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We're pleased to announce grant awards for our Ward 7 Public Space Activation Grant. The program is designed to celebrate Ward 7’s culture by leveraging the work of cultural organizations, businesses, and local artists to attract visitors to its commercial corridors and adjacent parks and open spaces.
Specifically, the grants are focused on implementing three recommendations from Ward 7 plans:
- Showcase the neighborhood’s local civic and cultural identity and enliven its public sidewalks through creative placemaking opportunities for public art along exposed retaining walls or on facilities such as bus stops. (Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan, Recommendation #4.4)
- Celebrate the neighborhood’s history through events and festivals promoting local businesses, community organizations, and institutions. (Nannie Helen Burroughs Corridor Small Area Plan, Recommendation #4.3)
- Utilize vacant land for expansion of third spaces (places where people spend time between home and work) and creative space activation to help entrepreneurs and business owners diversify their revenue streams. (Comprehensive Community Development Model)
Greater Washington Urban League will conduct programming for seniors in Ward 7 that also engages and supports the local business community.
Marshall Heights Community Development Organization is planning several big events for the community throughout the summer and installing furniture and art to support regular community events.
Words Beats & Life will focus on public art and events, delivering two new murals in Ward 7 and holding block parties.
Check out their social media accounts to follow their work!
 Residents meet with OP staff to provide feedback on the draft Nannie Helen Burroughs Corridor Small Area Plan in front of Progressive National Baptist
In the last two years, our agency has filed a number of cases with the Zoning Commission to amend the zoning regulations. Here's an update on our submitted projects that are in various stages of review:
Projects that are actively being reviewed by the Zoning Commission:
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ZC 25-09 Cleveland Park and Woodley Park Text and Map Amendment - designed to create new mixed-use zones for the two neighborhoods, in line with the Comprehensive Plan and neighborhood plan policies. See this column we wrote for Greater Greater Washington for more background.Â
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Current Status: This case has been undergoing Zoning Commission review and public comment. We are due to submit follow-up information to the Zoning Commission by June 4 in preparation for the public meeting on June 11.
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Timeline: If the Commission votes in support of our proposed changes, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will likely be published in September for a 30-day public review period. Final Action would likely occur in October.
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ZC 25-13 Wisconsin Avenue Text and Map Amendment - designed to create new mixed-use zones in Tenleytown and Friendship Heights to implement the Comprehensive Plan and Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework.
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Current Status: The Zoning Commission is reviewing our submission today (April 30). They may opt to hold a two-week comment period or take a first vote in support of the changes.
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Timeline: If the Commission votes in support of our proposed changes, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will likely be published in July for a 30-day public review period. Final Action would likely occur in September.
Projects to be completed this year:
For all three cases below, the Zoning Commission took its first vote, known as Proposed Action, to approve the regulations. After Proposed Action, the draft regulations are referred to the National Capital Planning Commission for a 30-day comment period, and the Zoning Commission’s case record is also opened for a public comment period. The Commission can then take a final vote, known as Final Action, to adopt the draft regulations. A written Order is then drafted by the Office of Zoning and published in the DC Register. The new regulations become effective upon publication of the Order.
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ZC 25-06 Alley Lots Text Amendment - Final Action scheduled for June 11
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ZC 25-08 RA-1 Text Amendment - Final Action scheduled for May 28
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ZC 25-12 Omnibus Text Amendment - Final Action scheduled for May 28
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We invite artists of all media and experience levels and arts administrators working in public art to attend a two‑day workshop on commemorative public art and public memory work in the District. The workshop will focus on expanding access, sharing practical tools, and building a community grounded in learning, care, and exchange.Â
Date and Time:Â May 14-15, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: First Congregational UCC, 945 G St. NW
How to Register: RSVP online by May 3Â
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This workshop supports community-centered urban design, advances inclusive approaches to commemoration, and supports our goals for public realm improvements and cultural storytelling.
What to Expect
Guest speakers and facilitators represent public artists, designers, cultural workers, and practitioners across disciplines. We’ll explore:
- Rethinking commemoration beyond traditional monument frameworks
- Ethical questions in public memory, including history, harm, erasure, and accountability
- Community engagement before, during, and after a project
- Navigating RFQs/RFPs, building a team, and project implementation
Organized by the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the DC Office of Planning and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and in collaboration with Forecast Public Art
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Our virtual workshop for the draft DC 2050 future land use map is now open through May 17.Â
If you haven't already shared your feedback on proposed land use changes, take a few minutes to review the highlighted changes and explanations on the project website and let us know what you think by completing the survey questions. Thank you for your input!
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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 our work:
Scenes from community site walks on the RFK Stadium campus April 18 and 23, to support the RFK Master Plan
From left to right, DC 2050 outreach events with (1) DPR's Supreme Teens program at Columbia Heights Education Campus April 14, (2) Rosedale Rec Center Spring Fling April 15, and (3) Lamond-Riggs Library during storytime April 22
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