D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A913
Washington has a traditional urban street pattern, defined by small blocks and an interconnected grid, a hierarchy of major and minor streets, alleys in many neighborhoods, and a pattern of buildings that relates strongly to streets and sidewalks. This pattern creates animated street life in much of the city. Walkable streets make the city more accessible, inclusive, and environmentally friendly. They also promote public health and fitness. 913.1
The design of street space affects pedestrian safety and comfort. Changes to street and sidewalk width, parking configuration, crosswalks, intersections, and signals can improve the pedestrian environment. Well-defined edges and limited openings create a sense of enclosure which can make a street more animated and comfortable (see the text box below on street walls). Street trees, street furniture (benches, trash receptacles, lighting, etc.), well-designed buildings, and active ground floor uses also contribute to the experience of walking, cycling, and driving, down a street or thoroughfare. Planning for streets and sidewalks must recognize the value of such spaces as public amenities, especially in high-density neighborhoods that lack access to parks, open space, and yards. 913.2
Street Walls
"Street walls" refer to the facades of the various buildings that face a street. They shape the level of visual interest on each block, and create a sense of enclosure for travelers. High-quality architecture and landscaping can enhance the visual impact of the street wall and increase its economic value.
Washington has a range of block and building types, creating a variety of street wall qualities. For example, streetwalls in rowhouse neighborhoods are defined by many narrow, repetitive buildings with multiple ground-floor entrances. The transformation of the U Street corridor shows how adaptable this form can be, and how well it can accommodate mixed uses and infill development.
In contrast, K Street and other parts of Downtown Washington are characterized by very large buildings, with only a few facades per block. The resulting street walls are less forgiving. In these types of settings, it is critical that the lower floors provide more architectural detail and varied street level uses to improve visual interest. Policies that encourage a higher standard of storefront design, and richer, more durable building materials can have a tremendous effect on street wall success.
The management of the space between the curb and the street wall should be guided by a number of objectives. As noted in the Environmental Protection Element, these include expanded street tree planting and the use of "low impact development" methods to reduce stormwater runoff. 913.4
"Activating" the street is another important objective-especially on neighborhood shopping streets. In many cities renowned for successful street life, there is an active relationship between interior and outdoor spaces. Lively sidewalk cafes, outdoor restaurant seating, and vendor shopping on the street can create a sense of commercial energy that is lacking on many streets in the District today. Streets can also be activated through complementary ground floor uses (such as retail rather than offices) and a high level of transparency and window space (see Figure 9.17). Similarly, residential streets can be animated through the use of porches, terraces, bay windows, stoops, and other architectural projections. 913.5
Figure 9.17: Desirable Ground Floor Retail Configureation
The need for streetscape improvements varies from one neighborhood to the next. Some neighborhoods have greater needs because they have greater density, greater traffic volumes, or larger numbers of children, seniors, and others with special mobility needs. Other neighborhoods may have serious deficiencies in the street environment that contribute to physical decline. Improving the streetscape can send a powerful message to residents, encourage private investment, and allay further economic and social deterioration. Likewise, the level of streetscape maintenance is one of the most important indicators of neighborhood upkeep. Maintenance across the city should be more consistent in the future, with all neighborhoods receiving the same high level of attention. 913.7
Policy UD-3.1.1: Improving Streetscape Design
Improve the appearance and identity of the District's streets through the design of street lights, paved surfaces, landscaped areas, bus shelters, street "furniture", and adjacent building facades. 913.8
Policy UD-3.1.2: Management of Sidewalk Space
Preserve the characteristically wide sidewalks of Washington's commercial districts. Sidewalk space should be managed in a way that promotes pedestrian safety, efficiency, comfort, and provides adequate space for tree boxes. Sidewalks should enhance the visual character of streets, with landscaping and buffer planting used to reduce the impacts of vehicle traffic. 913.9
Policy UD-3.1.3: Streetscape Design and Street Function
Use variations in lighting and landscaping to highlight and clarify the function of different streets. The design features of streets should make the city's circulation system easier to navigate and understand for residents and visitors. 913.10
Policy UD-3.1.4: Street Lighting
Provide street lighting that improves public safety while also contributing to neighborhood character and image. 913.11
Policy UD-3.1.5: Streetscape and Mobility
Ensure that the design of public space facilitates connections between different modes of travel, including walking, public transit, bicycling, and driving. Transit shelters, benches, bicycle parking, safe-pedestrian connections, and clear way-finding signage should be provided to facilitate multi-modal travel.".
Policy UD-3.1.6: Enhanced Streetwalls
Promote a higher standard of storefront design and architectural detail along the District's commercial streets. Along walkable shopping streets, create street walls with relatively continuous facades built to the front lot line in order to provide a sense of enclosure and improve pedestrian comfort. 913.13
Policy UD-3.1.7: Improving the Street Environment
Create attractive and interesting commercial streetscapes by promoting ground level retail and desirable street activities, making walking more comfortable and convenient, ensuring that sidewalks are wide enough to accommodate pedestrian traffic, minimizing curb cuts and driveways, and avoiding windowless facades and gaps in the street wall. 913.14
Policy UD-3.1.8: Neighborhood Public Space
Provide urban squares, public plazas, and similar areas that stimulate vibrant pedestrian street life and provide a focus for community activities. Encourage the "activation" of such spaces through the design of adjacent structures; for example, through the location of shop entrances, window displays, awnings, and outdoor dining areas. 913.15
Policy UD-3.1.9: Street Closures
Strongly discourage the closure of streets for private ownership or use. Any request for street closure should be reviewed in terms of the resulting impacts on vehicular and pedestrian circulation, access to private property, emergency access and fire protection, view obstruction, loss of open space, building scale, and other factors. 913.16
Policy UD-3.1.10: Sidewalk Cafes
Discourage the enclosure of sidewalk cafes in a manner that effectively transforms them into indoor floor space. The design of sidewalk cafes should be compatible with the architectural qualities of the adjoining buildings, should complement the street environment, and should not impede pedestrian movement.
Policy UD-3.1.11: Private Sector Streetscape Improvements
As appropriate and necessary, require streetscape improvements by the private sector in conjunction with development or renovation of adjacent properties. 913.18
Policy UD-3.1.12: Programming of Outdoor Space
Encourage the programming of outdoor space with events and activities (such as performances, arts, and farmers markets) that stimulate streetlife and active use. 913.19
Policy UD-3.1.13: Signage
Encourage high standards of signage throughout the District, particularly for signs that designate landmarks, historic districts, and other areas of civic importance. 913.20
See the Environmental Protection Element for policies on street tree planting.
Action UD-3.1.A: DDOT Design and Engineering Manual
Update the DDOT Design and Engineering Manual (the "Red Book") to ensure that it more effectively promotes the goal of creating a safe, attractive, and pedestrian-friendly street environment. 913.21
Action UD-3.1.B: Streetscape Improvement Programs
Maintain capital funding to upgrade the visual quality of District streets through programs such as Restore DC (Main Streets), Great Streets, and the DDOT Urban Forestry program. 913.22
Action UD-3.1.C: DDOT Public Space Permits
Ensure that all public space permits, including but not limited to permits for dumpsters, electric wiring, tree removal, excavation, parking, fences, retaining walls, signs and banners, sidewalk cafés, curb cuts, and special displays, are not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and contribute to the policies laid out above for the use of street space. 913.23
Action UD-3.1.D: Paving of Front Yards
Consider amendments to zoning regulations and public space guidelines which would limit the paving of front yard areas for parking and other purposes. 913.24
Action UD-3.1.E: Street Vending
Review the street vending and sidewalk café regulations to ensure that they are responsive to the goals of creating lively and animated neighborhood streets but also adequately protect public safety and movement. 913.25
Action UD-3.1.F: Sign Regulations
Revise the sign regulations to improve the appearance and design of signs, and ensure that signs contribute to overall identity and sense of place while also expressing the unique identities of individual businesses. 913.26
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 available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A913