D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1812
The St. Elizabeths Campus contains 336 acres and is one of the most historically significant and strategically located properties in the entire District of Columbia. It is divided into a 154-acre East Campus under District control, and a 183-acre West Campus under Federal control. The East Campus was transferred to the District by the federal government in 1987 and continues to be used as a mental health facility. In 2006, it housed about 500 patients. In 2003, the District constructed a new Unified Communications Center on a portion of the site. Construction is now starting on a new psychiatric hospital, freeing up the remainder of the site for other uses. 1812.1
A Framework Plan for the East Campus was completed in 2005. The Plan recommends a phased development program, with up to 1,035 additional housing units, 540,000 square feet of office and retail space, new academic and cultural facilities, and new city parks and plazas. Adaptive reuse of many of the existing buildings is proposed. The Plan takes particular care to integrate the East Campus into the adjacent Congress Heights neighborhood, and to maximize access to the Congress Heights Metro station. Four development areas have been identified, each defined by a unique mix of uses, density, scale, and character. An extensive network of public open space also is proposed, including formal plazas and quadrangles, linear parks, lawns, and forested land. 1812.2
The fate of the West Campus has been in flux for more than a decade. Many of the site's historic buildings are in disrepair and will require costly renovation. In 2005, the federal government announced its intent to develop the site as a secured office complex for the US Coast Guard. Other divisions of the federal department of Homeland Security also may relocate there; current estimates call for between 4,000 and 14,000 federal employees. Improvements to the road and transit network will be required as this area redevelops. Great care must be taken to retain the historic proportions of the site and its buildings and landscapes. The General Services Administration is in the process of doing a master plan for the West Campus. 1812.3
Policy FSS-2.2.1: St. Elizabeths East Campus
Redevelop the East Campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital as a new community containing a mix of uses, including mixed density housing, retail shops, offices, a comprehensive mental health care facility, and parks and open space. Mixed-use development, including retail and service uses, should be promoted along Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, should face the street and should be open to the public. Other uses such as satellite college campuses, civic uses, and local public facilities should be incorporated.
Policy FSS-2.2.2: St. Elizabeths West Campus
Work collaboratively with the federal government on the reuse of the West Campus. Particular priority should be given to preserve historic resources-including not only the buildings, but the historic open spaces and massing of buildings on the site. To the greatest extent feasible, redevelopment of the West Campus should create new publicly accessible open space and should be coordinated with redevelopment of the East Campus. Integrate the Department of Homeland Security consolidation into the surrounding community to the greatest extent possible.
Policy FSS-2.2.3: Relationship To Nearby Uses
Ensure that future development on St. Elizabeths enhances the surrounding neighborhood. It is particularly important that the site's reuse is coordinated with planning for the nearby Anacostia and Congress Heights Metro Stations, Poplar Point, Barry Farm, and the Martin Luther King Jr Avenue/ Malcolm X shopping district. 1812.6
Policy FSS-2.2.4: Development Density
Provide development densities and intensities on the site that are compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods and that promote new economic development of the site, with moderate to medium density residential and commercial on most of the site, with higher densities clustered in the area closest to Martin Luther King Jr Avenue and the Congress Heights Metrorail station. Areas for high density should include the North campus subarea and the area surrounding the ravine to take advantage of the steep topography to accommodate additional height and density without negatively impacting viewsheds.
Policy FSS-2.2.5: Leveraging Neighborhood Economic Development
Leverage the location of the Department of Homeland Security on the West Campus and a portion of the East Campus to bring needed economic development opportunities to Ward 8, especially retail opportunities to serve both the new nonresidential daytime population and the existing and new residential populations.
Action FSS-2.2.A: St. Elizabeths East Campus Framework Plan
Complete the Framework Plan for the East Campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital and submit it to the DC Council as a Small Area Plan. 1812.8
Action FSS-2.2.B: New St. Elizabeths Hospital
Complete construction of the new 300-bed facility on the east campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital to house mentally ill patients, while maintaining current service levels for outpatient treatment. 1812.9
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is availablewww.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A1812