• By Paul Medvetsky*
• February 26, 2024

Reimagining the Future of Downtown Together

The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative has come a long way with a strong federal-District partnership aligned on a new vision of the Avenue as a Venue to support downtown revitalization and the local economy. Significant progress has laid a solid foundation and momentum for the important work ahead.

In the coming weeks, NCPC, on behalf of the federal and District partners, will announce the first of two consultant teams that will help develop the New Pennsylvania Avenue Plan that will serve as the blueprint for transforming America’s Main Street into an inspiring public space destination for the city and the country. Learn more about our work on the project website where you can also sign-up for the latest news.

Pennsylvania Avenue — A New Economic Engine

The NCPC-led Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative is one of several concurrent and complementary planning projects working together to improve the quality of life, built environment, transportation network, and economic competitiveness of Downtown DC post-pandemic. While these efforts share many common goals and synergies, they are under the responsibilities of different agencies, have overlapping but distinct timelines and project boundaries, and are in various stages of development:



DC Comeback Plan, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Pennsylvania Avenue is highlighted in Mayor Bowser’s Comeback Plan, a 5-year (2023-2027) economic development strategy for the District that focuses on retaining and growing DC’s tax base, supporting business vitality, strengthening neighborhoods, and supporting economic mobility of DC residents.
Boundaries: Citywide
Status: Released in January 2023
Learn More: obviouslydc.com/dcs-comeback-plan

DC Downtown Action Plan, DowntownDC and Golden Triangle Business Improvement Districts
Part of the DC Comeback Plan, the Action Plan’s goal is to ensure downtown’s recovery and reimagination into a vibrant, economically sustainable, diverse, and equitable area at the heart of the city. The plan will benefit all residents and businesses by offering jobs, various housing types, and a robust tax base for the District. The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative is one of the key features in the DC Downtown Action Plan.
Boundaries: Roughly Massachusetts Avenue, NW to the north; North Capitol Street, NW to the east; Constitution Avenue, NW to the South, and 23rd Street. NW to the west.
Status: Target release by February 2024
Learn More: reimaginedowntowndc.com

Gallery Place/Chinatown Task Force, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Mayor Bowser established the task force to focus on potential future uses of the Capital One Arena, Gallery Place, and the surrounding blocks. A team of experts is charged with creating an immediate activation plan, long-term vision, and investment plan for a re-energized Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood. The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative can contribute to re-energizing this part of downtown.
Boundaries: Roughly Walter E. Washington Convention Center to the north; 5th Street, NW to the east; Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to the south; and 10th Street, NW to the west.
Status: Task Force announced in January 2024
Learn More: bedowntown.dc.gov

Downtown Public Realm Plan, DC Office of Planning
To support the transition of the downtown area from a business district to a thriving neighborhood where people live, play, work, and sightsee, the Downtown DC Public Realm Plan includes a framework plan and four catalytic projects for transforming Downtown DC’s streets and public spaces. The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative complements the District’s efforts to activate the public realm.
Boundaries: Roughly Massachusetts Avenue, NW to the north; 7th Street, NW to the east; Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to the south; and New Hampshire Avenue, NW to the west.
Status: Released in February 2024
Learn More: planning.dc.gov/DowntownPublicRealm

Downtown DC Parks Master Plan, Downtown DC BID
The plan’s recommendations intend to spark interest in developing an intentional, vibrant, and meaningful downtown park system. The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative supports the plan’s recommendations for near-term activations.
Boundaries: Roughly Massachusetts Avenue, NW to the north; North Capitol Street, NW to the east; Constitution and Louisiana Avenues, NW to the south; and 16th Street, NW to the west.
Status: Released in March 2023
Learn More: downtowndc.org/report/downtowndc-parks-master-plan

Bus Priority Projects, District Department of Transportation
As part of MoveDC, DDOT is working towards implementing 51 bus priority projects to improve bus speeds and reliability for riders across the District. There are bus facilities adjacent and parallel to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW that will be important to understand as the project advances.
Boundaries: Citywide
Status: 11th Street, NW target construction in spring 2024; 7th, 13th, and 14th Streets, NW are future projects
Learn More: buspriority.ddot.dc.gov

Dual Identities — America’s Main Street and Washington’s Local Street

As a primary diagonal street that traverses the capital city first noted in the 1791 L’Enfant Plan, Pennsylvania Avenue continues to embrace its dual roles as a grand national boulevard between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, as well as a local neighborhood street serving communities east of the Anacostia River to Georgetown. While the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative focuses on the downtown segment between 3rd and 15th Streets, NW, exciting plans for the other segments of the corridor are also underway.

Pennsylvania Avenue West, District of Department of Transportation
This streetscape project seeks to improve travel for pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic along the iconic corridor in the western portion of downtown.
Boundaries: The Pennsylvania Avenue, NW segment west of the White House from 17th Street, NW to Washington Circle.
Status: Breaking ground in 2024
Learn More: pennavewest.com

Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor Study, District Department of Transportation
This study, outside of downtown, is centered along the neighborhoods between the U.S. Capitol and the Anacostia River and is a Vision Zero Initiative corridor. The transportation study focuses on improving safety and mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit, and vehicular travel along the east-west connection.
Boundaries: The Pennsylvania Avenue, SE segment east of the U.S. Capitol from 2nd Street, SE to the west side of John Philip Sousa Bridge at 13th Street, SE.
Status: Phase I (2nd to 13th Street, SE) is complete; Phase II (13th Street, SE to Barney Circle) target construction starts later in 2025
Learn More: pennavese.com

Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan, DC Office of Planning
This plan, outside of downtown, is centered along the eastern neighborhoods surrounding Pennsylvania Avenue across the Anacostia River. It is a guide for the community, District government, housing providers, property owners, and advocacy organizations to implement policies in the Comprehensive Plan’s District Elements related to greater equity and resilience.
Boundaries: The Pennsylvania Avenue, SE corridor from the Sousa Bridge to Southern Avenue, SE and adjacent blocks within a quarter mile of the corridor.
Status: Released in October 2022
Learn More: planning.dc.gov/penn-ave-east-small-area-plan

Investing in the Downtown DC of tomorrow requires commitment, coordination, and collaboration across multiple agencies. Collectively, these concerted planning and implementation efforts will make Washington’s downtown more dynamic, livable, inclusive, and resilient than ever before. NCPC is honored to contribute to the District of Columbia’s revitalization efforts, leading the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative in collaboration with our federal and District partners.