|
|
October is National Community Planning Month! This month-long celebration recognizes the role planning has in bringing innovation and inclusivity to communities of all types and sizes. The DC Office of Planning (OP) guides long-term growth and development in neighborhoods to ensure all DC residents can thrive. Throughout the month of October, we shared different ways OP works with residents in setting a shared vision for the District's future. Check out the first article below for highlights.
Sincerely,
Anita Cozart
Director, DC Office of Planning
|
|
|
In celebration of National Community Planning Month, we shared community planning practices and how OP works with residents to plan for the District's future. See featured posts below and follow OP on Twitter and Instagram for more.
|
|
|
Aspects of our planning work: How we engage residents.
|
|
Aspects of our planning work: Public Space Design Review.
|
|
OP staff reading recommendations.
|
|
|
Meet Le, a Senior Urban Designer
|
|
Meet Ron, a Community Planner
|
|
Meet Imania, a Historic Preservation Specialist
|
|
 OP’s Historic Preservation Office has launched a new self-guided tour of mid-century houses. Organized by neighborhood clusters, you can select one area or hop around the city. We developed this tour from an ongoing, city-wide architectural study of DC’s Mid-Century Modern dwellings, built between the late 1940s and early 1970s. The houses all share common design features such as low-lying building forms, flat and sloped roofs, extensive use of windows, and porches and decks that complement the natural topography.
Through this tour, we invite you to learn about the work of African American architects and the influence of the Howard University School of Architecture on DC design. More than a quarter of these homes were designed by Black architects, which is remarkable considering that even today only 2% of licensed architects nationwide are Black. A major factor contributing to the prevalence of Black architects among this collection of homes was the 1948 Supreme Court decision Shelley v. Kraemer that found racially restrictive covenants unenforceable, thus opening many formerly white-only neighborhoods to Black people. Black buyers commissioned Black architects who had a proclivity for Modernism and were keen to showcase the emerging Mid-Century style in the hilly and wooded terrain of Washington’s suburbs.
We invite you to explore, learn, and enjoy!
Washington, D.C. Mid-Century Neighborhoods Tour
|
|
The Food Policy Council is excited to announce several opportunities to participate in our work to build a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable District food system.
-
Take a short survey about the Food Policy Council’s priorities. Share your thoughts on what is most important to you and your community to help the Council determine priorities for the coming year. The survey closes on Nov 27.
-
Apply to become a member of the Food Policy Council. The DC Food Policy Council is looking for passionate new members to join our Council and help us drive policy change that increases the health, equity, and resiliency of the DC food system. We especially value lived experience or expertise in how DC food programs and policy affect marginalized residents. DC residency is strongly preferred. See more information on membership and how to apply on the Council’s website.
-
Join the Council’s next in-person public meeting. Curious about the Food Policy Council and want to learn more? All meetings are open to the public, and our December 13 meeting will be in person for the first time in over a year. Details will be published soon on our website.
|
|
|
Commemorate, OP’s initiative to identify Washingtonians to honor in DC neighborhoods, is underway! OP is working with community partners in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 to gather nominations for subjects that include culturally significant community events, Black Washingtonians, and other leaders of color in the District. Learn more about the subjects identified by residents in Wards 4, 5, and 7 here. Nominations for Ward 8 are open now. Check out the Anacostia BID’s WeACT radio broadcast and submit a nomination here. OP looks forward to bringing on a design consultant and providing expert support to develop concept designs for commemorative works in these communities.
|
The Draft Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework is available for public review and comment through Wednesday, November 15. You can download the draft Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework and submit written comments using the online form at publicinput.com/rcw-wisconsin. The Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework was produced through a robust year-long engagement process and provides guidance for zoning changes consistent with the District’s Comprehensive Plan to implement Mayor Bowser’s housing goals.
There are also two upcoming opportunities to speak directly with OP staff on the Draft Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework:
- November 2 at 7:30pm (virtual): Join a virtual public meeting hosted by ANC3E, together with ANC3A, to hear an overview presentation from OP about the Draft Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework followed by question and answer. Register in advance for this Zoom meeting on ANC3E’s web page.
- November 4, 11am – 3pm (in person): OP will be tabling at the Holiday Maker’s Market hosted by the Friendship Heights Alliance on the 5200 block of Wisconsin Avenue.
|
Learn more and get involved in our community planning projects:
|
|
|
Join us at the following events where OP staff will be available to answer questions and share information about OP’s work:
|
|
|
OP Class Visit at Woodson High School, October 26th
|
|
OP Class Visit at Woodson High School, October 27th
|
|
|
Director Cozart at Bloomberg CityLab 2023 discussing Public Sapce for All, October 20th
|
|
OP's Rita AbouSamra co-leading a tour of Franklin Park with DOEE as part of Bloomberg CityLab 2023, October 20th
|
|
|
Historic Terrell House Site Visit, October 18th
|
|
OP's Archaeology team at the History in a Bottle event at the Heurich House Museum, October 21st
|
|
NoMa BID Walking Tour, October 11th
|
|
|
OP's Food Policy and Neighborhood Planning teams at Lederer Gardens Weekly Veggie Giveaways, Ocotober 11th
|
|
Ivy City 150th Anniversary Celebration, October 21st
|
|
|
OP is looking to hire a Community Planner to join our team. Learn more about this position and apply today!
|
|
|
|
|
