Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative

Learn About the Initiative

1. Why an initiative?

Pennsylvania Avenue between the U.S. Capitol and the White House is one of the United States’ most important streets. It is an important city asset, a one-of-a-kind national destination, and instantly recognized world-wide. It is an important symbolic and ceremonial street, hosting the President’s Inaugural Parade, First Amendment activity, and processions; it is home to federal headquarters; businesses; museums; residents; civic activities; and lively downtown events. The Avenue plays a significant economic, social, and cultural role in the capital city.

However, the Avenue is currently guided by a congressionally mandated 48-year-old plan that does not meet the needs of 21st century Washington. Over time, changing economic, physical, and land use conditions have significantly altered use of the street, impacted its character, and are a detriment to the Avenue’s and downtown’s vitality. It is no longer a primary thoroughfare, and its infrastructure is aging and physical condition declining. There is very little street level activity, and the Avenue doesn’t have the characteristics to be a successful retail street or to provide engaging pedestrian experiences. It faces economic competition with emerging neighborhoods and is impacted by more recent trends reshaping the office and retail sectors, all accelerated by the pandemic which is also causing challenges in downtown Washington.

2. What agencies are working on the Initiative?

Federal and local agencies collaborating on the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative include NCPC, the General Services Administration, National Park Service, the District of Columbia government (Deputy Mayor’s Office of Planning and Economic Development, Department of Transportation, and Office of Planning), and U.S, Commission of Fine Arts. These agencies are working closely with Events DC and the Downtown Business Improvement District.

3. What is the Vision and three concepts?

The proposal is the Avenue as a Venue, a vision that embraces the Avenue’s one-of-a-kind attributes – its location, symbolism, vista, scale, and public spaces – to reclaim the street for people by elevating it as a venue for extraordinary, nationally-significant events; by right sizing the street to reduce space devoted to cars and provide more space for people, bikes, and transit; and by improving public spaces to attract people back downtown. Three preliminary Concepts explore different ways to reconfigure the street and public spaces to enhance the Avenue’s iconic settings and increase its usability and flexibility to be a world-class event venue and a more enjoyable place for everyday use. The three Concepts uniquely prioritize pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and cars; enhance daily use; achieve sustainability goals; and support a range of programming opportunities. The three concepts are Urban Capital Street, Linear Green, and Civic Stage.

4. If I provide comments how will they be used?

We’d love to know what you think of the vision and the three potential concepts to achieve it. What ideas from each would you mix and match to create your vision for the avenue?

Your input will inform how to strike the right balance between events and daily use while maintaining the symbolic and historic character of the street. Input will inform how to evolve and refine the vision and concepts for further design development and environmental/historic resource analysis. This work will help develop a blueprint to modernize the Avenue’s infrastructure and improve its physical condition.

5. How were the vision and three concepts developed?

After completing technical studies, the federal and local agencies agreed upon a strategic action plan to revive the Avenue, focusing on near-term programming and longer-term physical improvements. They also tapped an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts to review the studies and share their findings and ideas about a potential vision for the Avenue. The agencies then prepared the three vision concepts, building upon the experts’ findings and with stakeholder input.

6. What is an Urban Room?

It's a room... in an urban setting...

7. How long will the initiative take?

While preparing a plan and implementing physical changes will take time, federal and District agencies are exploring short and mid-term actions to implement improvements that can show quick returns with modest investment. These near-term actions are important to test ideas and address quick fixes for some of today's challenges.

Important events are on the horizon—a Presidential Inaugural Parade in 2025 and the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026—these events provide opportunity and incentive to use pilot projects to test proof-of—concepts, and incentive to start planning to make event-related infrastructure improvements in the mid-term. This will ensure that the Avenue’s street surface and utilities like telecom, power, water, and security will support these upcoming celebrations, and future large and small culture and entertainment events; and help manage First Amendment activity.

8. How much will it cost and who will pay for it?

It is too early in the visioning phase to determine the cost for the physical changes. Once a concept is identified and schematic drawings prepared, a reliable magnitude of cost can be estimated, which will help inform the potential funding sources. These are important details and will be further examined during future phases of design development.

9. What is the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation?

After decades of deterioration along Pennsylvania Avenue's north side, Congress established the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) in 1972. The PADC oversaw the development and implementation of the 1974 Plan, the basis for the Avenue’s redevelopment for more than 40-years that created the Avenue’s design and character that we know today. The plan was an important catalyst for the rebirth of downtown Washington.

10. How is the Avenue managed today?

By 1996, after most of the Avenue had redeveloped, Congress passed a law dissolving PADC and distributing management responsibilities to GSA for planning and development; to NPS for maintaining and managing operations on the sidewalks, parks, and plazas; to NCPC for ensuing compliance with the 1974 Plan and other regulatory documents; and to the District of Columbia for roadway maintenance and operations.

A 1996 Memorandum of Agreement among GSA, NPS, and NCPC outlines review responsibilities and the process for any development activity within the 1974 Plan boundary. There are congressionally mandated and regulatory documents that guide planning and development along the Avenue, including:

The 1974 Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) Plan (as amended) and General Guidelines provide development guidance on a unified public realm and adjacent parcels within the PADC boundary.
Square Guidelines for most PADC parcels provide detailed planning and design guidance for the form and character of development parcels, including building setbacks, sidewalk widths, and massing relationships to adjacent buildings.

A Vision for Pennsylvania Avenue as a Venue

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More Information

Study Area Map

Latest Updates

Resources

America’s Civic Stage

Findings & Strategies Summary

Market Analysis

Urban Design Analysis

Cultural Landscape Inventory

People on Penn

Central Business District Washington, DC

Transportation Study

WWI Memorial

Residents to Presidents

Regulations

1974 Plan

1990 Plan Amendments

General Guidelines

Square Guidelines

1996 Law Dissolving PADC

2002 Law Dissolving PADC

1996 MOA

FBI Square Guidelines

Learn About the Initiative

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