DC planners to unveil Van Ness improvement strategy at April 21 open house

by Ryan Hand
Office Planning Ward 3 planner

The DC Office of Planning (OP) is hosting an Open House to share the recently completed Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy on Thursday, April 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the UDC Student Center at Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness Street, NW. A presentation on the Action Strategy by the Office of Planning will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by remarks by Van Ness Main Street and community representatives.
 
OP conceived the Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy as a lighter, briefer, strategic planning tool, through which targeted outreach and data analysis would deliver a high-level vision for the corridor and identify key implementation items to direct public investment and private actions.

The Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy identifies opportunities and recommendations to improve retail, enhance the public realm and create sustainable infrastructure within a project area that includes the University of District of Columbia and the Van Ness-UDC Metro station. More specifically, the Action Strategy presents a multi-faceted vision for this corridor:

Unique public space that encourages gathering with focal points at the Metro entrances;

Retail along both sides of Connecticut Avenue as a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving businesses with restaurants focused on the west side of Connecticut Avenue where café dining will be particularly attractive;

Greater sustainability by converting underutilized sidewalks into planting zones that capture and retain excess stormwater; and

New buildings reaching some of the highest green building standards. 

 
ANC 3F and Van Ness Main Street organized community stakeholders and worked closely with the DC Office of Planning in the development of the Action Strategy. OP was supported by retail consultant Streetsense and the Washington, DC office of the architectural firm HOK.
 
The final Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy will be available on April 21st at the DC Office of Planning’s website, planning.dc.gov.  Please direct any questions to Ryan Hand, Ward 3 Neighborhood Planner, by email at ryan.hand@dc.gov or telephone at (202) 442-7619. ​