Section 10-A2413. UNE-2.3 NEW YORK AVENUE CORRIDOR/BRENTWOOD

 

2413.1The New York Avenue corridor includes the expansive industrial and commercial area on both sides of New York Avenue between Florida Avenue and the Maryland state line. On the north, the corridor abuts the Brentwood and Langdon communities. On the south, it abuts Ivy City and the National Arboretum. In 2001, the Brentwood neighborhood gained notoriety as the site of the US postal sorting facility where anthrax-contaminated mail addressed to two members of the U.S. Senate was handled. Two postal workers died from anthrax exposure, and the 633,000-square foot facility was closed for more than two years. Other large uses in the area include a Metrorail maintenance facility, the Ivy City railyards, the WMATA Bladensburg Bus Division, and the 725,000 square foot art-deco Hecht’s warehouse. New York Avenue itself is lined by strip commercial uses such as hotels, fast food restaurants, and gas stations. 2413.1

 

2413.2The corridor faces land use, transportation, and urban design challenges. Some of the industrial uses are considered obsolete by today’s market standards and are being considered for new uses such as retail development. Tall pole-mounted signs create a cluttered and unattractive image and poorly designed intersections create traffic hazards. New York Avenue itself is carrying far more traffic than it was designed to handle. 2413.2

 

2413.3In 2005, the District’s Department of Transportation completed a multimodal corridor study for New York Avenue and presented a number of recommendations for consideration. These included adding a tunnel from I-395 to 1st Street NE, building a “signature” bridge across Florida Avenue, reconstructing the Brentwood Avenue bridge, adding a traffic circle at Montana Avenue, and adding a grade-separated traffic circle at Bladensburg Road (through traffic on New York Avenue would pass beneath the circle). The recommendations also include widening the road and adding a landscaped median and turning lanes in selected areas, a linear park on the road’s north side, and significantly upgrading the corridor’s appearance from Bladensburg Road to South Dakota Avenue. The Corridor study included land use recommendations for key sites along New York Avenue, and also recommended architectural guidelines to reinforce the street edge. 2413.3

 

2413.4Additional land use recommendations for the New York Avenue industrial area are contained in an Industrial Land Use Study commissioned by the Office of Planning in 2005. These include strengthening and enhancing light industrial (production, distribution and repair) activities along the north side of the avenue between Montana and South Dakota Avenues, retaining the area’s municipal-industrial functions (bus garages, road maintenance facilities, etc.), and considering a transition to other uses (such as retail) on strategic sites. 2413.4

 

2413.5Policy UNE-2.3.1: New York Avenue Corridor

 

Improve the appearance of New York Avenue as a gateway to the District of Columbia. Support road design changes, streetscape improvements, and new land uses that improve traffic flow and enhance the road’s operation as a multi-modal corridor that meets both regional and local needs. 2413.5

 

2413.6Policy UNE-2.3.2: Production, Distribution, and Repair Land Uses

 

Retain a significant concentration of production, distribution, and repair (PDR) land uses in the New York Avenue corridor. While the conversion of industrial land to other uses can be considered on key sites, including the Bladensburg/Montana/New York “triangle,” these changes should not diminish the area’s ability to function as an industrial district meeting the needs of government and District businesses and residents. Retail and office uses have existed historically along both sides of V Street between Bladensburg Road and South Dakota Avenue NE and should continue in accordance with the existing CM- and M- zoning. 2413.6

 

2413.7Policy UNE-2.3.3: Infill Development

 

Support infill development and redevelopment on underutilized commercial sites along New York Avenue. Particularly encourage large-format destination retail development that would provide better access to goods and services for residents, and sales tax dollars for the District. 2413.7

 

2413.8Policy UNE-2.3.4: Consolidate and Formalize Auto-Related Uses

 

Use zoning, enforcement, and other regulatory mechanisms to reduce the number of illegal auto-related activities on Bladensburg Road. Consistent with the Northeast Gateway Plan, create a more attractive environment for the car dealerships and automotive businesses along Bladensburg Road, possibly including the development of an “auto mall.” 2413.8

 

2413.9Action UNE-2.3.A: New York Avenue Traffic Study

 

Refine the road design recommendations contained in the 2005 New York Avenue Corridor Study and identify capital improvements to carry out these recommendations. A high priority should be given to the redesign of the intersections at Montana Avenue and Bladensburg Road. 2413.9

 

2413.10Action UNE-2.3.B: Brentwood Road Improvements

 

Implement the recommendations of the Brentwood Road Transportation Study, intended to improve traffic flow, address parking issues, upgrade transit, and provide new pedestrian and bicycle facilities along Brentwood Road. 2413.10

 

2413.11Action UNE-2.3.C: Hecht’s Warehouse

 

Encourage the reuse of the historic Hecht’s warehouse building as an incubator for technology-oriented uses, creative industries, and other activities which help grow the District’s “knowledge economy.” 2413.11

 

2413.12Action UNE-2.3.D: Business Improvement District

 

Consider the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) serving the New York Avenue corridor. 2413.12

 

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.