Rock Creek West Corridor Plans

Named for its proximity to a large urban park, Rock Creek West is one of 10 planning areas in the District of Columbia. When the District’s housing equity report identified Rock Creek West as having the fewest affordable housing units in the city, it spurred a planning project to examine sustainable development opportunities that could increase affordable housing stock and leverage existing transit. The study pinpointed a 1-mile segment of Connecticut Avenue and a 1.5-mile segment of Wisconsin Avenue, each with an existing mix of low-density residential, retail and other commercial uses.

The plans were developed with a multidisciplinary team and a process of community involvement rooted in equity. They illustrate how new and infill development can be integrated within these neighborhoods while respecting their character, supporting local commerce, promoting environmental sustainability, and activating the public realm for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to enjoy. The completed plans have spurred new development activity, which will result in significant contributions toward meeting the city’s affordable housing goals.

A wide-reaching engagement process led with project partner Brick & Story included not only residents and business owners in the immediate neighborhoods, but also the broader community—part of the city’s emphasis on racial equity, acknowledging historical discriminatory land-use and development practices. Outreach began with a series of community walks, with prompts to encourage participants to share their ideas and opinions about what worked and what could be improved along the routes. “Design Conversations” workshops and focus-group meetings continued the discussions, with an emphasis on expanding participation among diverse audiences and underrepresented voices.

Attendance was high at public events; participation was also available online with detailed Story Maps. Public input was augmented with data gleaned from observational public life studies, a market study of Wisconsin Avenue and historic preservation criteria along portions of Connecticut Avenue.

Because the District’s recently updated Future Land Use Map increased densities, SmithGroup and its partner Rhodeside & Harwell focused on urban design strategies to guide development that aligned with each corridor’s character with the city’s goals. The Connecticut Avenue Development Guidelines recommend ways to increase housing density with design strategies (such as building massing, height transitions, façade articulation and streetwall design) that are compatible with the historic fabric of the neighborhood, as well as strategies for activating the public realm.

The Wisconsin Avenue Development Framework addresses potential redevelopment sites. Informed by a study of market conditions by HR&A, it includes zoning recommendations, design strategies for small-scale mixed-use development, and a public realm framework plan. Both corridor plans emphasize connectivity, walkability, transit use and inclusive public spaces.

Development resulting from the Rock Creek West Corridor Plans will have a significant impact on the city’s housing goals, with the potential to deliver more than 10,000 new housing units over time. The plans have already become a model for DC’s future planning projects, an example of how commitment to community engagement and quality design can help build consensus and create a more equitable future for its residents.