Could Residences Soon Be Found in the Shadow of the National Mall?

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.

1 minute read

October 9, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

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?

Sunday, October 7, 2012 in The Washington Post

Housing Land Use Urban Development District of Columbia National Mall GSA Federal Triangle South View More

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

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.