mount vernon square district design project (dc office of planning, november 2010)

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE DISTRICT DESIGN PROJECT

NOVEMBER 2010

Mou

nt Vernon S

quare District D

esign Project

Nov

ember 2

010

DRAFT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary 5

i. Introduction

ii. Vision 6

ii. Strategic Approach 8

iii. Summary Timeline of Recommendations 12

2. Priority Projects 12

Priority Project 1: The Square

Priority Project 2: 8th Street as flexible event space

Priority Project 3: The Convention Center Lobby

Priority Project 4: The Streetcar

Priority Project 5: Zoning Regulations

Priority Project 6: The Carnegie Library Building

Priority Project 7: Public Space Stewardship

Priority Project 8: 9th Street NW, North of the Square

Priority Project 9: Sustainability

Priority Project 10: Crosswalks

3. Realizing the Vision 33

i. Dynamic Place: A Hub for Surrounding Neighborhoods 25

ii. Transportation Hub: 21st Century Crossroads 41

iii. Parks, Plazas and Streets: A Network of Public Places 63

iv. A Business Strategy for Coordinated Action 75

4. Appendix

3Table of Contents

9 ST

to Southwest Waterfrontto I-395

to U Street Corridor

9 ST

7 ST9 ST

7 ST

Gallery Place

O ST Market

K ST to Georgetown K ST to Downtown’s expansion

Gallery of American Art/Portrait Gallery

Historical Society

Convention Center

Dupont Circle

Scott Circle

Thomas Circle

Logan Shaw

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE DISTRICT BOUNDARY

Mt. Vernon Triangle

National Mall

Union Station

US Capitol

Capitol Hill

Massachusetts Ave NW

New York Ave to Baltimore Washington Parkway

New York Ave Massachusetts Ave

White House

1 mile

radiu

s

Downtown

Project boundary and context

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

Project Background

The Mount Vernon Square (MVS) District design project is a joint undertaking by the DC Office of Planning and the District Department of Transportation. The effort synthesizes several planning, public realm design, transportation and economic development initiatives within, and in the vicinity of, Mount Vernon Square District into a cohesive set of physical recommendations. The recommendations are organized in four categories: a center for MVS district; its transportation infrastructure; its open space network; and its economic potential.

The Center

Washington DC is a city of diverse neighborhoods, each with a distinct center of its own. Some of these centers, Dupont Circle for example, serve multiple neighborhoods -- Dupont, Logan, West End, and Adams Morgan. Like Dupont Circle, Mount Vernon Square has the potential to unify the various residential, commercial, and entertainment neighborhoods that surround it -- Shaw, Downtown, Mount Vernon Triangle, and Chinatown -- becoming the new keystone for the area.

The Carnegie Library building and Mount Vernon Square’s grounds are instrumental in this transformation. Uniquely sited on axis with the convention center and the National Portrait Gallery, the library building and its grounds are essential assets that can provide high quality open space, facilitate intermodal transit activity, and become the next great place in a city of great places.

The Square’s History

Mount Vernon Square has had, over time, many different uses and characters – a market place, recreational grounds, crossroads to the City, and a well-utilized public library. Today it lies somewhat disengaged from the surrounding city fabric, due to high traffic volumes around it, lackluster landscape character, and the relocation of the public library to its current location at 9th and G Streets NW. In addition, neighborhoods to the north and east are just beginning to recover from neglect left in the aftermath of the 1968 riots. Nearby highway infrastructure also contributed to the degredation of the square, which became focused on moving vehicular traffic quickly, with scant regard for the quality of adjacent pedestrian spaces. Today, Mount Vernon Square is poised to regain its historical significance as a city square engaged with the vibrant city neighborhoods that surround it.

The Square’s Frame

The streets, buildings, federal reservations and undeveloped parcels that surround Mount Vernon Square are important in ensuring a vibrant center for the district. Similarly, the Walter Washington Convention Center and 8th Street to the south are key elements to the revitalization of the square. Eighth Street, a handsome street with little vehicular traffic, is ideal as a flexible space for events. The front lobby of the convention center facing the square provides a unique opportunity for a new, grand, active public space for Washingtonians, much like Grand Central station in New York or Union Station, just steps away on Massachusetts Avenue.In sum, a reinvigorated Mount Vernon Square, a re-programmed Carnegie Library building, active

ground floor uses in buildings fronting the Square, a flexible event space along 8th Street and a new living room in the convention center are excellent ingredients to make Mount Vernon Square a powerful new great place among its adjacent neighborhoods.

Transportation

MVS district is accessed by several transportation modes: pedestrians, bicycles, vehicles, the Circulator system, Metro bus and Metro rail. In addition, a new streetcar route on K Street is planned. The district’s current infrastructure is not well suited to accommodate these diverse travel modes, leading to inefficiencies on bus routes along 7th street NW, vehicular congestion at the Square and on New York and Massachusetts Avenues, and frequent pedestrian-vehicular conflicts. In addition, growth along 9th street, a street that could function as a main street for Shaw, is inhibited due to constrained access.

This project envisions a future a transportation system that integrates and balances multiple transit modes. Transportation concepts for the square include a one-way loop, a partial one-way loop (7th and 9th Streets become two-way streets) and a two-way loop around Mount Vernon Square. Each concept accommodates essential mid-block pedestrian crossings at 8th Street, south of the Square and an equivalent one at the front door to the Convention Center, north of the Square. The Square is envisioned as an intermodal transfer point for transit riders to switch transit modes between circulator, streetcar or metro bus or to change direction from east-west routes to north-south

As Washington DC’s downtown grows eastward

along the K Street corridor, and the demand

for in-town residential premises grows, Mount

Vernon Square is becoming an increasingly

important location. The square is at the nexus

of changing transportation infrastructure,

strong residential growth, and increasing

demand for local-serving retail and high

quality public spaces.

These changes, coupled with its proximity

to such landmark buildings and districts

as the Convention Center, the White House,

the Portrait Gallery, the National Mall, the

historic Shaw neighborhood, and Gallery

Place/Chinatown make a compelling case for

a revitalized Square and Carnegie Library

building, recalling its history as a dynamic,

integral part of the city.

6 Mount Vernon Square District Design Project

routes. The design offers an improved pedestrian network across the square itself as well as a location for respite and recreation. Enhanced bus and bike facilities are accommodated on 7th Street, 9th Street, and Massachusetts Avenue NW with enhanced signage.

Open Space Network

Mount Vernon Square district’s open space system includes a constellation of thirteen federal reservations, located at the district’s corners and its center and the wide sidewalks of K Street NW, Massachusetts and New York Avenues. These reservations and rights-of-way are important legacies of the historic L’Enfant Plan, and over time left historic evidence of rich landscape character providing green space and amenities for the surrounding residents. The current unappealing character, the result of years of neglect, combined with the auto-dominated roadways east of the square has resulted in a public environment not conducive to pedestrian movements.

Recent and future new developments along Massachusetts Avenue, such as City Vista at K and 5th Streets, Center City on the old convention center site, the Gould Developments along Massachusetts Avenue east of the Square suggests that there is a great need for the public space amenities – parks, plazas, sidewalks - that are so vital to making successful residential neighborhoods. The bowtie parks at the corners of the district, now mostly green “leftovers”, are particularly instrumental in augmenting the network of green space available to residents. This project provides recommendations for upgrades to the bowtie parks that build on their historic role as neighborhood amenities, meanwhile

also adapting them to become parts of the neighborhoods in which they reside.

Reservations 68 and 69 (the northwest pair of bow-tie parks) are in better condition than the others and utilized by the growing residential population of the area. The southwest bowtie parks (reservations 173 and 174) are within the downtown area and frequented by office workers. Reservation 173 in particular is well used during lunch hours by office workers. Design elements such as additional trees and paved areas demarcated for performances and gatherings will enhance the park’s vitality during the lunch hours and beyond. Across New York Avenue, Reservation 174 is an important part of the future City Center development by Hines/Archstone planned for the site of the old convention center.

Bowtie parks to the east are most in need of enhancements. The southeast parks (Reservations 72, 73, 74) are at the cusp of Chinatown and Mount Vernon Triangle and adjacent to several new developments with residents who will need park amenities. The northeast parks (Reservations 177, 178) are subject to similar demographic growth pressures as development occurs around them. Reservation 177 is currently a parking lot, while much of Reservation 178 is fenced off from public access. Between the two parks is New York Avenue, a major deterrent for pedestrians and to the integration of Shaw to the north with Mount Vernon Triangle to the south.

In sum, recommendations for the pairs of bowtie parks include new edge treatments such as fences and hedges, new pathways within the parks, enhanced crosswalks and sidewalks around the parks, lighting, public art and signage. The recommendations will provide future residents with valuable park spaces, will reinforce Mount Vernon Square district’s identity and will unify it with the adjacent neighborhoods of Shaw, Logan, Mount Vernon Triangle, Downtown and Chinatown.

7Executive Summary

1. A dynamic center that gives Mount Vernon Square

District an identity

Transformative change will begin at the new District’s Center - Mount Vernon Square, the Convention Center, 8th Street and the surrounding developments. The center will be a destination for surrounding residents, for conventioneers, for visitors from the National Mall, Gallery Place/Chinatown and for office workers. The public realm here will give identity for a distinct new District.

TRANSFORMING THE DISTRICT

2. A transportation system that is responsive to local,

rather than commuter needs

A new transportation plan will balance the needs of various modes, introduce new, sustainable transportation options and make public parks and plazas more accessible. The focus will be on integrating the various public transit options that traverse the District to offer convenient access to and from Mount Vernon Square.

3. A diverse system of green space that makes MVS

district attractive for future residents and creates a

framework for sustainable growth.

A cohesive plan for the District’s Federal Reservations, plazas, Avenues and Streets will create public space amenities to attract new residents, serve existing residents and workers and that further Washington DC’s agenda for a sustainable public realm, by “greening” the streets and integrating low impact development and storm water solutions in all public realm projects; encouraging high standards of sustainability from private sector projects through policy incentives such as tax credits, to include techniques such as green roofs, the use of solar energy.

4. A business strategy to fund and manage

transformation

While long term trends for Mount Vernon Square District are positive, the immediate economic environment will remain a challenge in the short to medium term; as this situation changes, a District-wide management entity will be formed to coordinate private sector developments, harness public sector transportation and capital improvement funds and actively program and manage the District’s open spaces.

An attractive “green” center conducive for variety of activities

Rights-of-way where various transportation modes co-exist Streets are retrofitted with shade trees and Low Impact Development features

Open spaces that are valuable to residents and visitors An entity responsible for programing and revenue generation

A robust upkeep and maintenance program

Pedestrian-prioritized and bicycle-friendly environment


A 5-minute walk from the Center to neighborhood parks

The Carnegie Library building, its grounds and the Federal Reservations - A new center for Mount Vernon Square District, with active programming, reconfigured grounds, linkages to the Convention Center and 8th Street NW and building additions at the northeast and northwest corners

A publicly accessible Convention Center, with programmed events and exhibitions in its headhouse, and active uses at its corners

The northwest bowtie parks - upgrades such as new benches, sidewalk repairs and landscape treatments will create an enhanced neighborhood asset.

The southwest bowtie parks - a new downtown park that features space for small performances and enhanced landscape treatment, providing sense of enclosure, shade and buffer from New York Avenue

The northeast bowtie parks - curb realignments, restriped crosswalks, possible relocation of parking lot and appropriate design of fences create a new neighborhood asset for Mount Vernon Triangle and Shaw.

The southeast bowtie parks - curb realignments, restriped crosswalks, hardpaved and softpaved areas, and appropriate design of fences along the edges create viable parks for Mount Vernon Triangle and Chinatown.

VISION7th Street NW - a major link to points north and south will accommodate 21st century transportation facilities for buses, pedestrians and vehicles; its retail environment will be extended north of Mount Vernon Square.

8th Street NW - a new public environment, with active programming and streetscape upgrades that make it a pleasing pedestrian environment; events become a revenue source for the city.

9th Street NW - a major link to points north and south will accommodate quality retail and 21st century transportation facilities for bikes, pedestrians and vehicles; sidewalks along 1000 and 1100 blocks are expanded to allow convenient pedestrian movements and create spillout space for retail outlets.

9Executive Summary

STRATEGIC APPROACH

Build on the recent success of

Gallery Place/ Chinatown.

Leverage underutilized public assets

within Mount Vernon Square District to

generate revenue for the City.

Integrate public assets with adjacent

private property, to maximize value

for all.

Leverage future transportation assets

– the streetcar – to help fund catalytic

changes to the Center, and on Street

Rights-of-way.

1 2 3 4

The Mount Vernon District is the logical next great neighborhood of the downtown and directly benefits from the revitalization of Chinatown and Gallery Place. Strategically, the extension of 7th and 9th Streets, both energetic “drivers” of much of the new downtown, though the new Mount Vernon District connects the success of that area to the Square and areas to the north in Shaw. The vision for the Square itself completes the entertainment/retail focus of Chinatown/Gallery Place with opportunities for larger, destination activities at the edges of the Square and reproposing opportunities at the Carnegie Library and the head house of the Walter Washington Convention Center.

Great public places provide value for the cities in which they reside. Mount Vernon Square provides a significant opportunity for the city to realize revenue via the use of the space of the Square itself and creative management of the Carnegie Library building. Revenue potential should be developed via managed programming related and complementary to existing uses, such as the Convention Center, the entertainment district at Gallery Place/Chinatown and new development planned for the area.

The Mount Vernon Square District includes, in addition to significant public assets such as the Square, the Carnegie Library and the Bow-tie Parks, large sites for private redevelopment. The city’s vision for the district should assist private developers and property owners to envision how their assets can assume an important role in the revitalization from ground level uses, to architectural character and design.

The promise of further transportation enhancements, such as the K Street streetcar at the Square brings with it the opportunity for significant improvements to the design of the Square itself, such as improvements to the streetscape and sidewalk system and better definition and clarity to surface vehicle circulation. Future transportation improvements should be embraced at the Square as essential and iconic elements of a great public place.

7th and H Street, in Gallery Place/ Chinatown Bryant Park, ManhattanThe grounds are used as flexible event space that brings revenue.

Bryant Park, ManhattanSince its makeover, properties adjacent to the park have benefitted immensely in value and have gained an open space resource.

If used in an integrated way, the funds available for the Streetcar in Washington could also be used to re-configure Mount Vernon Square such that it is more accessible.


Implement a 21st century

transportation system

Integrate green technologies in public

space and private properties

Business strategies Phased implementation

5 6 7 8

Mount Vernon Square is located at the nexus of several important transportation assets, including the regular DC street grid, arterial streets such as New York and Massachusetts Avenues, and a stop on the Metro’s Yellow and Green lines. The future success of the district is equally dependent upon continuing to enhance existing assets via multi-modal streets that include bike lanes and facilities, bus lanes for efficient surface transportation and provision for the eventual arrival of a streetcar system, enhancing east-west movement.

The Mount Vernon Square District has the opportunity to embrace green technologies and become a model for neighborhood identity for sustainable development. Incentives must be developed to encourage the implementation of such techniques as green roofs, solar energy and storm water harvesting and low-impact development practices. Many places exist in the District for the city to provide visible and energetic leadership, such as the use of LID’s in the Square, streetscapes and Bow-tie parks and other public spaces. The vast territory of the roof of the Convention Center provides a significant opportunity for solar energy collection.

While the prospect of success for the Mount Vernon Square District is promising in the long term, today’s economic climate presents significant challenges. To address these challenges will take a strong, viable business approach that streamlines decision making and leverages what scarce funds there are towards a common goal. To that end the formation of a business and management entity to oversee the District’s transformation is a necessity; this entity may be modeled along the lines of several others in Washington - the Downtown DC BID, the NoMA BID, and Mt. Vernon Triangle CID. Key issues the business entity will address include –

Immediate (0 to 3 years) – Implement “crises-fixes” on sidewalks, enhance all crosswalks, implement public space projects that are not contingent on private sector involvement; obtain approvals as necessary; establish management entity for MVS District.

Short term (3 to 5 years) – Complete transportation analyses; encourage private sector development as economic recovery takes shape; implement changes to Mount Vernon Square in coordination with Streetcar alignment.

Long term (Over 5 years) – Projects that are more capital-intensive or that require additional approvals, design development, private sector participation.

ParisState-of-the art pedestrian and bike facilities augment motorized transit and cars; streets are truly multi-modal.

The wide rights-of-way in Mount Vernon Square District could provide significant “green“ space that is an open space amenity and a way to incorporate Low Impact Development techniques in public space.

A vehicle to coordinate the significant private and public investment that is in the pipeline in Mount Vernon Square District. Examples include the Bryant Park District in Manhattan (above).

11Executive Summary

Park Service (NPS) for Reservation Numbers 68, 69,72,73,74,173,177 and 178.

for palette of materials for sidewalks and street trees.

Vernon Square’s grounds that will encourage visitors and neighboring residents to use the grounds and unify the north edge of the Square with the Convention Center across Mount Vernon Place NW. Coordinate with stakeholders and government agencies to establish management entity for Mount Vernon Square’s grounds and the Carnegie Library Building.

pedestrian connectivity and safety through the Square, provide opportunities for events and increase overall beautification.

linked to outdoor spaces along the north edge of the Square.

Library Building to enhance the amount of usable space and programmatic diversity within the building.

o Expand the Square outwards, after re- allocation of lanes on 7th, 9th, K Streets NW and Mount Vernon Place NW to accommodate the K Street streetcar alignment.

o Install protective elements around the Square - fences, trees - and implement other changes to the Square’s grounds including lighting, seating, and terraces for events.

o Re-align paths within the Square

adjoining sidewalks. District of Columbia.Recommendations to create a

cohesive system of Parks, Streets

and Open Spaces

Recommendations for Mount

Vernon Square and the Carnegie

Library Building - A Dynamic,

Active Center

A Business Strategy for Coordinated

Economic Development

Recommendations for a 21st

Century Transportation System

IMMEDIATE (1 TO 3 YEARS) SHORT TERM (3 TO 5 YEARS) LONG TERM (OVER 5 YEARS)

curbside management and lane reconfiguration on 7th and 9th Streets NW to address immediate pedestrian and traffic issues related to queuing distances, potential pedestrian/vehicular conflicts, double parking and tour bus parking.

Bowtie parks to enhance pedestrian access to parks and open spaces.

and around the Square (signage and/or pavement markings).

conditions.

priority, increased bus lane enforcement.

redevelopment process for Mount Vernon Square District and coordinate the activities of real estate development projects in Mount Vernon Square.

work closely with consultants to develop implementation-oriented projects for Mount Vernon Square District.

Vernon Square District and re-position Mount Vernon Square and the Carnegie Library Building. Design and deploy distinct public realm branding elements for Mount Vernon Square District.

on short-term performance of retail and other commercial properties.

Square District.

intersections of 8th Street NW with K Street NW and Mount Vernon Place NW (in front of the Convention Center) and bulb-outs at the intersection of 8th and I Streets NW.

pavement with special patterns; add a protected cycle track to the 9th Street corridor using space from eliminating the bus-bike lane.

on 6th and 9th Streets.

work, ensuring that recommendations from this plan are incorporated into NEPA work and the Alternatives Analysis.

and environmental analyses. Studies should be sure to cover topics that include - analyzing the split streetcar lines around the square to link both sides of K Street, analyzing a 1-way traffic loop configuration, analyzing 7th and 9th as a one-way pair; timing of this study will be contingent on timing and funding of the streetcar segment.

TIMELINE OF RECOMMENDATIONS12 Mount Vernon Square District Design Project

-13-

Draft

The following 10 projects are key to the transformation of Mount Vernon Square district

into a vibrant, economically successful, sustainable district.

2. PRIORITY PROJECTS

PRIORITY PROJECT 1

Program and design Mount Vernon Square and the Carnegie Library Building to

become a dynamic place that includes public park functions, cultural uses and events

space, restaurant/café/vending, visitor and other destination-type uses; address design

deficiencies of paths, edges and pedestrian amenities within the Square.

THE SQUARE

The ProblemMount Vernon Square, although one of the largest spaces of the historic L’Enfant Plan, today asserts little influence as a place for formal or informal activities. Few of the uses at the edges of the space support activities that go on within the square and the cultural uses that do occur happen without a regular schedule or program of activities. Public space deficiencies, such as unclear cross-walks, unconnected or undirected paths within the square and a building designed to focus inward, not outward, contribute to a place that is under-utilized and uncoordinated.

The FutureMount Vernon Square and the Carnegie Library building offer a unique opportunity to create a dynamic and exciting “place”. All of the constituent elements of the square: the buildings at edges and the center, the supporting landscape and pedestrian environment and the attendant activities of the square proper are to be designed in a coordinated scheme that enhances the daily public activity of the square as well as an ongoing series of public events and related uses. The following are elements of a future Square:

1. A public park design that facilitates the ease of pedestrian movement to activities in Square and through the Square to the WWCC, retail locations on 7th and 9th Streets and the revitalized 8th Street. The new design features a path system that recognizes the front door of the convention center, a parterre (a raised outdoor terrace) accessed from the park and the Carnegie library building, new mid-block crossings at the north and south sides of the Square, an improved cross walk system that gives clear guidance to movement through and around the Square, and event places within the park.

2. Landscape design and maintenance programs that support good public space design, such as defining the edges of the Square with hedges or small fences to shield the pedestrian environment from surrounding traffic, climbing up the trees in the Square to avoid the current “overgrown” appearance, and a planting scheme that supports positive public surveillance yet yields a sense of place and ownership by the community.

3. The Square supports cultural uses associated with the Conve cing the WWCC in the new plaza, along the edges of the Square along 9th, 7th and the southern edge of the Square, and in the front lobby of the WWCC. Visitor activities are located within the Carnegie Library building and are supported by the activities of the square.

5. Enhance the spatial openness of the square by trimming lower hanging branches of tree in the square.

Above, right: Mount Vernon Square today

Below, right: The square with reconfigured pathways, landscape treatment and midblock crosswalks to connect to 8th Street NW and the Convention Center.


Inner pathways

Glassy Pavilions

Paved outdoor areas

The parterre

Inner gardens

Outer gardens

The transformation of the Square enhances the civic presence of the Carnegie

building and its grounds, and offer a vibrant destination - a true social and

ecological center for MVS district.

THE SQUARE

15Priority Projects

PRIORITY PROJECT 2

8TH STREET AS FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE

Develop the former 8th Street right-of-way between I and K Streets as a flexible

events space and restore pedestrian crossings between 8th Street and the Square and

between the Carnegie Building and the main entrance of the Convention Center.

The ProblemEighth Street is ideally located to become an important part of the revitalization of Mount Vernon Square yet currently it provides little or no enhancement to the public vitality of the place. It possesses significant resources, such as a short, pedestrian only area just south of the Square, and many handsome recent and historic facades. In addition, the street is terminated in the majestic portico of the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution.

The FutureEighth Street provides a significant key to the revitalization of the Square and is well positioned to be one of the first places in the area to under go a positive transformation. The section of Eighth Street directly to the south of MVS can immediately be used as a place for flexible events and concerts, and be further enhanced by coordinated activities and design improvements with the adjacent Renaissance Hotel and the Convention Center.

Design features to be included are:Overhead lighting, a sun shade stretching across the street, and a location for a stage to hold events. Further down the street, places for events associated with conventions in the area could be imagined, such as an outdoor book fare or evening fashion show.

To enhance the inclusion of Eighth Street into the Mount Vernon Square District, it is essential to insert a mid-block crossing at the south side of the Square so that activities and venues on Eighth can be directly connected to the Square and eventually the WWCC. A corresponding mid-block crosswalk on the north side from the north façade of the Carnegie Library to the WWCC permits a direct connection via a redesigned pathway system in the Square from north to south.

Further projects include an improved streetscape to the south, enhanced way-finding elements and a public art strategy (coordinated with the DCCAH) and a possible use of the museum portico as a backdrop for theatrical productions.

8TH STREET AS FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE

8th Street NW has minimal vehicular traffic. During weekends and non-rush hours, the entire street could be closed for programmed activities such as markets, events and festivities. The block between I and K Streets NW (shown in this illustration) is completely closed to traffic and can be transformed in the very near term into a flexible events space. The images to the left depict possible public environments along the street, with Asian influences that build on the presence of Chinatown to the east.

17Priority Projects

The ProblemThe Convention Center is a major attraction for the city of Washington, DC yet, although the Center is a design success for convention activities, its role as quality “place” for activities that engage and enhance the public environment of the Square and the larger district is minimal. In particular, the south facing façade along the northern edge of the Square provides little other than a location for entry and taxicabs.

The FutureDesign changes to the way in which the Walter Washington Convention Center engages the Square can establish the Center as a less internally focused institution, and helping to establish a unique sense of place with activities that bring benefits to visitors and residents alike.

Projects to advance this transformation include: 1. A high quality restaurant and/or café with

exterior advertising on the southern exterior façade of the Convention Center located in the southern lobby of the center and open to the general public.

2. Exterior table service for a restaurant and/or café in the corner sidewalk areas at 7th and 9th Streets where they meet the Square.

3. The transformation of the large “headhouse” lobby of the Convention Center to a vibrant “public room” like the main hall at Union Station, with the inclusion of uniquely DC features, such as small exhibits from the Smithsonian and thematic displays connected to the Visitors Center located at the Square across the street.

Mt. Vernon Place NW

Left and below: Additions to the corners of the Convention Center will bring active uses to Mount Vernon Place. The corner additions will reinforce the pavilions at the northwest and northeast corners of Mount Vernon Square.

Below: A transformed Convention Center lobby. The inward-focussed lobby of the Convention Center could be transformed into a ‘living room’ for the city, with active programming, community forums and exhibitions.

PRIORITY PROJECT 3

Transform the front hall of the Convention Center to a truly public place. Analyze

ways to accomplish this through the development of a restaurant, café or other retail

function and by creating a mini-Smithsonian or other visitor functions.

CONVENTION CENTER


This page: A transformed Convention Center lobby. Possible program ideas include joint exhibitions with the Smithsonian and other area museums.

CONVENTION CENTER

19Priority Projects

The ProblemThe arrival of the streetcar provides and additional opportunity for the transformation of the identity of the Square and to bring additional uses and visitors to the cultural, entertainment and retail activities in the district. Although no alignment has yet been determined for the streetcar, the sequence of projects planned to transform the Square must not preclude adaptation to the streetcar needs for space and character. In addition, alignment options must be reviewed with respect to enhancing the activity in and around the Square and supporting venues that either currently exist or planning for the future.

The FutureThe transformation of the Square includes transit at the core of the vision.

The following principles apply:

1. Transit stops are located to enhance emerging patterns of pedestrian access and activity on the Square.

2. Eastbound and westbound stops are located to the south and north, respectively, of the Square and are designed to serve enhanced access and visibility of the Square activities, Eighth Street and the Convention Center.

3. The inclusion of transit in the revitalized Square is the main opportunity to visit the amount of cartway needed for surface transportation and make any adjustments necessary, such as widened sidewalks and street plantings.

4. Infrastructure changes to accommodate transit are developed in accordance with design guidelines for the revitalized Square and environs.

Streetcar tracks

Left: Streetcar track alignment alternative 1.This alignment alternative allows one-way circulation north and south of the Square on Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street NW. Circulation on 7th and 9th Streets NW is flexible - either two-way or a one-way configuration. Final decisions regarding one-way or two-way flows will be made after detailed analyses is conducted.

Left: Streetcar track alignment alternative 2.This alignment alternative allows two-way circulation on Mount Vernon Place NW, K Street NW, 7th and 9th Streets NW. The streetcar runs in a ‘cross-over’ fashion -

1. Eastbound, the streetcar makes a left turn from K Street NW west of the square and a right turn on to Mount Vernon Place NW.

2. In the westbound direction, the streetcar makes a left turn from K Street NW east of the square and a right turn onto K Street south of the square.

Dedicated bus lane

Cycle track

Enhanced pedestrian crosswalks

PRIORITY PROJECT 4

Build upon the streetcar project, capitalizing on the alternatives analysis and other

studies as a means to showcase transit and enhance place-making. Major decisions

about the Square and circulation around it --- whether on foot, bicycle, in transit or a

motor vehicle --- will be influenced by the generation of additional pedestrian traffic

associated with the streetcar. The streetcar project and the K Street transit way

project are likely to necessitate implementation of the longer term traffic circulation

changes around the Square. Hence, major physical infrastructure investment in the

Square itself will most likely take place at that time.

THE STREETCAR


Preparation for the DC Streetcar

The team developed several different alternatives for the streetcar along K Street on the east and west sides of the Square. The team discussed pros and cons of several aspects, such as:

Track alignment;Stop Placement;Signal timing;Coordination with placemaking on the Square and along 8th Street;Impacts on Traffic and several scenarios to change the traffic pattern;Impacts on pedestrian crossings, including mid-block crosswalks;Addressing bicycle circulation;Parking.

Before any decisions can be made, the DC Streetcar must conduct appropriate NEPA reviews, which are scheduled for 2011. The information gathered in this study will be used as groundwork for the Streetcar NEPA process.

21Priority Projects

The ProblemCurrently no regulatory measures exist to promote the development of a world-class public place and destination for the city.

The Future Zoning measures are enacted to require the following:

1. Ground floor space that faces the Square is required to host restaurant and/or food uses.

2. Incentives are developed to promote the possibility of outdoor dining along K, 7th, 9th, the southern edge of the Square and at the intersections leading into the Square at Massachusetts and New York Avenues.

3. Zoning is developed to prohibit the placement of service or garage entries directly facing onto the Square and to support main entries into ground floor destination and restaurant uses are located facing the Square.

Right: Zoning overlay district shown in dotted lines. Regulations should require active ground floor uses, transparent facades and front doors to retail establishments, office lobbies and other uses.

Zoning regulations should be

developed requiring active ground

floor uses, transparent facades, front

doors and lobbies and help activate

the frame (sidewalks and building

frontages) of Mount Vernon Square.

PRIORITY PROJECT 5

Enact zoning to ensure active-street uses in buildings framing the Square.

ZONING REGULATIONS


23Priority Projects

The Problem The Carnegie Library Building is a handsome historic building and lends its unique character to the sense of the place of the Square. However, the building was designed as an internally focused public building with one primary entry and is raised a significant amount above the main level of the Square. Only the south facing side of the building retains a public scale and sense of connection to the exterior although the building does possess interior spaces of significant dimension and quality that are currently used for public and private events.

Current programming for the building does not generate a consistent level of public activity and those activities are only moderately coordinated with surrounding entities, such as the Convention Center and local convention hotels.

A Management Entity:The management entity for the overall district is the best advocate for the future use of the Carnegie Library Building with the building assisting in the future success of the Historical Society, the Convention Center and other city-wide resources and institutions. The management entity is charged with the following for the Carnegie Library building itself:

1. The management of the programming and scheduling of the Carnegie Library to promote public access and activities at the building.

2. To design and support the interaction of activities that occur both in and outside of the library on the grounds of the Square.

New program in the west wing of the Carnegie Library building - possible uses include a destination restaurant.

A new parterre addition expands the amount of usable fair-weather space of the building.

Add pavilions with active program - potentially food and vending - to the corners of the Square to create a stronger draw for the building.

Reinforce the image of the building by adding paths and other landscape elements that are harmonious and do not detract from the historic frontage of the building.

Make pathways more inviting, so pedestrians are encouraged to walk through Mount Vernon Square, thereby increasing the visibility and exposure of the building’s program.

Make pedestrian access to the building convenient by adding a midblock crossing at 8th and K Streets NW.

Expand access to the central atrium of the Carnegie building through additional visitor related functions; expand revenue generating potential of the atrium by more effective event management and programming.

PRIORITY PROJECT 6

Expand the opportunities of the Carnegie Library Building, via a public space

management and development partnership that includes the District government,

the Historical Society of Washington DC, the Downtown BID, the Mount Vernon

Triangle CID, the Washington Convention Center and Sports Authority, and other

necessary entities. Promote creative uses and development potential that turn the

building and surrounding grounds into a valuable asset for the city.

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING


The Problem Public spaces in the district currently fall under several different management entities: the National Park Service, the District and the Convention Center Authority. In addition, several private organizations control space, such as the Renaissance Hotel which controls the pedestrian street south of the Square at Eighth Street.

The National Park Service controls the majority of the bow-tie parks along New York and Massachusetts Avenues and generally provides service to those areas such as landscape maintenance and grass cutting. As such, the open spaces in the MVS district have suffered from a lack of unity and design and although the places themselves are large in size, they are not inviting and have in most cases little to offer to the public realm.

The Future A management entity for the district and the Square provides for a coordinated point of contact for design, programming and maintenance such that a unified vision can be created and sustained. Such an entity would derive its powers from private property owners, institutions, the city, and the National Park Service and be charged with the following:

1. Guide the implementation of the redesigned public space of the Square and the Bow-tie parks.

2. Work with property owners of yet-to-be developed sites to assume that individual property visions and the overall vision for the district are compatible.

3. Coordinate the scheduling of public activities in public buildings and public spaces.

4. Market the district and the Square as a unique place for visitors, businesses and residents.

5. Set design standards that will assure a high quality and identifiable “place” within the city fabric.

Above: Graphic depiction of a potential Mount Vernon Square Business Improvement District OR Community Improvement District, with representation from key stakeholders.

The MVS BID/CID Board consists of seven persons, three from the group of property owners, one each from the Convention Center and the Historical Society; the remaining two members maybe selected from any of the other agencies. The Board will hire an executive director.

District of Columbia government Agencies

Federal Government Agencies (NPS, NCPC)

Property Owners

DC Convention Center

Neighborhood Associations

The Historic Society of Washington DC

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FEDERAL GOVERNMENTBUSINESSES AND OWNERS

MAJOR ANCHOR FOR MVS DISTRICT

RESIDENTS

LEASEHOLDERS

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Downtown DC BID staffs a MVS BID/CID as

an interim arrangement

PRIORITY PROJECT 7

Form a financing and management entity for the Square and all the parks in the

Mount Vernon Square District, including those controlled by the National Park

Service and those controlled by the District, to improve them as neighborhood

amenities with high quality design, adequate funding, maintenance, and

programming. Transfer all bow-tie parks and the open space of MVS to the District.

PUBLIC SPACE STEWARDSHIP

25Priority Projects

The ProblemA unique opportunity along 9th Street exists to create a vibrant neighborhood retail area, which would serve in contrast to destination oriented retail located around the Square and along 7th Street to the southeast. Currently, narrow sidewalks define the western side north of the Square and although the convention center does contain retail storefronts along it’s western side, the large width of the street combined with little activity on the western side of Ninth Street leaves the area somewhat lacking.

The FutureProvides for complementary neighborhood serving retail along Ninth Street with destination retail at the Square and further south. Along Ninth Street the following physical changes are necessary:

1. Ninth Street must be narrowed on the western side north of the Square to permit the sidewalk to be narrowed for retail activity.

2. Retail storefronts along the western elevation of the Convention Center facing Ninth Street should be redesigned to allow greater shading, more recognizable branding and signage and improved access.

3. Ground level uses of the new convention center hotel planned for the corner of Ninth and Massachusetts Avenue should be coordinated to support the transition from destination retail activities on the Square to retail that serves neighborhood needs.

Existing curb impedes pedestrian movements.

Relocated curb line gives additional space for sidewalk on west side of 9th Street NW.

PRIORITY PROJECT 8

Re-imagine 9th Street north of the Square into a street that supports neighborhood

retail, by widening the sidewalk on the west side of the street and by increasing the

visibility and identity of the retail located within the Convention Center on the east

side of the street.

9TH STREET NORTH OF THE SQUARE


This page: A transformed 9th Street NW, looking north - an expanded sidewalk offers pedestrians more room to maneuver, businesses more space for display and spill out and additional space for landscape treatment.

27Priority Projects

Potential section through Mount Vernon Place NW.One-way circulation, reduced roadway width and a midblock crosswalk make pedestrian crossings easier. An expanded sidewalk allows additional room for pedestrians on the square.

Potential section through K Street NW south of Mount Vernon Square.One-way circulation, reduced roadway width and midblock crosswalks make pedestrian crossings easier. An expanded sidewalk allows additional room for pedestrians, bike movements.

P

The ProblemToday, movement around the Square for all modes - pedestrians, cars, bikes and buses - lacks legibility. During the peak hours, cars are often stuck in long queues which impact pedestrian crossings and bus operations.

From a place making perspective, the wide roadways to the north and south of the Square impede a synergistic relationship between Mount Vernon Square, the Convention Center, and 8th Street. Learning from similar examples (Stanton Square, Lincoln Park, Dupont Circle) in the city with one-way traffic circulation, the movements of traffic around the square must be simplified. One way circulation also requires fewer lanes and makes pedestrian crossings safer.

The FutureMount Vernon Square will potentially be surrounded by one-way or partial one-way traffic that will make pedestrian movements across K Street NW south of the square and Mount Vernon Square more convenient. A new streetcar alignment will be accommodated, with stops on the square.

PRIORITY PROJECT 9

Make a legible system of movements for all modes around the Square, and for

pedestrians moving through the Square; the system should alleviate current

traffic and transportation issues while also accommodating future changes

(such as the streetcar).

MOVEMENT AROUND AND THROUGH THE SQUARE


A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

An expanded square

7th, 9th K Streets NW and Mount Vernon Place NW (one-way circulation)

Mid-block crosswalk

LEGEND

1. One-way circulation

2. Widened sidewalks

3. Mid-block crosswalk

4. Traffic calming

5. Two-way circulation

6. Bus lanes on 7th Street/bike lanes on 9th Street

7. Rush hour restricted parking on 9th Street; parking on 7th Street limited at locations due to bus stop median.


LEGEND




4. Traffic calming



A PARTIAL ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

A TWO-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

LEGEND

1. One-way circulation around Mount Vernon Square



4. One-way pair circulation (7th and 9th Street, south of the Square)

5. Traffic calming

6. Two-way cycle tracks

7. Curbside bus-only lanes

8. Curbside parking

9. One-way circulation (7th and 9th Streets NW, north of the Square)

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Three transportation concepts will be

forwarded for further analysis before a

final concept is chosen.

29Priority Projects

The ProblemPedestrian movement in the district and around the Square is fundamentally a residue of an earlier age and does not recognize or support the way the Square is used today. Pedestrian movement is frequently compromised by poorly marked crosswalks, narrow sidewalks, and uncoordinated signal timing. Combined with the high volumes of traffic that pass through the district every day, the result is a place with less pedestrian activity than would occur there and a subsequent mediocre public realm.

Above: crosswalk in Paris. Well marked crosswalks make circulation for pedestrians and bicyclists safer; their high visibility ensures that motorists can see them. Signage clearly directs bicyclists to a specific zone so as to minimize conflicts and safety features such as bollards enhance pedestrian comfort levels.

The FutureThe district must become a better location for pedestrian activity throughout and can begin to do so immediately by the following steps: 1. Re-stripe all crosswalks at the Square 2. Aligning signal timing to support pedestrian

activity at the Square and throughout the district. 3. Add mid-block crossings and signals to support

pedestrian movement at the north and south sides of the Square.

4. Coordinate restriping with the re-design of the pathways in the Square.

5. Promote disabled access with improved crosswalk and sidewalk design.

6. Widen the sidewalk at Ninth Street north of the Square to promote better pedestrian connections to the Shaw neighborhood.

PRIORITY PROJECT 10

Paint pedestrian crosswalks throughout the entire Mount Vernon Square

District and ensure that signal timing is optimized for a safe pedestrian

crossing at each location; use pedestrian signage and crosswalk pattern that

are clearly visible to pedestrians and motorists.

CROSSWALKS


OVER-ALL PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

- Enhanced crosswalks at the corners of the Square, mid block crosswalks at Mount Vernon Place and K Street south of the Square and sidewalk extensions along K Street NW south of the Square make access to Mount Vernon Square convenient.

- Reconfigured pathways within the square offer more direct connections between 8th Street, the Carnegie building and the Convention Center than is available today.

- Restriped crosswalks around the Federal Reservations (the bowtie parks) at the corners of Mount Vernon Square District make access to these neighborhood amenities more convenient.

- A 24’ wide median, narrow 18’ roadways on either side and sidewalk extensions at the intersections of 8th Street NW with I Street NW and G Street NW make 8th Street a pedestrian dominated place, with space for events, markets and other managed programs; the street offers a direct connection between the Portrait Gallery and the Carnegie Library building.

- Space for seating and performances on 8th Street NW between K and I Streets NW make an inviting destination for pedestrians.

- The Federal Reservations are within a 5 minute walk of Mount Vernon Square; dense tree canopies on New York and Massachusetts Avenues offer pedestrians a shaded environment to walk between the ‘bowtie parks‘ and Mount Vernon Square.

New York Avenue NW

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PORTRAIT GALLERY

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CONVENTION CENTER

CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING

31Priority Projects

33Realizing the Vision

Dynamic Center: Hub of Activity For Surrounding Neighborhoods

Transportation Hub: 21st Century Crossroads

Parks, Plazas and Streets: A Network of Public Places

A Business Strategy for Coordinated Action 3. REALIZING THE VISION


Washington DC is a city of diverse neighborhoods, each with a distinct center of its own; some of these centers, e.g. Dupont Circle, serve multiple neighborhoods and address the needs of diverse users - downtown workers, neighborhood residents, shoppers and visitors. Dupont Circle has a distinct center, a series of well defined spaces and edges that protect users from the high traffic volumes around the Circle.

Located between Shaw, Logan, downtown Washington, Mount Vernon Triangle and Chinatown, Mount Vernon Square has the potential to become a space like Dupont Circle, which unites these distinct residential, commercial and entertainment neighborhoods. In doing so it will also become the dynamic center of a new ‘keystone district’.


3.1 DYNAMIC CENTERA hub of activity for surrounding

neighborhoods


At the center of the project area, Mount Vernon Square is an original part of the historic L’Enfant Plan for Washington DC and a historic landmark.

Initially, the Square was the primary open space for the Northern Liberties neighborhood, and served as a Market Square, a park, a significant entryway to the District, and eventually the location of Andrew Carnegie’s gift to Washington, the new Central Library, built in 1903.

The aftermath of the riots of 1968 saw the Square and the surrounding neighborhoods suffer deterioration. With the relocation of the central library to its current location at 9th and G Streets, the Square began to lose its distinct identity and use.

Today, the Square is the potential cornerstone for surrounding development activity and plays an important role in unifying Gallery Place, Chinatown and the Downtown Washington with the adjacent Shaw, Logan and Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhoods.

Several impediments to the realization of this potential exist. The Square lacks a coordinated streetscape at its perimeter and the current location of sidewalks expose pedestrians to high traffic volumes. Complex pedestrian movements are also required to cross the square and is exacerbated by non-existent or poor crosswalks. Pedestrians are given very little reason to walk through the Square; destinations through the Square are unclear. Elements that could help define and buffer the pedestrian realm, such as planting strips, hedges, and fences, commonly found in such successful places as Dupont Circle, are missing.

Although adjacent to the Washington DC Convention Center, the Square’s north side does little to encourage interaction with the events and activities of the Convention

Center. Much of the Square in that area turns its back on the Center. The activities of the Center itself are focused away from Mount Vernon Square and pedestrian crossings between the north side of the Square and the Center are limited to the corners, far away from entries to the Mount Vernon Library and the Convention Center. Specific opportunities to realize the Square’s potential as a public space include:

1. Recognizing the difference between the north (WWCC, urban enclosure) and south (8th Street) sides of the Square.

2. Transform the Square from a “park” to an “urban public garden” with a renewed character, enhanced edges and relationship to the surrounding uses;

3. Develop side spaces of the Square for flexible programming related to the Convention Center and other uses and the possible expansion of the Historical Society of Washington DC;

4. Link design and programming opportunities to the Convention Center on the north side of the Square to include restaurants, food vendors, open markets and other similar uses;

5. Develop center mid-block pedestrian crossings at north and south sides to enhance connectivity to adjacent uses and public spaces;

6. Encourage “live” programming, such as open to the public restaurants and cafés in the head-house of the Convention Center, and provide exterior seating at the corners of 7th and 9th Streets NW for table service from the Convention Center.

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE TODAY

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE

THE CONVENTION CENTER

8TH STREET NW

37Realizing the Vision - Dynamic Places

At the heart of Mount Vernon Square District is a dynamic center that comprises the Carnegie Library building, the Mount Vernon Square grounds, the DC Convention Center and a traffic-free section of 8th Street NW between I and K Streets NW. Also planned are a Convention Center Headquarter Hotel, which broke ground on the 10th of November 2010, developments by Gould Properties, Douglas Jemal Development and Boston Properties. Once built, these projects will frame the Square and reap immense value from a revitalized square and public environment.

All surrounding developments should open out onto the Square, with transparent ground floor facades, attractive retail fronts, active sidewalks and cohesive landscape, paving and lighting treatments. The Carnegie Library building and the surrounding grounds of Mount Vernon Square, through active programming, adaptive re-use strategies neighborhood activities, cultural events, and activities associated with the DC Convention Center will become an important nexus for the District.

HUB OF ACTIVITY FOR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS

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Future developments around Mount Vernon Square will create an active frame of streets and buildings.

Convention center hotel

Douglas Jemal Properties

Douglas Jemal PropertiesBoston Properties

Gould Properties

Gould PropertiesCity Center

Carr America

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The new center comprises Mount Vernon Square’s grounds, the Carnegie Library building, the Convention Center, 8th Street NW, and the ‘frame‘ of streets and buildings around the Square.

The DC Convention Center (DCCC), a major investment for the city, is further leveraged and integrated with Mount Vernon Square through creative programming and event management, streetscape upgrades, and co-sharing of facilities for events.

Eighth Street NW south of the Square is a public right-of-way, closed to traffic and bounded by the Renaissance Hotel to the west and office buildings to the East, and is ideal as flexible space for events that complements the grounds of the Square and the large internal exhibition spaces of the Convention Center. Eighth Street presents the possibility of a synergistic relationship between both the Convention Center and Mount Vernon Square as a new destination for the region.


THE CENTER - THE CONVENTION CENTER AND MOUNT VERNON SQUARE

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE

THE CONVENTION CENTER

8TH STREET

A synergistic relationship of programs, events, and public realm improvements between the Convention Center, Mount Vernon Square and 8th Street NW creates a hub for surrounding neighborhoods and a new destination for the region.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center - additions to the corners and active programming within the lobby will make the Convention Center a new ‘living room‘ for Washington, with Mount Vernon Square as its front yard.

Mount Vernon Square’s grounds - the north edge is a plaza space with active programming, outdoor seating, access to transit and convenient access to and from the convention center.

8th Street NW as a flexible event space, where programs and events are coordinated with Mount Vernon Square, the Carnegie Library building and the Convention Center.


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A ‘parterre‘ addition to the square’s grounds serves as a spill out space for a re-programmed Carnegie building and flexible stage space.

A series of ‘inner gardens‘ serve as a recreational space for users of the park. These gardens are well-protected from adjacent traffic and are linked by a series of steps to the parterre.

An outer pathway allows convenient diagonal shortcuts for pedestrians through the square.

Outer gardens serve as a protective layer of space from adjacent traffic movements and allow pedestrians to move through the square without having to access the inner gardens.

The Square is expanded to accommodate bike and streetcar facilities.

Paved areas for outdoor seating to support food service.

Pavilions for food services and other amenities.

Reconfigured pathways, to make pedestrian access more direct.

Potential bicycle-only lane

Potential dedicated bus lane

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FUTURE MOUNT VERNON SQUARE


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MOUNT VERNON SQUARE - SECTION LOOKING NORTH

A series of layered spaces accommodates diverse uses within the grounds, including outdoor food and vending, passive recreation, programmed events. The outer garden spaces shield the grounds from the negative effects of traffic on Mount Vernon Place NW, K, 7th and 9th Streets NW.

The expansion of the Square’s grounds also makes room for alternative transportation modes such as the future streetcar, bicycles, and other modes of transit.

9TH STREET ROW 85’


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A TRULY PUBLIC CONVENTION CENTER

The Walter Washington Convention Center, a major investment for the city, can be integrated with Mount Vernon Square through creative programming and event management, streetscape upgrades, and co-sharing of event facilities.

MOUNT VERNON PLACE

CARNEGIE LIBRA

MOUNT VERNOCONVENTION CENTER


EIGHTH STREET NW - FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE

The Convention Center represents a major investment for Washington DC; to leverage its presence fully, the Convention Center could be integrated with Mount Vernon Square through creative programming and event management, streetscape upgrades, and co-sharing of facilities for events.

Eighth Street NW, just south of the Square is a public right-of-way, closed to traffic and bound by the Renaissance hotel to the west and the JBG office building to the East. This street could be an ideal flexible space for events that supplements the grounds of the Square and the large internal exhibition spaces of the Convention Center.

ARY BUILDING

ON SQUARE K STREET ROW

BRIDGE

8TH STREET NW


THE CONVENTION CENTER TODAYTHE CONVENTION CENTER IN THE FUTURE

Infill at the corners of the Convention Center provides food and vending, complementing the proposed pavilions at the northwest and northwest corners of Mount Vernon Square. The new corners help extend an inviting retail environment north of the square along 7th and 9th Streets NW.


An expanded square across Mount Vernon Square in front of the Convention Center, offers a paved area for outdoor seating and engagement with the front door of the WWCC.

Streetscape improvements - lighting, landscape elements, signage and a midblock crossing - unify the front of the Convention Center with Mount Vernon Square. A streetcar stop at the northwest corner of the Square connects the plaza to a broader, city-wide audience, including transit riders and tourists.

THE CONVENTION CENTER AND MOUNT VERNON SQUARE IN THE FUTURE


Eighth Street is a significant key to the revitalization of the Square and is positioned to be one of the first places to be transformed. The section of Eighth Street directly to the south of MVS can be used immediately for events and concerts, and further enhanced with design improvements coordinated with the adjacent Renaissance Hotel and the Convention Center.

EIGHTH STREET IN THE FUTURE



The Carnegie Library Building

8th Street NW

Building. Library Building and connect it with a paved outdoor area along the north of the Square.

of the building; the parterres provide outdoor platforms that unifies the north and south of the Square’s grounds.

Carnegie Building to serve as a lobby.

Mount Vernon Square Grounds and the NPS Reservations

RECOMMENDATIONS Dynamic Center - Hub of Activity For Surrounding Neighborhoods

1.

2.

reservations around Mount Vernon Square (Reservation Numbers 70, 71, 175, 176).

encourage residents of the surrounding communities to use the Square’s grounds.

Center through - o Paving treatments and Public art; o Consistent lighting (in trees, low-level and streetlights); o Vending kiosks and outdoor seating along the north edge of the Square; kiosks are to be placed at the northwest and northeast corners. o Outdoor programming for events, food vending.

and Square that enhance pedestrian connectivity and safety through the Square, provide opportunities for events and increase overall beautification.

the Square.

o Accommodate Streetcar stops on the Square. o Expand the Square, as part of the re-alignment of 7th, 9th, K Streets NW and Mount Vernon Place NW to accommodate future Streetcar tracks. o Install fences along 7th and 9th Streets NW, to create a sidewalk environment protected from adjacent traffic; fences should be installed close to the curb so that the sidewalks are perceived as being a part of the Square. Re-align paths within the Square to create a functional pedestrian circulation system

Renaissance Hotel, JBG properties) to program outdoor events and food vending along 8th Street NW, between I and K Streets NW. Also install landscape elements in planters to provide shade, places of respite.

Center, Chinatown Merchants and the Smithsonian along 8th Street NW between G and H Streets NW at the Portrait Gallery.

8th Street NW.

allowing existing uses such as loading and deliveries.

8th Street NW.

THE SQUARE

FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE



North Frame: The Walter E. Washington Convention Center

South Frame: Renaissance Center Hotel and JBG Properties

East Frame: Boston Properties and Douglas Development

Convention Center at 7th and 9th Streets NW.3. the public:

o Implement a Public Art and Signage strategy for the Convention Center façade along Mount Vernon Place NW. o Coordinate with the Smithsonian Institute to install exhibits in the Convention Center lobby. o Coordinate with other non-federal museums

events and exhibitions in the Convention Center lobby. o Implement other uses such as a Visitors Center function, café or restaurant.

the Convention Center’s 7th and 9th Street facades, with emphasis on store canopies, storefront windows, lighting and doorway elements.

Vernon Place NW with retail outlets and outdoor seating.

active ground floor uses and transparent facades.

active ground floor uses and transparent facades.

installations and light shows (coordinate with DCCAH).

and 71 as spill out spaces for restaurants at the ground floor of the adjacent buildings.

and spill-out space for sidewalks along K Street NW for future redevelopment of the properties.

THE FRAME

TIMELINE

Draft

-50-

A well-balanced, multimodal transportation system is not new to Washington DC. A new transportation system buildings on the city’s traditions of a balanced system, adapted to future needs and technologies.


The success of Mount Vernon Square District’s center – the Convention Center, Mount Vernon Square and 8th Street NW - depends on an inviting public realm and easily navigable pedestrian transportation system. Mid-block crossings at K Street south of the Square and Mount Vernon Place NW, along with reconfigured pathways through the Square will allow convenient pedestrian linkages between the Convention Center, the Square and 8th Street NW. Enhanced linkages will also make access to transit facilities at the square convenient. In doing so, city-wide access to and from the square will be enhanced significantly.

While the broad transportation concepts for all modes around the Square are subject to further transportation analysis, there are overwhelming advantages to the one-way loop concepts over the two-way loop concept. In the one-way concepts the number of lanes on the streets around the Square could be reduced to three or four moving lanes. This will free up additional space to expand the Square, integrate Washington DC’s new streetcar around the square, create enhanced facilities for bikes and make pedestrian crossings to the Square more convenient.

Of equal importance is the over-all District’s connectivity with the city at large, through the Streetcar along K Street NW, surface transit options (Metro bus and Circulator) along 7th and 9th Streets and bicycle facilities on 7th, 9th Streets and Massachusetts Avenue NW. All modes intersect at Mount Vernon Square, making it a natural point for public transit transfers

3.2 TRANSPORTATION HUB21st Century Crossroads

and enhancing its connectivity north to a future O Street Market and the U Street Corridor, south to the National Mall and Southwest waterfront, west to Downtown and Georgetown and east to Union Station and Capitol Hill.

Public transit and biking facilities will expand non-passenger vehicle options for visitors and commuters alike – an important strategy, since it will mitigate vehicular congestion around the Square and will re-create a 21st Century Crossroads at the Square.

Enhanced connectivity to the Square will improve access to the new businesses and retail amenities that will be built around the Square in the near future. An improved public realm and pedestrian access within the Square will also create a public space amenity that will attract residents to Mount Vernon Square district. The new jobs, amenities and residents will significantly contribute to the livability of Mount Vernon Square district and to revenues for the District government.


LEARNING FROM SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPACES IN WASHINGTON DC

Below: Lincoln Park, one-way circulation, three lanes (including parking).Below: Stanton Square, one-way circulation and four lanes (including one parking lane)

Vehicular circulation

Pedestrian circulation

Public spaces must accommodate many needs, including some related to transportation and recreation. They are also the defining elements for neighborhoods and serve as a way for surrounding residents to identify where they live.

Stanton Square and Lincoln Park in Washington DC are well known public places, used by surrounding residents as valuable open space resources. The streets around these spaces are biased to facilitating the role of the parks as places; traffic moves in a one-way, counter-

clockwise flow. Pedestrian crosswalks and refuge areas are well-marked and mid-block crosswalk are provided to make pedestrian access convenient. The concepts examined as part of this section build on some of these simple ideas, and on precedents from other cities, such as

Paris, where multiple modes of transportation have been accommodated successfully, and the end-result has been great streets and public places that also work well for transportation needs.

53Realizing the Vision - Transportation Hub

PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY There is currently no mid-block pedestrian access between the Square and the Convention Center to the north at Mt. Vernon Place and between TechWorld to and the Square to the south at K Street. Eighth Street is currently underutilized but can be developed as a north-south pedestrian route to the Square and Convention Center. The pedestrian routes across the Square do not follow a straight course but wind around the Museum building thus making it difficult for pedestrians to navigate.

The unique roadway configuration and vehicular circulation around the Square combined with the heavy commuter traffic creates an environment that is unfriendly

expressed by many stakeholders. The study will promote multi-modal transportation around the Square and a de-emphasis on private vehicles.

Some of the sidewalks such as 9th Street (between K and O Streets) and 10th Street ( between L Street and Massachusetts Avenue), are very narrow and have obstructions within the travel path. A majority of the study area intersections have low visibility standard parallel lines type crosswalks but there were a few intersections with the high visibility ladder type.

TRANSIT FACILITIESIn response to the numerous concerns expressed by

lanes, it has been determined that there is a need for some type of exclusive bus lanes particularly along 7th and 9th Streets and around the Square. The study area is served by nine Metrobus service routes, two Circulator service routes and three Metrorail stations (within half a mile from the Square) on the WMATA Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Orange lines. 7th and 9th Streets NW are very strong transit corridors with the North-South Circulator service, four Metrobus service routes and two Metrorail Stations. The Metrobus service routes, the North-south and the East-west Circulator service pass directly along the Square and connect many areas to the Square. A future K Street transitway is being planned to support the development of a high performance transit link through the central core of the District of Columbia, connecting Union Station and Georgetown.

One of the primary initiatives of the MVSQ District Plan is to capitalize on the multi-modal opportunities presented by the confluence of transit routes at the Square through introduction of transit stops on the Square to ensure convenient transfers between local, express and circulator routes and to make room for the efficient operations of the K Street Transitway. the introduction of other facilities like bike shelters and commuter stores will generate more activity and enhance connectivity between modes.

EXISTING TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS

BIKESWhile the Mt. Vernon Square provides great vehicle connection between neighborhoods and destinations, there are limited facilities for bikes within the study area. There are no bike facilities located around the Square except for along 9th Street. Bike lanes are discontinuous on 7th Street between K and N Streets.

Currently there are not enough bike racks for cyclists to secure their bikes while they are away conducting their business. The provision of bike racks and other facilities including showers as in the Union Station has the potential of encouraging bike riding thus reducing auto traffic and trips. In line with its SmartBike program DDOT is installing automated bike rental facilities to facilitate bike sharing and promote bicycling within the District.


Expanding the Square through potential right-of-way re-allocation.

A RECONFIGURED SQUARE

The complete one-way loop or partial one-way loop circulation around the Square means fewer travel lanes and more green space for Mount Vernon Square or space for transit/ bike facilities.

The reduced width of the surrounding roadways also make the streets easier to cross, making the Square more accessible to pedestrians.

Current location of Mount Vernon Square’s curb line

Space available for an expand square

Up to 25’Up to 25’

Up to 15’

Up to 30’


THREE CONCEPTS A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

An expanded square

One-way circulation

Two-way circulation

Mid-block crosswalk

LEGEND




4. Traffic calming





LEGEND




4. Traffic calming




A TWO-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

LEGEND





5. Traffic calming



8. Curbside parking


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Three transportation concepts may be taken forward for further analysis, before a final concept is chosen.

The concepts examine circulation options on 7th and 9th Streets NW, and on Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street NW south of the square.

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CONCEPT I USES STREETCAR ALTERNATIVE 1 FOR ONE-WAY CIRCULATION ON MOUNT VERNON PLACE NW AND K STREET NW SOUTH OF THE SQUARE; 7TH AND 9TH STREETS ARE ONE-WAY STREETS.

CONCEPT 2 USES STREETCAR ALTERNATIVE 1 FOR ONE-WAY CIRCULATION ON MOUNT VERNON PLACE NW AND K STREET NW SOUTH OF THE SQUARE; 7TH AND 9TH STREETS ARE TWO-WAY STREETS.

CONCEPT 3 USES STREETCAR ALTERNATIVE 2, FOR TWO-WAY CIRCULATION ON ALL STREETS AROUND THE SQUARE.

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CONCEPT 1

Note: Subject to further analysis

A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

LEGEND





5. Traffic calming



8. Curbside parking


An expanded square

7th, 9th, K Streets NW and Mount Vernon Place NW (one-way circulation)

Mid-block crosswalk

ADVANTAGES -

1. Fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross on all streets around Mount Vernon Square.

2. Pedestrian crossings at Mount Vernon Place and K Street South of the Square are more convenient.

3. One-way circulation makes movements around the square more legible for motorists.

4. Space is available for cycle tracks on 7th and 9th Streets along the Square.

5. Space available for one dedicated bus lane each on 7th and 9th Street NW.

DISADVANTAGES -

1. Possible impacts to vehicular carrying capacity on 7th and 9th Streets; full impacts will only be known after traffic analysis is conducted.

2. Some loss of curbside parking on east side of 7th Street NW.


CONCEPT 1A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

THE SQUARE AS AN INTERMODAL HUB

Metrobus, streetcar, bike facilities and enhanced pedestrian facilities all come together at the square. Add to this the circulator (not shown in facing diagram) and the Square becomes a natural point of transfer for transit riders to switch directions or modes.

The many transit and bike options will also make citywide access to the Square convenient.

In concept 1 (facing diagram) cars around the square are restricted to one-way movements, simplifying circulation around the square and reducing crossing distances for pedestrians.

Streetcar tracks

Dedicated bus lane

Cycle track



7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW AT THE SQUARE

9TH STREET NW, AT THE SQUARE 7TH STREET NW, AT THE SQUARE



7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE SQUARE

9th Street NW, looking northOne-way south-boundExpanded sidewalk on west side of 1000 and 1100 blockTwo-way cycle trackOne parking laneTwo south-bound travel lanesOne south-bound bus only lane

7th Street NW, looking northOne-way north-boundTwo-way cycle trackOne parking laneTwo north-bound travel lanesOne north bound bus only lane



LEGEND




4. Traffic calming





An expanded square

7th and 9th Street NW (two-way circulation)

Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street NW (one-way circulation)

Mid-block crosswalk

CONCEPT 2



ADVANTAGES -

1. Fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross on Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street NW to get to Mount Vernon Square.

2. Two-way circulation on 7th and 9th Streets NW allows flexibility for vehicular carrying capacity.

3. Space is available for cycle tracks on 9th Street NW along the Square.

4. Space available for two dedicated bus lanes on 7th Street NW.

DISADVANTAGES -

1. Some impacts to curbside parking available on 7th Street NW, where bus stops are located on central medians.


CONCEPT 2A PARTIAL ONE-WAY LOOP FORMOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW


Streetcar tracks

Dedicated bus lane

Cycle track


In concept 2 (facing diagram) cars around the square are restricted to one-way movements on Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street south of the Square; pedestrian crossing distances are reduced on Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street, with two-way circulation for cars and buses on 7th and 9th Streets NW.

Bikes move on 9th Street NW within a 10’ cycle track; northbound and south buses ply on 7th Street NW in dedicated lanes. A central median provides space for bus stops where required.


9TH STREET NW, AT THE SQUARE 7TH STREET NW, AT THE SQUARE


7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW AT THE SQUARE

CONCEPT 2


9th Street NW, looking northTwo-way streetTwo bike lanesTwo rush hour restricted parking lanes

7th Street NW, looking northTwo-way streetNo bike facilitiesOne parking laneTwo vehicular travel lanes, one in each directionTransitway, with two bus only lanesCentre island required for south bound buses; parking lane at stops becomes travel lane

Precedent: Current study for 34th Street in Manhattan


7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE SQUARE

CONCEPT 2


CONCEPT 3


Note: Sections for Concept 3 are similar to sections for Concept 2.

A TWO-WAY LOOP FOR MOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

An expanded square

Two-way circulation

Mid-block crosswalk

LEGEND




4. Traffic calming



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ADVANTAGES -

1. Two-way circulation on 7th and 9th Streets NW allows flexibility for vehicular carrying capacity.

2. Space is available for cycle tracks on 9th Street NW along the Square.

3. Space available for two dedicated bus lanes on 7th Street NW.

DISADVANTAGES -

1. Some impacts to curbside parking available on 7th Street NW, where bus stops are located on central medians.

2. Pedestrians crossing Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street NW south of the Square must cross two-way traffic.


CONCEPT 3

Note: Cross-sections of 7th and 9th Streets NW for Concept 3 are similar to cross-sections for Concept 2.

A TWO-WAY LOOP FOR MOUNT VERNON SQUARE, 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

Streetcar tracks

Dedicated bus lane

Cycle track




THE SQUARE AS A DESTINATION FOR PEDESTRIANS

PEDESTRIANS

A bias in favor of pedestrian circulation will set the stage for Mount Vernon Square’s success as a public place

Enhanced crosswalks at the intersections of 7th and 9th Streets NW with New York and Massachusetts Avenues NW make access to the Square convenient for streetcar and metro bus riders and for conventioneers going to and from the Convention Center to nearby attractions on 7th and 9th Streets NW.

A mid block crosswalk at Mount Vernon Place NW allows access between the Convention Center and Mount Vernon Square.A mid block crosswalk at K Street NW and 8th Street NW allows convenient access to and from 8th Street NW. Sidewalk extensions along K Street NW south of the square facilitate access to Mount Vernon Square.

Reconfigured inner and outer pathways through the Square enhance connectivity between 8th Street NW, the Carnegie Library building and the Convention Center and offer pedestrians more choice in making diagonal shortcuts through the square (see facing diagram).

Enhanced pedestrian crosswalk

Enhanced sidewalk

Inner pathway

Outer pathway

Reconfigured historic pathways

Midblock pedestrian crosswalk


BIKES ON THE SQUARE

In the complete one-way loop option, cycle tracks (8’ to 10’ wide) run in a continuous manner through Mount Vernon Square linking the tracks north and south of the square through a protected path within the expanded portions of the Square.

Sharrows guide bikers through the intersections. Bike facilities on Massachusetts Avenue NW also use the Square to travel east to west, and vice versa.

Cycle track

TRANSPORTATION CONCEPT 1: A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP TRANSPORTATION CONCEPTS 2, 3: A PARTIAL ONE-WAY LOOP AND A TWO-WAY LOOP

In the partial one-way loop option, all bikes move on 9th Street NW, within a protected 10’ cycle track. At the Square, the cycle track is located within the square, protected from traffic.


BUSES ON THE SQUARE

TRANSPORTATION CONCEPT 1: A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP TRANSPORTATION CONCEPTS 2, 3: A PARTIAL ONE-WAY LOOP AND A TWO-WAY LOOP

In the complete one-way loop concept buses run in dedicated lanes - northbound on 7th street NW and southbound on 9th Street NW.

In the partial one-way and two-way loop concepts northbound and southbound buses run in dedicated lanes on 7th Street NW. Bus stops are located on medians (see section of 7th Street NW, Concept 2, on Pg. 17).

Dedicated bus lane


STREETCAR

THE STREETCAR ALIGNMENT - ALTERNATIVE 1 FOR ONE-WAY CIRCULATION ON MOUNT VERNON PLACE NW AND K STREET NW SOUTH OF THE SQUARE; 7TH AND 9TH STREETS ARE EITHER ONE-WAY OR TWO-WAY STREETS.

THE STREETCAR ALIGNMENT - ALTERNATIVE 2, FOR TWO-WAY CIRCULATION ON ALL STREETS AROUND THE SQUARE.

The streetcar route splits at the Square - eastbound tracks are on K Street NW, south of the Square and westbound tracks are on Mount Vernon Place NW, north of the Square. The eastbound stop is located at the southwest corner of 7th and K Street NW.

The streetcar route ‘crosses over‘ at the Square - eastbound tracks are on Mount Vernon Place NW, north of the Square and westbound tracks are on K Street NW, south of the Square. The eastbound stop is located at the southwest corner of 7th Street NW and New York Avenue NW.

Streetcar tracks (8’ width required)

Streetcar turning radius = 60’. In cases where the streetcar needs to make successive turns (such as from K Street west of the Square to southbound 9th Street NW to eastbound K Street south of the square) at least 30’ must be available between turns.

Minimum dimension = 30’ Turn radius = 60’ Possible streetcar stop

The westbound stop is located at the northeast corner of 9th Street NW and Mount Vernon Place.

The westbound stop is located at the northeast corner of 9th Street NW and New York Avenue NW.

ALTERNATIVE 1 ALTERNATIVE 2


TRANSPORTATION CONCEPTS 2, 3: A PARTIAL ONE-WAY LOOP AND A TWO-WAY LOOP

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION AROUND THE SQUARE

The four streets around Mount Vernon Square - Mount Vernon Place NW, 7th, 9th and K Streets NW - are reconfigured as one-way streets. Cars move around the square in a counter-clockwise fashion, with three lanes on each street.

TRANSPORTATION CONCEPT 1: A COMPLETE ONE-WAY LOOP

On Mount Vernon Place NW and K Street south of the square there are two vehicular lanes, and one lane of mixed traffic (shared with the streetcar). On 7th and 9th Streets NW, the streetcar moves in a dedicated lane abutting the square and makes right turns across vehicular lanes to merge onto K Street NW eats and west of the Square.

Mount Vernon Place NW and K Streets NW are reconfigured as one-way streets, with two vehicular lanes, and one lane of mixed traffic (shared with the streetcar).

7th and 9th Streets NW are two-way streets; the streetcar moves in a dedicated lane abutting the square and makes right turns across vehicular lanes to merge onto K Street NW east and west of the Square.


TRANSPORTATION HUB: 21ST CENTURY CROSSROADS

7th Street NW


to westbound Mt. Vernon Place to accommodate the long queue of vehicles waiting to turn left and accident concerns at K Street East of the Square;

heads.

Loading zones to be converted to regular parking usage after 6:30pm.

between F and I streets during events (i.e. Verizon Center events, weekends, etc.) and move northbound traffic to 6th Street at these times.

including transit signal priority, queue jump lanes, improved passenger shelters, etc.

9th Street NW NW, between New York Avenue NW and H Street NW. Instead, allow restricted (two-hour) parking along the curbside to create a new traffic lane; add one loading zone on 9th Street NW. Loading zone to be converted to regular parking usage after 6:30pm.

onto eastbound lower K Street NW (instead of a left turn lane and a through-left lane).

9th Street NW to westbound New York Avenue NW into a through-right lane to accommodate the above measure.

north of Mr. Vernon Square to accommodate smooth flow of pedestrian traffic.

Mount Vernon Square and adjoining streets

intersection of 8th Street NW and Mount Vernon Place NW, outside the entrance to the Convention Center coordinated with the traffic signals at 7th and 9th Streets.

intersection of 8th and K Streets NW.

1.

2. MAIN STREET CORRIDORS

THE CENTER

TIMELINE

Library works with DDOT to create a viable and concrete transportation plan for the DC Visitors Center

Street and Mount Vernon Place.


8th Street NWof the intersection of 8th Street NW and I Street NW.

intersection with 8th Street NW.

10th Street NW


L Street NW

Avenue and L Street NW (along east side of Samuel Gompers Park) and move signage poles and streetlights to tree nodes.

Avenue onto L Street NW.

Bowtie Parks(Reservation Numbers 68,69,72,73,74,173,174,177 and 178).

Bowtie parks through use of sidewalk bulb-outs.

3.

5.

STREETS

PARKS

TIMELINE

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Draft

2.3 PARKS, PLAZAS AND STREETSA Network of Public Places

......... This system will be supplemented by smaller plazas at the City Center development, at 5th and K Streets NW, and within Tech Plaza south of Mount Vernon Square. New York Avenue west of Mount Vernon Square includes a central landscaped median, which will host public art; the median will be extended along the Avenue east of the Square, augmenting the amount of green space available within the district.

The little used right-of-way along 8th Street NW between G and K Streets will include a flexible event space between I and K Streets NW, and landscaped spill out spaces between G and I Streets NW; where 8th Street terminates at the Portrait Gallery street closures for programmed events will supplement this flexible street.

The sidewalks along Massachusetts and New York Avenues will be treated in a similar fashion, with wide tree boxes to allow for a dense tree canopy, well paved walkways and landscaped setback areas in front of private properties. Traffic volumes around

the reservations are high, leading to an unappealing environment within the parks, protecting these edges with fences, trees and understory planting is important to enhance a sense of enclosure and to ensure that the parks are protected from adjoining traffic. Access to plazas on private properties will be enhanced through way-finding signage.

Today, Mount Vernon Square District is characterized by a lack of useable green space; however, the District includes 13 Federal Reservations which are part of the original L’Enfant Plan for the city and two avenues with wide sidewalks. If seen as a cohesive system, the sidewalks along the district’s wide avenues and K Street NW, and the constellation of 13 reservations will form a new public green system for residents and visitors .........


A NETWORK OF PUBLIC PLACES

An open space system that unifies Mount Vernon Square district’s 13 federal reservations, avenues and streets will create 10 acres of open space, where only 5 acres exist today. The bowtie parks at the corners of the district, now mostly green “leftovers”, are particularly instrumental in augmenting the network of green space available to residents.

This project also provides recommendations for upgrades to the bowtie parks that build on their historic role as neighborhood amenities, meanwhile also adapting them to become parts of the neighborhoods in which they reside.

Using public space design elements to unify parks, plazas and streets.

K STREET NW K STREET NW

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THE WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

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75Realizing the Vision - Parks, Plazas & Streets

PRECEDENTS FOR SMALL PARK DESIGN

Small parks in dense urban neighborhoods benefit immensely from well protected edges, a defined center and seating for small groups or individuals. The bowtie parks lack these basic three ingredients.

Elements that lend unique character to the park - public art, signage, landscape elements - also help give the parks a sense of identity.

Father Demo Park, New York. A low fence protects seating areas within the park.

Zoccotti Park, New York. The park has elements for passive recreation, seating and public art.

Zoccotti Park, New York. Lighting gives distinctive identity, and creates a safe environment for pedestrians after dark.

Bowling Green Park, New York. Seating is oriented along a pathway that faces the center of the park.

Bowling Green Park, New York. Zoccotti Park, New York. Benches allow seating for small groups of 2 to 3 persons as well as individuals.

Bowling Green, New York. A fountain gives the park a well defined central feature.

Father Demo Park, New York. Fences, hedges create a park environment that is well protected from adjoining traffic.

Father Demo Park, New York, public art installation and lighting lends unique character to the park.

Learning from precedents - what elements help create appealing, small urban parks?


THE BOWTIE PARKS - HISTORIC PRECEDENT FOR RICH, WELL LANDSCAPED NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

The images to the right show the evolution of small park design in Washington DC from the 1920s to the 1940s. The context became more urban and increasingly dominated by the automobile during the 1940s and 50s. The design of the parks changed as well. In several of the reservations, grass panels were replaced with granite block, brick, or exposed aggregate paving. Landscape plans continued to show plant diversity, but with a greatly simplified palette.

1920s 1930s 1940s

Reservation 68, Northwest bowtie park (Burke), ca. 1922. The plan includes many small flower beds at the intersection of garden paths and sidewalks, and flowering and shade trees planted to provide a symmetrical backdrop

Reservation 179, Northeast bowtie park (City Vista), ca. 1949. The plan includes many small flower beds at the intersection of garden paths and sidewalks, and flowering and shade trees planted to provide a symmetrical backdrop

This period marks a shift from the Victorian design aesthetic intended to create park places for strolling and viewing colorful plant displays. The efforts underplayed the ornamental treatments of the reservations and were focused instead on the design of small parks as unified open spaces.

This time period marked the beginning of a significant shift in the design of the District’s small parks and amenities: curving paths were replaced with straight walkways, metal fencing with Colonial details were consistent with the design style used by the District’s municipal architect and advocated by the Commission of Fine Arts, grass lawns and linear planting beds ensured ease of maintenance, and hedges surrounding reservations created a buffer between park space an vehicular traffic.

Reservation 69, Northwest bowtie park (Gompers), ca. 1933. While the orientation of the landscape was toward Massachusetts Avenue, a paved entrance and two turf pathways connected the park to L Street. Attention was given to the height of pine and holly evergreens that flanked the Gompers Memorial.

By 1943, a consistent approach was being taken with these reservations, as well as all of the reservations along Massachusetts Avenue between 4th Street and Dupont Circle. The landscape plan showed plant and flower beds being used to define the edges of many reservations to protect against increasing vehicular traffic on Massachusetts Ave. Additionally, the coordinated plant color palette helped enhance the continuity from one reservation to another.

The bowtie parks are important elements of the historic L’Enfant Plan for the city. There is historic evidence of rich landscape elements and details within these reservations that made them amenities for surrounding residents. However, years of neglect has led to an unattractive environment within many of them.

The evolution of small park design in Washington DC.


Use street trees and other landscape elements to protect the parks from high traffic volume streets; use new trees and understorey planting along the edges of high traffic volume roadways such as Massachusetts and New York Avenues.

4Earmark locations for local and national commemorative and public art at the highly visible “tips” of the parks.

Unify adjacent local streets and sidewalks to the parks through special paving, signage and lighting; provide for flexible use and enhance access to the parks by clearly marking all crosswalks leading into them.

THE BOWTIE PARKS - DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Create space for passive recreation needs, and provide benches, lighting and varied landscaping to create pleasing park environments.

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Learning from precedents and history, to create small parks for future residents of Mount Vernon Square district.


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THE BOWTIE PARKS AS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS

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Realigned pathways through the park make pedestrian shortcuts more convenient.

LEGEND

Realigned curb creates additional space for paved and planted areas, and to make pedestrian access to the park more convenient.Restriped crosswalks.

Realigned curbs at smaller reservation.

Expanded planting strip; fence and understorey planting along Massachusetts Avenue NW.

Paved areas, for commemorative art installations, gatherings.

Existing CurbsProposed CurbsCycle Track

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Right: Existing plan of Reservations 72, 73,74. There is little by way of landscape elements to buffer the park from the traffic along Massachusetts Avenue, or to demarcate smaller, more intimate areas within the park. Pathways within reservation 72 do not seem responsive to the actual needs of pedestrians, as shown by the informal diagonal pathway made by pedestrians who use it as a shortcut from 6th and I Streets NW to Massachusetts Avenue..

Far right: Existing photograph, Reservation 72, looking north to Massachusetts Avenue NW.

Below: Proposed plan showing changes to the reservations - reconfigured pathways, new trees along Massachusetts Avenue NW, paved areas earmarked for commemorative public art.

Southeast bowtie parks (Reservation numbers 72, 73 and 74)

I STREET NW


I STREET NW

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The illustration to the right shows reservation 72 reconfigured with a new pathway, an enhanced existing pathway, new seating, trees, understorey planting and fences along the edges. Areas are reserved for active recreation, strolling and commemorative art.

New trees, a fence and understorey planting along Massachusetts Avenue NW help create an environment within the park that is protected from the negative impacts of traffic along the Avenue.

An enhanced existing pathway through the reservation preserves a well used feature of the reservation.

Consistent street lighting fixtures along Massachusetts Avenue will help identify the reservation as part of the grand L’Enfant plan for Washington DC.

A new pathway through the park makes for convenient pedestrian shortcuts from Massachusetts Avenue/6th Street NW to 5th/I Streets NW.

Low level bollards and lighting create well defined areas within the park and provide a sense of safety after dark.

Illustrative vision for the southeast bowtie parks


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Relocate parking lot and create a new green park.

Realigned curb to expand sidewalk space near the park.

Restriped crosswalks.

Green the small traffic triangle to create a pleasing pedestrian crossing area.

Realign pathway to create a larger seating area in the eastern half of the park.

Realign curb, to make pedestrian crossing safer and more convenient.

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177

LEGEND

Right: Existing plan of Reservations 177, 178. The parks are not protected from traffic on New York Avenue. Reservation 177 is currently used as a parking lot by the police precinct, while much of reservation 178 has been cordoned of by fencing.

Far right: Existing photograph, Reservation 177, looking west along New York Avenue NW. Access to the parks is impeded by the wide right-of-way along New York Avenue and poorly marked crosswalks.

Below: Proposed plan showing changes to the reservations - parking within reservation 177 is replaced by a landscaped garden; enhanced crosswalks, a median and refuge area on New York Avenue make a safe environment for pedestrians.


Northeast bowtie parks (Reservation numbers 177 and 178)

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NEW YORK AVENUE NW


The illustration to the right shows reservation 177 reconfigured as a densely landscaped garden with the police building’s facade as a prominent backdrop; a pedestrian refuge area on New York Avenue and enhanced crosswalks make pedestrian crossings safer.

The edge of reservation 177 along New York Avenue is well protected from traffic by trees, hedges and a fence. The police parking lot is relocated.

Enhanced crosswalk on New York Avenue provides a well-marked path for pedestrians to cross.

A pedestrian refuge area allows for pedestrians to pause while crossing the 6 lanes of New York Avenue.

A 6’ wide median with low level planting reduces the perception of New York Avenue as a wide auto-dominated roadway.


Illustrative vision for the northeast bowtie parks


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174

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5Paved area with stepped seating for small performances and gatherings during lunch and after work hours.

Benches in shaded zones as amenities for downtown workers.

Restriped crosswalks.

Create a small green space with landscape

Expanded planting strip; understorey planting along New York Avenue NW.

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Right: Existing plan of Reservations 173, 174. Reservation 174 will be an important open space in the future City Center development. The edges of reservation 173 are used by downtown office workers during the lunch hours, but the park in general lacks a sense of enclosure, especially along New York Avenue.

Far right: Existing photograph, Reservation 173, looking east to New York Avenue and City Center. The park lacks a well defined edge along New York Avenue and definition of spaces within it.

Below: Proposed plan showing changes to reservation 173 - trees along New York Avenue, a series of steps and a paved area in the center of the park create a small, well defined performance space that will encourage use of the park after office hours.

Reservation 173 is well used during lunch hours by office workers - additional trees and enclosure elements with some paved areas demarcated for performances and gatherings will enhance the park’s usability during the lunch hours and after hours.

Across New York Avenue, reservation 174 is an important

Archstone on the site of the old convention center.

LEGEND

CITY CENTER DEVELOPMENT ON THE OLD CONVENTION CENTER SITE


Southwest bowtie parks (Reservation numbers 173 and 174)

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NEW YORK AVENUE NW


The illustration to the right shows reservation 173 reconfigured as a richly landscaped garden with new trees that provide shade during the afternoon lunch hours; steps and a paved performance space allow the use of the park after work hours, for performances and gatherings.

Paved performance area.

New trees along New York Avenue.

New trees within the park provide shade during the afternoon hours.

Steps for seating.


Illustrative vision for the southwest bowtie parks


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Restripe crosswalks

Install fences, understorey planting along edges of park.

Expand sidewalk space as part of the future reconfiguration of 10th Street NW.

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Right: Existing plan of Reservations 68, 69. The bowtie parks are in relatively good condition and are well used by surrounding residents. Upgrades to the sidewalk paving, the quality of the landscape within them and the edges will create well defined open space assets for them.

Far right: Existing photograph, Reservation 68 looking east to New York Avenue and City Center. The park lacks well defined edges.

Below: Proposed plan showing changes to reservations 68, 69.


Northwest bowtie parks (Reservation numbers 68 and 69)

LSTREET NW

LSTREET NW


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The illustration to the right shows reservation 68 with fences and a hedge along its edges; reinforcing a sense of enclosure for the parks. Restriped crosswalks and repaved sidewalk enhance pedestrian access to the park.

Hedges and a fence along the park’s edge provide a sense of enclosure for the park.

Landscape feature defines a center for the park

Paving on the sidewalks is upgraded to enhance pedestrian access to the park.

Restriped crosswalk enhances pedestrian access to the park.


Illustrative vision for the northwest bowtie parks


MAIN STREETS - 7TH AND 9TH STREETS NW

9TH STREET NW 7TH STREET NW


GREEN STREETS - THE AVENUES AND K STREET NW

The final alignment for K Street NW east of Mount Vernon Square is subject to the completion of work related to the DC Streetcar studies.

The right-of-way allocation shown above illustrates a possible solution; the primary objective is to use the wide sidewalks on either side of the street for landscape elements in a manner that unifies Mount Vernon Square district and expands the amount of open space available to residents and visitors.

As part of the historic L’Enfant Plan for Washington DC, Massachusetts Avenue east of Mount Vernon Square should emulate the richly landscaped parts of the street west of the Square. The Avenue links Mount Vernon Square with Dupont Circle to the west, a prime open space for the city; to the east lies Union Station, another prominent Washington landmark. The avenue‘s role as a link between these two spaces must be acknowledged through the design and treatment of its streetscape.

In doing so it will also provide residents of Mount Vernon Square district an open space amenity that may be used for strolling and other passive recreational uses.

New York Avenue east of Mount Vernon Square is a carrier of very high traffic volumes; the environment along the avenue is biased towards the automobile. A new 6’ wide central median and trees along its edges will help transform the avenue’s environment into one characteristic of the L’Enfant Plan.



K STREET NW

I STREET NW

H STREET NW

G STREET NW

L STREET NW

THE WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

MOUNT VERNON PLACE NW

NEW YORK AVEN

UE NW

NEW YORK AVEN

UE NW



7TH

STR

EET

NW

6 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

5 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

8TH

STR

EET

NW

9TH

STR

EET

NW

10 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

11 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

12 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

68

173 72

73

74

178

17769

70

175

176

71

174


SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARKS, PLAZAS AND STREETS

IMMEDIATE (1 to 3 YEARS) SHORT TERM (3 TO 5 YEARS) LONG TERM (OVER 5 YEARS)

1.

2.

of Bowtie Parks between the District of Columbia and the National Park Service for Reservation Numbers 68, 69,72,73,74,173,177 and 178.

“fixes” to sidewalks.

ground floor land use and facade controls around parks and open spaces.

Parks (Reservation Numbers 72, 73, 74,177,178).

which may include - o New alignment for pathways. o Fences along boundaries of Bowtie Parks. o A planting plan for the bowtie

o Lighting appropriate for urban contexts.

Reservation Numbers 68, 69,72,73,74,173,177 and 178).

of street trees that promotes a dense canopy and is coordinated with existing trees.

Mount Vernon Square District.

safety issue.

elements, like special street signs on Washington Globe poles, for Mount Vernon Square District.

Vernon Square to 4th Street NW, as recommended in the Mt. Vernon Triangle Transportation and Public Realm Project.

Recommendations for a 21st Century Transportation System for additional details on curb re-alignments, lane re-configurations, addition of bike and transit lanes (including streetcar alignment).

PARKS AND OTHER OPEN SPACES

AVENUES AND STREETS

TIMELINE

Note: See plan on facing page for location of reservations.


COMMEMORATIVE ART IN THE BOWTIE PARKS

Public art in the bowtie parks will create a sense of identity for each and will reinforce the role of the parks as part of the L’Enfant Plan.

a palette of public art elements for the bowtie parks should be developed by a collaborative effort between residents and city and federal agencies.

SIDEWALK INSERTS, FREE STANDING ELEMENTS

MURALS, SIGNAGE AND EVENTS LANDSCAPE AND NATURAL FEATURESPublic art should address the bowtie parks’ dual role as features of the L’Enfant Plan and as neighborhood amenities

91Realizing the Vision - Business Strategies

3.4 BUSINESS STRATEGIESStrategies for Coordinated Action


CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUNT VERNON SQUARE DISTRICT

HOUSEHOLDS AND RETAIL ACTIVITY

Median household income Retail sales volume is well in excess of the spending power of nearby households. The bulk of sales activity is being driven by daytime workers, tourists, and visitors to the area (2008).

Growth of households

$189,000,000

$48,000,000

$0

$20,000,000

$40,000,000

$60,000,000

$80,000,000

$100,000,000

$120,000,000

$140,000,000

$160,000,000

$180,000,000

$200,000,000

Total�Retail�Sales�Volume�(Annual) Household�Spending�(Annual)

$1,500,000

$14,500,000

$34,000,000

$45,000,000

$94,000,000

Bars�and�Drinking�Establishments Other�Food�and�BeverageFull�Service�Restaurants Limited�Service�Eating�EstablishmentsOther�Retail

Half of the sales activity in the district – approximately $94M - is food-related. Only $1.5 M of this is driven by bars, while $45M is driven by limited-service eating places (such as sandwich shops, “fast food”, or deli-counter establishments) and another $34M driven by full-service restaurants.

Local households spend only $6M in foodservice and drinking places annually, suggesting that the vast majority of these enterprises survive by serving tourists and daytime employees (2008).

The district has added foodstuff retailers over the past five years, but may still be under-supplied. The current stores have sales volumes in balance with the 2,402 persons within a quarter-mile radius, but actually serve a one- to two-mile radius and therefore enjoy demand overflow. This suggests that there could be significant undersupply of grocery, specialty grocery, and other foodstuff retailers.


CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUNT VERNON SQUARE DISTRICT

BUSINESS - DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE AND JOBS

Mt. Vernon Square is home to 25,000 daytime jobs, most of which are professional in nature (right, above). Legal and Business comprise the largest segments of the ‘Service’ employment in the district (right, below).

There are nearly twice as many residential units in Mt. Vernon Square today as compared with 2000. The vast majority of these households live north of K Street NW, while the vast majority of the daytime employment and visitor/tourist activity in the area is south of K Street NW

There are several major and catalytic projects planned that will infuse Mount Vernon Square district with hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment and millions of square feet of new space that will add new residents (ostensibly with strong incomes), new spending power, new daytime employment, and new opportunities to capture and catalyze additional economic opportunity. These projects can be coordinated from a planning and design perspective to create a cohesive identity and brand for Mount Vernon Square District. To date, the projects planned have been primarily oriented towards regional-serving demand rather than local/neighborhood serving demand, which runs the risk of remaining under-served by the planned/proposed projects.


UNIQUE ASSETS - THE DRAW OF THE CENTERA Dynamic Confluence of Uses

Strong Neighborhood Fabric and Dynamic Demographics

Major Developments Already in the Pipeline

Pent-Up Demand for Local-Serving Retail

Already High-Wage Employment Core

Excellent Accessibility via Multiple Transit Modes

An Existing Tourism Generator with Unrealized Potential

A Landmark Building at the Center

A Convention Center of national prominence

Clearly, the Mount Vernon Square District has the economic underpinnings and existing conditions to evolve into a successful and vibrant area with its own powerful brand in the marketplace. It has the potential to be Washington, D.C.’s next great place.

But because of the competitive nature of development as well as physical planning and strategic issues that are barriers to success, a coordinated business strategy for management, financing, leasing and branding is needed, in order for the potential to be realized.....

Mount Vernon Square district’s existing assets

Realizing the Vision - Business Strategies

The Historical Society of Washington, DC and theConvention Center play a critical role in theMount Vernon Square district. What additionalstrategies can be identified to increase the draw?


Management:The vision for Mount Vernon Square will not happen on its own. Rather, it will need to be executed in a manner similar to that which other downtown and downtown-adjacent districts have used in revitalization efforts over the past

thoughtful management. Mt. Vernon Square will need an overall management entity that will not only become the steward of this plan, but also take on the role of branding, marketing, merchandising, and coordinating (both among property owners and tenants) so that the complex dance necessary to execute the vision as articulated is translated from choreography to performance.

Similar entities in D.C. include the Downtown DC BID, the NoMA BID, and Mt. Vernon Triangle CID. Unlike Main Streets or CDCs, these entities derive operating funds through special assessments that are tied to properties, have governing Boards, Executive Directors, and execution capacity, and take fiduciary responsibility over the districts which they “govern”.

In the near term, it is recommended that a Mt. Vernon Square BID or CID is formed and initially staffed through the Downtown D.C. BID, sharing its admin and other resources. This MVSBID or MVSCID would take on the role of coordinating and executing the recommendations in this report, as well as securing additional funding sources and handling marketing and outreach for the area.

It is recommended that the Board of this entity contain representatives from the BID along with representatives from the group of property owners, the Washington Convention Center, and the Historical Society of D.C. The Board of the BID, restricted to no more than seven individuals, three of whom must be property owners and no more than one from the Convention Center and Historical Society, respectively,

will be charged with hiring an Executive Director and approving the annual business plan of that Executive Director. Once the Executive Director reaches the point at which he or she can break off from the aegis of the Downtown DC BID support structure, the exact roles, responsibilities, organizational chart, and funding outlook for the MVSBID can be a topic of discussion for the Board.In the short term, the BID will:

Funding Mechanisms:While the management entity as outlined above will derive funding primarily from special assessments and benefit from some level of support from the Downtown D.C. BID in the near-term, funding for capital and operational investments will be in part dependent on public sources for the near term. This means that project stewards will have to explore the possibilities of TIF financing, especially from the Old Convention Center Site and Gould parcels in addition to studying the extent to which these sites have not already been spoken for in terms of TIF capacity.

There are certainly opportunities to leverage New Market Tax Credits in creative fashions, and other notable projects in DC are taking advantage of them as resources for parks and open space development. The Executive Director of

these resources to augment development opportunities on-site.

Above: Graphic depiction of a potential Mount Vernon Square Business Improvement District OR Community Improvement District, with representation from key stakeholders.

The MVS BID/CID Board consists of seven persons, three from the group of property owners, one each from the Convention Center and the Historical Society. The Board will hire an executive director.

District of Columbia government Agencies

Federal Government Agencies (NPS, NCPC)

Property Owners

DC Convention Center

Neighborhood Associations

The Historic Society of Washington DC

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FEDERAL GOVERNMENTBUSINESSES AND OWNERS

MAJOR ANCHOR FOR MVS DISTRICT

RESIDENTS

LEASEHOLDERS

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND FUNDING MECHANISMS

3

11

Downtown DC BID staffs a MVS

BID/CID as an interim arrangement

BUSINESS STRATEGIES FOR COORDINATED ACTION


The Mount Vernon Square District has experienced new retail infusion and is poised to absorb additional retail

nature. The result of this pattern is a continued pent-up demand for local and neighborhood-serving retail, with demand emanating from the growing household base of Mount Vernon Square. The tenant types that define “neighborhood-serving” are various and rarely fit within the standard retail categories common in market data. However, they includes grocery and specialty foods, kitchen

as tax preparation, dentists, ambulatory care (especially

centers, and other enterprise categories that typically fall under the general guise of “services” in most retail categorization.

Ensuring that the Mount Vernon Square District is replete with local and neighborhood-serving retail not only fills a market niche, but ensures its long-term competitiveness and enhances the appeal of the Convention Center as a location for events as well as the district as a locale for spending dollars from convention goers. Tourism patterns suggest

that tourists enjoy frequenting places that are special to local residents - witness the importance of Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria, which are frequent tourist destinations precisely because they offer a unique and local experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the nation. Creating a unique local environment is often related to cultivating a unique set of local retail,

that can’t be found anywhere else, food that is unique to the city and the neighborhood, and experiences that become local legends.

Executing the above strategy will depend upon thoughtful placemaking that ensures adequate retail space is planned in appropriate places throughout the Mount Vernon Square District. It may also depend on creative solutions to the financial implications of local retail development, in which there may be a mismatch between what local retailers can afford to occupy versus what building owners wish to charge in rent. Finally, it may mean an aggressive cultivation of local retail talent and perhaps even policy interventions at DCRA and DOES to ensure that there is an easy-to-navigate flightpath for local retailers to discover and invest in Mount Vernon Square District.

LEASING STRATEGIES

The demand for regional, destination retail is becoming saturated;

Local and neighborhood serving retail is in short supply, while demand from households for such retail is growing;

Create a district with local attractions, food and experiences to attracts tourists and conventioneers - e.g. Old Town Alexandria or Georgetown;

Creative financial incentives that encourage property owners to lease to local businesses;

Encourage uses such as -

Grocery and specialty foods,

Kitchen, housewares and home furnishings/home improvement stores

Storefront offices/services, such as tax preparation, dentists, ambulatory care (especially physical and occupational therapy)

Yoga/pilates/fitness centers



From a market perspective, it is imperative that the management structure for the project area incorporates a solid plan to activate this Mt. Vernon Square on its interior and exterior. From a marketing standpoint, the area is a virtual tabula rasa, and the steward of the plan will have to articulate a compelling vision and marketing strategy to communicate this vision. However, the area does have

structure and can serve as a great advantage in articulating a marketing and branding vision. If activated properly, the Carnegie Library could in fact be the symbol of the

tradition and globally appealing.

Activation in this case means the appropriate space planning to provide and promote a truly unique catalytic use that could be a regional and national iconic example and attractor of attention. The balancing act that must be maintained will be to program the parcel so that it becomes

so much so that eventually it becomes a place that becomes attractive to regional tourists and convention-goers.

It is clear that whatever uses are programmed for the Carnegie Library building will have to be unique in the city and the region and offer a compelling experience that draws repeat visitors emanating from the neighborhood who establish the building as a part of their daily lives.

Implied in this strategy is the necessity for programmatic

making the building and parcel part of the storied traditions and daily rituals of the residents of the Mount Vernon Square District, Shaw, South Logan Circle, and

choose to spend their limited time and money taking part and taking in a local treasure.

Reprogramming the usage of space should therefore focus on retail and micro-retail concepts, ideally those that

gifts, etc.) The former concept is especially powerful, and given the growing market for locally-grown foods and wines in the region and the capacity of those uses to both serve a need as well as create a destination it should be explored. Micro-retail concepts, popular abroad and in reviving urban markets in the U.S., should be explored as options for activating the space from a retail perspective. In either of the above scenarios, it is likely that between 30,000 and 60,000 SF of space would need to be identified and programmed to accommodate the activities

this square footage could drive significant revenues

programming should be considered only as a last resort, as these uses are over-saturated in the city and the district, cater to regional tourism as opposed to local-serving users, and are not strong in generating repeat traffic.

Use the Carnegie Library building as an iconic symbol for Mount Vernon Square district

Promote a truly catalytic use within the Carnegie Library building so that neighbors establish it as a part of their daily lives......

.....and visitors and tourists chose to spend their limited time and money taking part in a local treasure

Promote micro-retail concepts - specialty foods/wines or soft goods to generate repeat traffic

Identify and Program 30,000 to 60,000 sf of space in the Carnegie Library building

BRANDING AND MARKETING



Mount Vernon Square district has many point of interest; what is lacking is a clear center that gives the district identity and links the many street-level attractions.

If Mount Vernon Square, the Convention Center and 8th Street NW are unified into a true center for the district they will link the disparate attractions physically by providing easily navigable pedestrian paths, and by offering a distinct identity to which all the attractions will ‘belong‘.

A street level strategy for a vibrant, active Mount Vernon Square district.

ttttttt

CITY CENTER

7TH

STR

EET

NW

7TH

STR

EET

NW

8TH

STR

EET

NW

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN

THE ARTS SCULPTURE PROJECT

9TH

STR

EET

NW

9TH

STR

EET

NW

CITY VISTA

O STREET MARKET

BLAGDEN ALLEY NETWORK

5TH AND K STREET SCULPTURE

GOETHE INSTITUTE

SIXTH AND I STREET HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE

WAREHOUSE THEATER

PORTRAIT GALLERY AND AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

MARTIN LUTHER JR. LIBRARY

LONG VIEW GALLERY

MARUKA GALLERY

LOGAN CIRCLESHAW

GALLERY PLACE/ CHINATOWN

DOWNTOWN DC




NEW YORK AVENUE NW

NEW YORK AVENUE NW

CONVENTION CENTER ART COLLECTION



to ascertain need for additional incentives.

Center.

1.

2.

3.

COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT

FISCAL AND POLICY INCENTIVES

THE CENTER - MOUNT VERNON SQUARE AND THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING

for Mount Vernon Square District to shepherd the redevelopment process.

TIMELINE

o Retail rent subsidies;

o Active uses including restaurants; o Specialty retail outlets,

o Food vending.

o Coordinate funding sources with public agencies such as DCCAH, DDOT (add other public agencies) o Work closely with consultants to develop

relates to other districts within the city (such as

Gould property at 9th Street NW and New York Avenue NW and the Old Convention Center site

ground floor land use and facade controls around parks and open spaces.


RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL STUDIES

K Street NW south of the square as a result of new mid-block crossings.

environmental work for streetcar alignments and funding

planning work. Ensure the consideration of the following recommendations, including: o Analyzing the split streetcar lines around the square to link both sides of K Street o Analyzing a 1-way traffic loop configuration o Analyzing 7th and 9th as a one-way pair o Analyzing a 2-way configuration

and 9th streets remaining in 2-way operation. Timing of this study will be contingent on timing and funding of the streetcar segment.

Street adjacent to the Square and just north of Square, by eliminating a through lane at the Square and eliminating parking just north of the square - emphasis should be on

bike lanes and not on vehicle LOS.

of 7th Street NW; evaluate the feasibility and need to make 7th Street a transit- and bicycle-only zone between Indiana Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW at all times and move northbound traffic to 6th Street NW;

permanent as appropriate.

impacts of reducing the timing for the lagging right turn phase at the intersection of 9th Street NW, Massachusetts Avenue NW, and Mount Vernon place NW by 3 seconds in order to increase the green time for right turn vehicles from eastbound Massachusetts Avenue onto southbound 9th Street.

accommodate bikes.

Square to accommodate bikes; add bike lanes on New York Avenue south of the Square.

Preparation for the DC StreetcarIn this study, the team developed several different alternatives for the streetcar along K Street on the east and west sides of the Square. We discussed pros and cons of several aspects, such as:

Track alignmentStop PlacementSignal timingCoordination with placemaking on the Square and along 8th StreetImpacts on traffic and several scenarios to change the traffic patternImpacts on pedestrian crossings, including mid-block crosswalksAddressing bicycle circulationParking

Before any decisions can be made the DC Streetcar must conduct appropriate NEPA reviews which are scheduled for 2011. The information gathered in this study will be used as groundwork for the Streetcar NEPA process.

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE DISTRICT DESIGN PROJECT

DRAFTNOVEMBER 2010

mount vernon square district design project (dc office of planning, november 2010)

Documents

mount vernon

mount vernon

dosign drowings

ground oor

vernon triangle

proposed plan

square9th

metrobus service