Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Launched to Revitalize the Nation's Main Street

With the neighborhoods north of Pennsylvania Avenue booming, there are still stretches of "America's Main Street" that have escaped the revitalization.

1 minute read

July 18, 2014, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A newly launched planning project, known as the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative would, would extend Pennsylvania Avenue's successes, found under the leadership of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, according to an article by Jonathan O'Connell.

The National Capital Planning Commission, will lead the initiative as the planning agency, "along with the District, the General Services Administration, the National Park Service and private landowners," reports O'Connell.

The current shortcomings of Pennsylvania present unique planning challenges to revitalization, including:

  • "Unlike most streets in D.C., the National Park Service — chronically short of funding — is in charge of the sidewalks on Pennsylvania Avenue."
  • "The streetlights are deliberately understated in deference to views of the U.S. Capitol, but the effect on the sidewalk is more darkness than streets the District manages nearby."
  • "Federal buildings along the southern side of the avenue are bound by security requirements that further dampen opportunities for the retail and sidewalk cafes that have begun populating other parts of the city."

Wednesday, July 16, 2014 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

June 30 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.