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.
The area is designated as a Development Opportunity Area and Housing Opportunity Area
under the current Comprehensive Plan, and listed as areas D and 16 on the October 19, 2005
DRAFT Land Use Change Map. The map and key accurately note that the area is generally
underutilized and has the potential, if land use compatibility issues are reconciled, for infill
development.
KEY FINDINGS
Significant development pressures surround the Fort Totten Metro, a prime area for
transit-oriented development and a land use change.
The “heavy” industrial uses south of the Metro should be preserved, if possible.
6.2.3 CSX1—BROOKLAND
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Location and Land Area This area extends along the CSX/Red Line corridor from Taylor
Street south to Girard Street. It encompasses 55.34 acres, or 2.10 percent of the District’s
industrial study areas. There is a Metro stop at Michigan Avenue (Red Line: Brookland/CUA).
Building Typologies Buildings are generally one-story brick or concrete warehouse buildings
with large floor plates and loading bays.
General Site Condition Conditions are generally good, with only incidental aesthetic
concerns such as litter. The buildings seem well-kept. Interior service roads are in fair condition.
LAND USE
Land Use, General Character, and Function The land use is mostly industrial with a mix
of commercial buildings. A strip of buildings (probably former railroad warehouses) has a range
of businesses from a bakery to theater storage to a food bank. The area functions both in
support of the District’s core economic sectors and as a home to social services. Also present
are an auto scrap yard, Housing Authority storage, and Comcast cable company.
Surrounding Land Use Context Surrounding land uses include Catholic University of
America (CUA) to the west and moderate-density residential to the east. Notably, many
residential units rear yards border on this industrial/commercial land, with only a chain-link fence
to separate the two uses.
Access and Circulation Access to the northern end of the site is restricted to one driveway
off of Taylor Street. This area is dangerous during the mornings and other common delivery
times when trucks and vans are pulling in and out of this driveway. Local neighborhood streets
also provide access points—9 th Street, NE, provides access on the eastern side, and 8 th Street,
NE provides access from the western side.
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