Columbia Heights

The story of Columbia Heights re-development holds key lessons for successful community planning and smart growth in the DC Region.
 
In 1997, in anticipation of the opening of the Columbia Heights Metro station, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, the Washington Architecture Foundation and the Washington Chapter/AIA held a community charrette (a visioning workshop) to establish a plan for the future development of seven publicly owned land parcels. It was quite successful, with a diverse group of hundreds of residents involved. It generated lots of public support for change. Rhe group identified mixed-use development, community park spaces and public centers and envisioned many more features to improve the neighborhood.   Following the Charette, DC's public development corporation, the National Capital Revitalization Corporation and its subsidiary, the RLA Revitalization Corporation (RLARC), issued Request for Proposals for development rights of the publicly owned parcels.
 
In 2003, following the issuing of the RFPs, the DC Office of Planning hired Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP to develop the Columbia Heights Public Realm Framework Plan.  The plan was a collaborative effort with community residents, stakeholders, and other District agencies to define public space improvements within a 5-minute walk (1/4 mile) of the Columbia Heights Metro Station.  The Mayor's office, DCOP and DDOT anticipated that the plan be a model for sensitive community planning and revitalization.  The plan recommends high-quality "Public Realm" improvements -- those within the public domain of civic space and public streetscape -- to foster a unified community identity for Columbia Heights.   Currently, the District Department of Transportation, in coordination with DCOP, is directing the development of construction documents for the public realm improvements.
 
As new development has come on-line in Columbia Heights, the last 10 years provide lessons for guiding smart development. Some recommendations from the 1997 community-based plan have not been fully implemented because the National Capital Revitalization Corporation put out their Request for Proposals (RFP) to private developers and the plan's recommendations were not included as requirements on each of the sites.  To maintain the trust and intent of a community planning process, the recommendations should be an integral part of the sale and transfer of public land. Also, since a complete survey of the land to confirm all property and public right-of-way lines was not completed prior to issuing the RFP, separate evaluations and negotiations with each developer have been required to ensure that there is enough space for the public realm. In the future, detailing public-space requirements (minimum sidewalk widths, building setbacks and service access) should be clearly identified prior to issuance of the RFP. Finally, there should be strict submission requirements (such as detailed ground level plans and material samples) for a coordinated design review by DC Agencies (DCOP, DDOT, and the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) for any properties involving public ownership or investment. This will go a long way to ensure that future development will truly be in the best interest of the City and the community.

To learn more about the public realm framework plan from the office of planning, click here.

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