INDUSTRIAL LAND IN A POST-INDUSTRIAL CITY District of ...

District of Columbia Industrial Areas Study DC Office of Planning
Prepared by Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, Inc.
Historically, DPW served as the District’s fleet management agency, but dissatisfaction with
service rates and response times by constituent agencies, as well as lack of sufficient funding
for DPW, led to the secession of MPD and FEMS. It is strongly suggested that the District
investigate whether DPW can resume the performance of this function.
A unified Office of Fleet Management, such as the one in Philadelphia, is desirable for several
reasons. First, it could free up time and money of other agencies. Agencies would in many
cases be relieved of having to budget for and dedicate staff to vehicle maintenance and repair in
addition to their chartered duties. Second, it has the potential to consolidate fleet operations on
several centralized sites, rather than having numerous small sites using valuable industrial land.
And thirdly, it has the potential to push green technologies such as hybrid and alternative fuel
vehicles through the budget process.
4.6.3 IMPROVING EFFICIENCY
It has been noted that there is an already limited supply of industrial land in the District, and it is
shrinking as large initiatives and zoning changes encroach. So, in addition to better planning for
its industrial land needs, the District should seek ways to reduce its overall demand for, and
footprint on, industrial land. This would have the added benefit of reducing the municipal costs
and reprogramming industrial areas for tax-paying private businesses.
4.6.3.1 Co-Location
One way to reduce land demand is to consolidate several municipal uses onto one site or into
one building. There are two approaches to co-location. The “joint-use approach” means that
agencies/users operate in the same facility or building, at different hours. This approach
requires less land and fewer buildings, and thus maximizes investment and spreads out
economic impact over day and night. This requires carefully coordinated use and funding
agreements. Secondly, the “campus approach” is the siting of several like-uses on the same
plot, or in a centralized fashion. This may require more land and multiple facilities, and can take
longer to implement in terms of project coordination, land assemblage, and complex financing,
but there is less of a problem with legal and regulatory issues, the technical/operational
difficulties resulting from specialized functions and funding, and any inherent cultural attitudes of
the agencies used to operating in relative isolation.
The District has already begun to look at co-location opportunities. DPW is consolidating most
of its functions onto one major campus on West Virginia Avenue. The District has also
recognized the possible economic development benefits of “government centers” (the colocation
approach) at Benning Road/Minnesota Avenue (DOES + DHS) as well as Anacostia
(DDOT). DCPS (public schools) has undertaken an initiative to co-locate public and charter
schools, and other educational services (joint use approach).
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