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Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month from the Office of Planning (OP)! Check out the Commemorative Works Corner below featuring the Chinatown Friendship Arch, which honors the friendship between Washington, DC and Beijing, China.
As our office moves forward with our Downtown Public Realm Plan, our partners are undertaking complementary efforts to change the space, fill the space, and bring the people. Last week, Mayor Bowser stood alongside other government and business leaders to launch the next phase of DC’s Comeback Plan. Stay tuned as the DC Government and our community partners announce new amenities and activities to bring you excitement in downtown all summer long.
Sincerely,
Anita Cozart
Director, DC Office of Planning
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 Explore OP’s new Locate Story Map to learn about the importance of honoring local people, places and events that have been influential in our communities, as well as what to consider when locating commemorative works and different types of commemorative sites.
In 2022, OP published Locate, a strategy to help to identify potential locations for commemorative works in each of the District’s eight wards. OP is currently working with four Main Street organizations in Ward 4, 5, 7 and 8 to provide design assistance to residents seeking to bring commemorative works to their communities. Join this new effort and learn more by visiting publicinput.com/cwtap.
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 On May 24th, Mayor Bowser joined District officials and local partners to launch the Downtown Action Plan and announce other initiatives that support the transformation of DC. The Action Plan builds upon DC’s Comeback Plan and sets specific strategies, programs, and initiatives to reimagine and revitalize downtown, while also identifying specific roles for the District’s economic partners.
The event took place at a parklet on 1747 Pennsylvania Ave NW, which was funded by the OP’s Streets for People grant program. This program supports new uses of public spaces Downtown by funding events, as well as infrastructure that reimagines sidewalks, alleys, and curbside spaces. Throughout the month of May, the Golden Triangle BID has been hosting a free lunchtime music series featuring DC performers at different parklets throughout the BID. Last year, the Streets for People program helped bring 110,000 people to Downtown for over 100 activities.
During the event, the Mayor announced that over $600,000 in Streets for People grant funds will be awarded to six BIDs to support events like outdoor movie nights, fitness classes, concerts, and art activations. Stay tuned for upcoming event details!
If you are interested in the transformation of Downtown's parks, streets, sidewalks, and alleys, you can participate in OP's Downtown Public Realm Plan.
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The OP Data Corner this month features data from upwardmobility.dc.gov, an informative site that equips leaders, residents, community organizations, researchers, and advocates with the information they need to better understand current inequities and design more effective approaches to advance upward mobility.
 Visit the OP Demographic Data Hub for reliable, up-to-date demographic data on the residents of the District of Columbia.
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Washington, DC is the nation’s capital and a city of neighborhoods and residents with a local history of people, places and events deserving of honor and remembrance. DC is home to many Commemorative Works honoring individuals and events of both national and local significance. This month, we are featuring the Chinatown Friendship Arch in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
 Photo by John DeFerrari
DC’s Chinatown Friendship Arch was dedicated in 1986 to celebrate the relationship between DC and its sister city Beijing, China. When erected, it was recognized as the largest single-span arch of its kind in the world. The arch provides a focal point at 7th and H Streets NW, the center of Chinatown, and establishes a strong symbol that encourages additional Chinese uses and design in the surrounding area. Today, the arch is considered a Chinatown landmark, but anti-communist residents of DC’s Chinatown disapproved of the arch before its installation.
The arch was designed by Washington architect Alfred Liu and the Beijing Ancient Architectural Construction Corporation. Its ornate motifs and gold roofs were fabricated in Beijing and then installed on the arch frame on site in DC.
The arch provides a dramatic backdrop for cultural celebrations and events in Chinatown. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Washington, DC in partnership with the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs organizes an annual Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on H Street. Since its installation there have been two major renovations of the arch, most recently in 2020.
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There are just a couple of days left to provide input for the New York Avenue NE Vision Framework! Draft recommendations are open for public comment through June 2nd. Read the recommendations and complete a survey at publicinput.com/NYAveVisionFramework. You can also email feedback to NYAveVisionFramework@dc.gov, leave us a voicemail at 855-925-2801 ext.1343, or schedule a call on June 1st or 2nd (email to schedule).
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Learn more and get involved in our community planning projects:
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Join us at the following events where OP staff will be available to answer questions and share information about OP’s work:
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