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

From Streetsense for the Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit project, what 4340 Connecticut might look like with the arcade filled in and more visible storefronts and signage.

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:

 
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 [email protected] or telephone at (202) 442-7619. ​