Van Ness Main Street supports busineses located on Connecticut Avenue between Nebraska Avenue and Van Ness Street. These are some of the businesses on the northern end of the corridor.(2023 photo)
Outside experts gave the business corridors in Van Ness and the 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue a closer look last year.
Van Ness Main Street released the results of the two studies early this year.
As we’ve reported previously, both studies had a lot to say about the former Intelsat campus and its impact on perceptions of the Van Ness commercial area. One recommended tearing it down and redeveloping the property for mixed uses.
The other study, by economic development and retail consultant AndAccess, also takes note of the three gas stations on the northern end of the corridor. They’re included in the study recommendations as “key assets” for redevelopment consideration along with Intelsat, the Days Inn, and the former Burger King site.
On a historical note, there used to be far more gas stations along the corridor, which at one time was dubbed “Gasoline Alley.” In the 1920s and ’30s, six of the businesses between Van Ness and Albemarle Streets were pumping gas, and in 1939, the community unsuccessfully fought the opening of a seventh gas station.
We recommend taking a look at both studies, and we’re interested in your your thoughts on their observations and findings.
Save the date for an anniversary party. 2026 is Van Ness Main Street’s 10th year of supporting small and local businesses through research, permit assistance, grants and events that bring customers to the corridor. And it is celebrating its anniversary on May 2 with “A Taste of Van Ness Main Street.”
As the name of the event suggests, local restaurants will supply the food. There will be live music by Tracey Cutler and the UDC JAZZAlive Trio.
The event is also a fundraiser, with the proceeds going to local businesses. Tickets start at $60 for individuals and are on sale here.
(Here’s where we disclose that Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.)
The benefit is one of many Van Ness Main Street springtime events.
Yoga on Connecticut: This partnership brings yoga classes to the VNMS office at 4340 Connecticut Avenue (next door to (ZaoAn Cafe/The Whale Tea). The Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes are led by a rotating team of instructors.
Payment is donation-based, and proceeds support NW Community Food, a food and cleaning supplies pantry that collects and distributes donations at the back of the building.
The signup links are posted on Yoga on Connecticut’s Instagram page each week. The Eventbrite links will be in the bio.
Forest Hills Park cleanups: The VNMS Good Clean Fun initiative is hosting its first cleanup of 2026 on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers of all ages are welcome (calling all students in need of community service hours!) but kids under high school age should bring a grownup along. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.
Additional cleanups are scheduled June 6, July 18, August 29 and October 24. Your RSVP will let them know you’re coming and put you on the list for weather cancellations and other updates.
Spring Artisans Pop-up Market: VNMS is bringing a diverse lineup of makers and artisans to 4340 Connecticut Avenue for its May 9th market. Carpe Librum will also be there, selling used books and CDs. Shopping hours are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Discover more from Forest Hills Connection | News and Life in Our DC Neighborhood
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Charlie says
I read the September 2025 Van Ness Retail Study that you linked in your article, and I am not happy about the targeting of the three gas stations near Fessenden and Nebraska as a negative influence upon the success of the Forest Hills commercial district. These three stations have all provided useful services to the community. One station owner has devoted his personal time and energy to cleaning up the area around his business. I am afraid that, if local and city planners talk too much about replacing these gas stations with shops and restaurants, the station owners will lose interest in investing in improvements to their properties — but they certainly won’t go away as long as they are making a profit. That would make things worse. (Note: I live two blocks from these gas stations, and I patronize the other businesses that adjoin them.
Paul says
I agree wth Charlie. The report authors wrote “Service stations and other auto-focused businesses break up retail continuity and detract from a walkable corridor identity.”. Makes me wonder if the report authors actually visited the areas they write about. The gas stations do not “break up retail continuity”. The three of them are on the edges of the retail area, not in its midst. The area north of the BP station is always busy on warm evening and weekends. The Main Street team out to lobby for putting in a crosswalk and Hawk lights in the middle of the 5000 block of Connecticut to encourage foot traffic back and forth from the east to the west side and unify the entertainment region. How about putting pressure on the owners the building next to the Exxon to create an incentive for getting that building back into the retail mix.
JA says
I hadn’t seen the Sept 2025 retail study until now and just read it with interest. I have two comments about points not mentioned in that report.
One is that Van Ness near the metro station has a large retiree residential population that could be expected to patronize local retail, during days, nights, and weekends, if suitably oriented. The discussion in the report calls only for family friendly, student, and young professional oriented restaurants, businesses and services which are unlikely to appeal to the retiree customer base.
Secondly, the report does not mention bus access to the study area. Bus service in the area was significantly reduced during the ill-structured “better bus” plan, thereby eliminating potential cross visits between the upper and lower nodes of the study area by nondrivers. The two nodes are about a 20-minute walk apart with no engaging spots in between. It’s one thing to wait 5 minutes for a 5-minute ride between the two retail hubs, but having to wait 20 minutes just leads to abandonment of a potential trip. Restoring bus frequency on the Connecticut Ave. corridor would particularly promote increased access to the Nebraska Ave. area from metro customers from throughout the city as well as bus customers from the closer stretches, north and south, of Connecticut Ave.
In addition, crosstown bus connections between Van Ness metro and Wisconsin and between Van Ness metro and points east of the park have been reduced to rush hour only, further limiting access to Van Ness retail by nondrivers. As pointed out in the study report, car drivers have access to other more engaging retail areas, so the restoration of all-day and weekend crosstown bus service to Van Ness may result in more retail customers who, lacking access to some or all of these other attractive car-only shopping areas, would rely on bus connection to metro and its nearby shopping and restaurants.