public space around the Metro station and ensure that any future facility development is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. 2311.6

 

2311.7Policy RCW-2.1.1: Connecticut Avenue Corridor

 

Sustain the high quality of the Connecticut Avenue corridor. The positive qualities of the corridor, particularly its attractive older apartment buildings, green spaces, trees, and walkable neighborhood shopping districts, should be conserved and enhanced. Continued efforts to improve traffic flow and parking should be pursued, especially in the commercial districts. 2311.7

 

2311.8Policy RCW-2.1.2: Infill Development

 

Recognize the opportunity for additional housing with some retail and limited office space along the Connecticut Avenue corridor. Any development along the corridor should be consistent with the designations of these areas on the Future Land Use Map, zoning overlay requirements, and the scale of adjoining uses. 2311.8

 

2311.9Policy RCW-2.1.3: Van Ness/UDC Station Area

 

Improve the design and appearance of the Van Ness/UDC Station area, particularly the “hardscaped” portion of the UDC Campus. 2311.9

 

2311.10Policy RCW-2.1.4: Coordination Between Community and UDC

 

Support greater coordination and communication between UDC officials and the surrounding community on issues such as parking, traffic, property maintenance, and facility development. Establish complementary goals between the University and the community at large, so that the university becomes even more of a community asset and resource than it is today. 2311.10

 

2311.11Action RCW-2.1.A: Improving the UDC Plazas

 

Work with UDC and with local community groups and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in the “greening” of public open space on the UDC Campus. 2311.11

 

2311.12Action RCW-2.1.B: Large Hotel Sites

 

Carefully monitor future proposals for the Omni-Shoreham and Marriott Wardman Park hotels to ensure compliance with the Zone regulations and prevent adverse effects on the adjacent residential community. Proactively address ongoing issues at the hotels, such as tour bus and visitor parking. 2311.12

 

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.