GGW recaps Mount Vernon Square District Project meeting

Geoff Hatchard, Jeb Stenhouse, and David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington have summarized the four multi-modal transportation options unveiled at the second public meeting for the Mount Vernon Square District Project. The proposed alternatives aim to transform 7th and 9th Streets into multi-modal corridors that place greater emphasis on pedestrian and cyclist safety. The summary crafted by GGW outlines the alternatives in great detail and links to pictures of the diagrams that Hatchard snapped with his camera.

I'll hash into this more after Office of Planning makes the presentation materials available online.

Reminder: Mount Vernon Square District Project Meeting is Tonight

Tonight the Office of Planning hosts a followup public meeting for the Mount Vernon Square District Project from 6-8PM at the Carnegie Library Building. The forum will outline learnings from the public input given during the October 1st public meeting and share OP's current recommendations and design options.


Objective
This project is designed to generate implementation‐driven solutions for specific transportation, public realm and real estate challenges and opportunities in the blocks, streets, and reservations surrounding Mount Vernon Square.

Project Goals

• Create a distinctive and sustainable place.
  
• Solve traffic and circulation issues to create a multi-modal hub and appealing pedestrian environment.
  
• Maintain a deep sense of history and local meaning.
  
• Create clear links in all directions to other key destinations.
  
• Maximize the draw of this area as a local destination.
  
• Improve and activate open spaces.

Mount Vernon Square District Project Meeting

The Office of Planning will host a followup public meeting for the Mount Vernon Square District Project on Wednesday December 9th from 6-8PM at the Carnegie Library Building. The forum will outline learnings from the public input given during the October 1st public meeting and share OP's current recommendations and design options.


The project website has posted a digest of the public feedback from the previous meeting. A substantial number of comments urged OP to restore Reservation 177 to a proper bowtie park. Presently MPD has paved over the land to create a surface parking lot.

Meeting Tonight: MVS District Study

DC Office of Planning
Invitation to the Mount Vernon Square District Study
Kick-Off Meeting

Thursday, October 1, 6:00 - 8:00pm

The meeting will take place at the
Historical Society of Washington DC
801 K Street, NW

The Office of Planning will inform the community about the study and seek feedback from those attending on existing transportation, economic, and public space conditions

Questions
Emily Yates
202.442.7704
Emily.Yates@dc.gov

Making Mount Vernon Square a People Magnet

The Mount Vernon Square District Project, which will have a Public Open House on Thursday October 1st, has a central theme among its goals to transform the square into a people magnet.

Below I've included a few slides from the June 16th presentation the Office of Planning delivered to key stakeholders that aim to aid this goal for the Square.

The DC Convention Center could be doing more to interact with Mount Vernon Square. Adding retail uses to the edges may be the best opportunity.


To learn more about the concepts being discussed for Mount Vernon Square and provide feedback to Office of Planning attend the open house forum on October 1st.

Mount Vernon Square District Project

The DC Office of Planning is hosting an open forum on the Mount Vernon Square District Project this Thursday October 1st.



Office of Planning shares the following information on the project:

Objective
This project is designed to generate implementation‐driven solutions for specific transportation, public realm and real estate challenges and opportunities in the blocks, streets, and reservations surrounding Mount Vernon Square.

Project Goals

• Create a distinctive and sustainable place.
  
• Solve traffic and circulation issues to create a multi-modal hub and appealing pedestrian environment.
  
• Maintain a deep sense of history and local meaning.
  
• Create clear links in all directions to other key destinations.
  
• Maximize the draw of this area as a local destination.
  
• Improve and activate open spaces.

Process
The Office of Planning (OP) and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) are working with an urban design, planning, real estate, and transportation team to provide consultant services that include technical analysis and the development of designs, solutions and concepts for the mix of uses, programming and identity, transportation and traffic, sustainability and public realm solutions for the Mount Vernon Square District. The team will also calculate the financial benefit associated with making public and private investment in this area considering the District budget, total area of corridor retail and commercial property, property values and tax revenue, estimated sales tax revenues, number of residential units, and benefits from tourism.

The project was initiated in May, 2009 and will include a 28 week long planning process. It will build on ongoing projects like the K Street Transit Way and previous studies like the Mount Vernon Square Design Workbook, Mount Vernon Triangle Action Agenda and Center City Action Agenda, including the Convention Center Area Strategic Development Plan. In the Center City Action Agenda, the project was recommended as a way to coordinate public and private investment in order to support Mount Vernon Square as a great destination in the city. To date, the project team has conducted one‐on‐one interviews, reviewed past planning and transportation studies, compiled critical information, and conducted preliminary analysis. Once complete, the project will be used to guide District agencies, property owners, developers, and other stakeholders in creating synergies among proposed developments and land uses, in making public and private investments and undertaking implementation, and in design, programming, and promotional activities.