A 22 acre parcel of federal buildings located within spitting distance of the National Mall could transform the heart of the Nation's Capital, as the GSA seeks ideas from developers on how to use its many current and soon-to-be abandoned buildings.
Called Federal Triangle South, the site located only a block from some of D.C.'s premier institutions could accommodate up to 6.1 million square feet of development under current zoning. If planners and city leaders have their way, the site could one day be home to a mix of uses sorely missing from the neighborhood surrounding Washington D.C.'s central attractions.
"The GSA announced at the end of September
that it plans to seek ideas from the private sector for what to do with
the drab cluster of buildings, opening the door to what could be the
largest redevelopment of federal land in downtown Washington since the
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center was built 15 years
ago," reports Jonathan O'Connell. "The stakes for the government and the city are high."
"[The National Capital Planning Commission's Marcel C. Acosta] was one of a number of planning experts who strongly
suggested that the GSA follow recent successes elsewhere in the District
- such as Penn Quarter and Columbia Heights - by incorporating a mix of
uses on the site. And that means housing."
"Condos may never
be added atop the Smithsonian institutions that line the National Mall,
but new high-end housing is creeping closer and closer," says O'Connell.
FULL STORY: Neighborhood living near the National Mall?

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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