WASHINGTON — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other District leaders helped unveil two new planning initiatives Monday, meant to help revitalize the downtown area. The pair of initiatives comes as plans to move the Wizards and Capitals out of D.C. move forward, and more businesses close citing crime concerns.
According to the administration, the Downtown Action Plan and the Downtown Public Realm Plan provide strategies to ensure the long-term success of Downtown D.C.'s commercial core and identify key investments in public spaces that will help attract residents.
“Downtown DC is unique – in part because it is home to dozens of monuments, museums, and federal spaces, but also because of the local businesses and attractions that that drive our economy and attract visitors from across the region. With the future of Downtown, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be bold, creative, and collaborative,” Bowser said in a press statement. “These plans give us a roadmap for how our community can work together to deliver on the enormous potential of our beautiful Downtown DC.”
The Downtown Action Plan
The Downtown Action Plan was developed by the DowntownDC and Golden Triangle Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) over an eight-month period, with support provided by the Federal City Council and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). The plan identifies a set of targeted initiatives and a detailed roadmap for the reimagination of Downtown DC, focusing on five foundational elements:
- Anchoring Downtown’s Comeback in Public Safety
- Creating a Place of Choice to Locate and Do Business
- Building a Residential Base
- Planning for Transportation as an Asset
- Making It Happen
These elements are applied across five distinct areas within Downtown as a whole, which the administration says will provide a curated approach to revitalization efforts. The key areas are the Historic Green Triangle, Downtown West, the Penn West Equity, Innovation and University District, Penn Quarter/Chinatown and Downtown East
“At its core, the action plan is about generating new demand for DC’s Downtown,” said Leona Agouridis, President and CEO of the Golden Triangle BID. “The plan recommends investments and actions to increase residents, draw in tourists, grow our tech ecosystem, establish cultural and entertainment corridors, attract universities and businesses, and cultivate an even more exciting and innovative place where people want to be.”
Downtown Public Realm Plan
In a parallel effort, the District's Office of Planning developed the Downtown Public Real Plan. This plan outlines urban design and public space improvements for Downtown’s streets, sidewalks, parks, and plazas. The strategies are designed to transform valuable outdoor space into a vibrant, safe, and active public realm that welcomes new residents and visitors and contributes to a healthy economic ecosystem.
“Downtown’s public realm uplifts the District’s history and culture and knits together residences and office buildings with our world-renowned museums, theatres, restaurants, and hotels,” said OP Director Anita Cozart. “The Downtown Public Realm Plan identifies catalytic projects to create engaging experiences that will draw people Downtown.”
The Downtown Action Plan highlights summary is available at reimaginedowntowndc.com and the full Action Plan will be available in spring 2024. The Downtown Public Realm Plan is available at planning.dc.gov/DowntownPublicRealm.
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