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As summer continues, there are a lot of great opportunities to get outside and enjoy public spaces with family, friends, and neighbors. The Office of Planning (OP) is out engaging with residents about design and planning in their neighborhoods. We look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events listed in this newsletter.
Sincerely,
Anita Cozart
Interim Director, DC Office of Planning
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 To address the racial disparities in homeownership and household wealth in the District, Mayor Bowser created a Black Homeownership Strike Force. The Strike Force is charged with providing recommendations for uses of a $10 million Black Homeownership Fund proposed in Mayor Bowser’s Fair Shot budget and creating a goal for increasing the number of Black homeowners in DC by 2030. The recommendations are due in October 2022.
You are invited to hear what the task force has accomplished so far at a Town Hall Discussion on Tuesday, August 9th. Stay tuned to blackhome.dc.gov for more information. Additionally, the Strike Force invites your suggestions to increase and support homeownership for Black residents. Please complete the Black Homeownership Feedback Form.
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 On July 12th, the Council of the District of Columbia voted unanimously to approve the Chevy Chase Small Area Plan, which is a guide for equitable development, new housing, retail, and community amenities along upper Connecticut Avenue NW. Council adoption of the small area plan enables the District to initiate zoning changes to catalyze affordable housing and advance plans for the civic core redevelopment.
The Chevy Chase Small Area Plan is a key initiative in realizing Mayor Bowser’s 2,000 affordable housing unit goal for the Rock Creek West Area, a high-opportunity part of the District which has yet to realize an equitable share of market rate and affordable housing.
OP appreciates the engagement from Chevy Chase residents, community leaders and stakeholders who participated in the planning process and looks forward to continued collaboration during plan implementation.
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The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has launched an effort to produce a new strategy to guide economic development for the next five years. The new strategy will focus on how economic development efforts can drive tax revenue, increase the economic mobility of residents, and support the vitality and competitiveness of businesses, taking into account the enduring effects of the pandemic. It will establish new goals, metrics, and plans for action and build on recent work, including the District’s Comprehensive Plan and the Mobility Action Plan. The final strategy will be released in early 2023.
The process will engage stakeholders over the summer and fall. Complete the DC Economic Strategy Input Form.
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This month, planners from OP presented to Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) participants working in Ivy City. The OP team shared information about the work the agency does across the District, how young people can get involved with planning their communities, and the upcoming Small Area Plan for Ivy City. MBSYEP participants also presented results from their Ivy City sidewalk study which OP will incorporate into planning efforts in Ivy City. This was a great engagement opportunity to inform DC youth about the planning and design field, as well as hear about their future aspirations to help their communities.
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The Streets for People Initiative launched in 2022 to temporarily retrofit downtown streets, alleys, sidewalks, curb space, and parks in ways that bring economic vitality back to Central Washington. Streets for People promotes racial equity by featuring the work of local artists, cultural organizations, and businesses that focus on Black, Indigenous, and communities of color.
There are several upcoming events in the downtown area including:
- Dupont Circle’s See You in the Circle Concert Series continues on August 13th at 5 PM with DC native and global hip hop icon Oddisee and his band Good Compny.
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Art Walk Dupont will return on August 18th and on the third Thursday of each month, featuring Dupont Circle arts community and local businesses
- Check out Tunes in the Triangle, a free concert series, every Wednesday this summer in Milian Park at 5 PM
Get more information on Streets for People activities.
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Welcome to OP’s Urban Design Corner, where we share interesting tidbits about urban design every month. This month, we’re defining the term Scale. Scale refers to the size, bulk (height and massing) and perception of buildings and spaces. Bulk refers to the height, width and depth of a building in relation to other surrounding buildings, the street, setbacks and surrounding open space. For example, a large building set amongst other smaller buildings may seem ‘out of scale’.
Height and massing create the sense of openness or enclosure, as shown above in the aerial photo of DC, and affect how people experience streets, spaces and other buildings. Scale, height, and massing are described further in the Comprehensive Plan's Urban Design Chapter.
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Just a few days left to provide feedback on the Draft Congress Heights Small Area Plan! Visit the Congress Heights Small Area Plan page to download the draft plan and information on how to share your feedback through July 30, 2022.
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The New York Ave Vision Framework project team will be kicking off community engagement events at the end of August including data tours, focus groups, pop-up events, and other virtual and in-person opportunities to participate. Stay tuned and join our New York Avenue mailing list for upcoming event dates and opportunities to get involved!
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Learn more and get involved in our community planning projects:
OP in the Community
Join us at the following events where OP staff will be available to answer any questions and share information about OP’s work:
- July 29 – TriFit at Farragut Square Park – 4:45-6:30pm
- July 30 – Open Streets Ward 7 along Benning Road NE, between Minnesota Avenue NE and E Capitol Street NE – 9am-1pm
- August 13 – See You in the Circle Concert Series at Dupont Circle – 5-8pm
- August 18 – Art Walk Dupont at Dupont Circle – 5-8pm
- August 24 – Tunes in the Triangle at Milian Park – 5-6:30pm
- August 27 – Open Streets Ward 5 on 12th Street NE, between Monroe Street NE and Franklin Street NE – 9am-1pm
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