Section 10-A905. UD-1.3 IMPROVING WATERFRONT IDENTITY AND DESIGN

 

905.1Although the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers determined its location, Washington is not thought of as a waterfront city in the same way that Chicago is identified with its lake, New York with its harbor, or San Francisco with its Bay. The city’s connections to the water have been eroded by the construction of railroads and highways and the reservation of much of the shoreline for military and other federal uses. The Potomac River is graced with many outdoor recreational amenities but is more connected to the National Mall than it is to the city’s neighborhoods. The Anacostia River, meanwhile, is almost invisible to the motorists who drive across it and is difficult to access from the neighborhoods it abuts. 905.1

 

905.2There are certainly successful urban waterfront areas in the District. Georgetown’s Washington Harbour is lively and crowded and the Washington Channel is lined with marinas, restaurants, and fish vendors. But these areas represent a fraction of what might be, given the miles of shoreline within District boundaries. 905.2

 

905.3Today, there is an unprecedented opportunity to refocus DC’s future civic identity along its “forgotten” and poorly linked waterfronts. With their expansive view corridors and natural backdrops, the waterfronts along the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, as well as the Washington Channel, offer unique settings that are especially appropriate for great public spaces. As new parks and public spaces are created, missing links in the waterfront park system can finally be closed, and the river can be reintegrated back into the very neighborhoods it now divides. 905.3

 

905.4Perhaps the greatest opportunity to bolster Washington’s identity as a waterfront city lies in the proposed redevelopment of the Anacostia shoreline. Good urban design is vital to the success of this transformation. New waterfront buildings should be appropriately related to each other, the water’s edge, and adjacent neighborhoods. The creation of view corridors and enhancement of existing views to the water are particularly important. Likewise, the development of new and/or enhanced public gathering spaces along each of the city’s waterfronts, as well as waterfront parks and plazas, boathouses and fishing piers, is essential. 905.4

 

905.5Policy UD-1.3.1: DC as a Waterfront City

 

Strengthen Washington’s civic identity as a waterfront city by promoting investment along the Anacostia River, creating new water-related parks, improving public access to and along the shoreline, and improving the physical and visual connections between the waterfront and adjacent neighborhoods. 905.5

 

905.6Policy UD-1.3.2: Waterfront Public Space and Access

 

Develop public gathering spaces along the waterfronts, including promenades, viewpoints, boating and swimming facilities, and parks. Such space should be designed to promote continuous public access along the rivers, and to take full advantage of site topography and waterfront views. Design treatments should vary from “hardscape” plazas in urban settings to softer, more passive open spaces that are more natural in character. 905.6

 

See also the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element and the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Area Element for additional actions and policies related to providing continuous public access to the water’s edge and removing barriers to waterfront access.

 

905.7Policy UD-1.3.3: Excellence in Waterfront Design

 

Require a high standard of design for all waterfront projects, with an emphasis on shoreline access, integration of historic features and structures, an orientation toward the water, and the creation of new water-oriented public amenities. 905.7

 

905.8Policy UD-1.3.4: Design Character of Waterfront Sites

 

Ensure that the design of each waterfront site responds to its unique natural qualities. A range of building forms should be created, responding to the range of physical conditions present. New buildings should be carefully designed to consider their appearance from multiple vantage points, both in the site vicinity and at various points on the horizon. 905.8

 

905.9Figure 9.5: Discouraged and Encouraged Preservation of River View Corridors in Waterfront Development

 

http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/2006_revised_comp_plan/9_urbandesign.pdf.

 

905.10Policy UD-1.3.5: River Views

 

Protect and enhance river views in the design of buildings, bridges, and pedestrian walkways on or near waterfront sites. The scale, density and building form along the city’s waterfronts should define the character of these areas as human-scale, pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods and should protect views from important sites. Figure 9.5 (at left) illustrates preservation of river views on waterfront development sites. 905.10

 

905.11Policy UD-1.3.6: “Activating” Waterfront Spaces

 

Encourage design approaches, densities, and mixes of land uses that enliven waterfront sites. Architectural and public space design should be conducive to pedestrian activity, provide a sense of safety, create visual interest, and draw people to the water. 905.11

 

905.12Policy UD-1.3.7: Neighborhood Connectivity

 

Improve the physical connections between neighborhoods and nearby waterfronts. Where feasible, extend the existing city grid into large waterfront sites to better connect nearby developed areas to the shoreline (see Figure 9.6). 905.12

 

905.13Figure 9.6: Extending Neighborhood Street Grids to the Waterfront

 

http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/2006_revised_comp_plan/9_urbandesign.pdf.

 

905.14 Policy UD-1.3.8: East of the River Gateways

 

Improve the visual and urban design qualities of the gateways into East-of-the-River neighborhoods from the Anacostia River crossings, with landscape and transportation improvements along Howard Road, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Randle Circle (Minnesota and Massachusetts), Benning Road, and Kenilworth Avenue. 905.14

 

905.15Action UD-1.3.A: Anacostia Waterfront Initiative

 

Continue to implement the Framework Plan for the Anacostia River, restoring Washington’s identity as a waterfront city and bridging the historic divide between the east and west sides of the river. 905.15

 

See Section UD-1.5 for a discussion of barriers to shoreline access.

 

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.