Existing Central Campus
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Section 3 Existing Central Campus 3.1 Central Campus Context 44 3.4 Existing Landscape & Open Space 71 3.1.1 Anacostia Watershed 46 3.4.1 Campus Character 72 3.1.2 The DC Comprehensive Plan 47 3.4.2 Open Space 72 3.1.3 Campus Zoning and Land Use 49 3.4.3 Monuments & Legacy 73 3.1.4 Central Campus Boundary 53 3.4.4 Tree Canopy 73 3.2 Campus History & Historic Resources 55 3.4.5 Topography & Vistas 77 3.2.1 Character & Development History 55 3.4.6 Pervious Surface 77 3.2.2 Architectural Character of the Campus 58 3.5 Existing Circulation & Parking 81 3.2.3 Historic Landmark Properties 61 3.5.1 Roadways 81 3.2.5 Historic Preservation Study 61 3.5.2 Pedestrian Network 81 3.3 Existing Buildings by Use 64 3.5.3 Bicycle Network 85 3.3.1 Existing Building Conditions 65 3.5.4 HU Shuttles 85 3.3.2 Instructional Space Utilization Analysis 67 3.5.5 Public Transit 87 3.3.3 Analysis Process Diagram 67 3.5.6 Parking 89 3.3.4 Instructional Space Inventory 69 3.6 Infrastructure & Utility Systems 91 3.3.5 Residence Life Inventory 71 ZONING COMMISSION District of Columbia 43 Howard University CASE NO.20-08 EXHIBIT NO.3A4 3.1 Central Campus Context 71 72 Howard University has three Campuses in the 72 District of Columbia: East, West, and Central. 73 The Central Campus has occupied its current location since 1867 when the Freedmen’s Bureau 73 purchased the first three acres. Later that year, 77 Howard purchased an additional 150 acres, which 77 includes much of the present Central Campus. 81 This land was purchased from Mr. John A Smith 81 and was originally part of Effingham Farm. The West Campus, located at 2900 Van Ness Street 81 in northwest DC, approximately 4 miles from the 85 Central Campus, was acquired in 1976. The West 85 Campus is currently the home of the University’s 87 Law and Divinity programs. The East Campus is approximately 3 miles from the Central Campus at 89 1400 Shepherd Street in northeast DC. 91 The 85-acre Central Campus is in the District’s Ward 1 in northwest quadrant, which is north of the National Mall and west of North Capitol Street. It is the largest of the four quadrants of the District (NW, NE, SW, and SE), and it includes the central business district, the Federal Triangle, and the museums along the northern side of the National Mall, as well as such neighborhoods as Petworth, Dupont Circle LeDroit Park, Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Embassy Row, Glover Park, Tenleytown, Foggy Bottom, Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, Palisades, Shepherd Park, Crestwood, Bloomingdale, and Friendship Heights. March 2020 l Central Campus Plan 44 North Capital Street Howard West Campus Howard Central Campus Howard East Campus Figure 3.1: Howard University DC Campuses 45 Howard University 3.1.1 Anacostia Watershed The Anacostia River watershed is home to 43 species of fish, some 200 species of birds and more than 800,000 people. The river flows through Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland and past the Capital in the District. At 176 square miles, the watershed is one of the most urbanized in the United States. Over centuries, it lost over 70% of forestland and 6,500 acres of wetlands. Impervious surfaces now cover 25% of the watershed. Although the watershed has historically suffered from trash, toxins, sewage, runoff, oil, heavy metals and more due to adjacent agricultural, industrial and urban land uses, the Anacostia River and its watershed are steadily improving. The river and its surrounding parklands hold enormous potential to provide abundant open space, beauty, wildlife habitat and a variety of recreational amenities. Many government agencies and non-profit organizations are involved in various activities to improve and plan for the future of the Anacostia River. Some agencies collaborate through a variety of partnerships including the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, the Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia, and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Figure 3.2: Anacostia Watershed March 2020 l Central Campus Plan 46 3.1.2 DC Comprehensive Plan 3.1.2.1 Three Tiers of Planning Under the DC Code, the Comprehensive The District maintains a three-tiered system of city Plan is the one plan that guides the District’s planning comprised of: development, both broadly and in detail. Thus, it carries special importance in that it provides 1. Citywide policies (The Citywide Elements); overall direction and shapes all other physical 2. Ward-level policies (The Area Elements); and plans that District government adopts. In fact, all plans relating to the city’s physical development 3. Small Area policies (The Small Area Plans). should take their lead from the Comprehensive Plan, building on common goals and shared The Citywide elements each address a topic that is assumptions about the future. citywide in scope, followed by an Implementation Element. In 2016, the District commenced an ambitious process to amend the Comprehensive Plan, The Area Elements focus on issues that are unique involving public hearings, engagement, and to particular parts of the District. The Small Area dialogue, and was submitted to City Council Plans are not part of the Comprehensive Plan, but for review in 2020. What follows are relevant supplement the Comprehensive Plan by providing excerpts from the current Comprehensive Plan, as detailed direction for areas. well as the what has been proposed by the Office The Land Use Element of Planning to the Council as part of the ongoing amendment process. W Ensure the efficient use of land resources to A R DER S MORTON ST NW Y PL NW LURA T NW meet long-term neighborhood, citywide, and 6 T NT ST NW H ST NW LAMO LAMONT ST NW regional needs; to help foster the Districts goals; LAMONT ST NW L NW KEEFER P to protect the health, safety, and welfare of District NW ON ST KENY 11TH ST residents, institutions, and businesses; to sustain, N W restore, or improve the character and stability of neighborhoods in all parts of the city; and to COLUMBIA RD NW effectively balance the many activities that take HOBART PL NW place within the District boundaries. COLUMBIA RD NW HOBART PL NW MIC H IG 5T AN AVE NW H ST NW Institutional Uses (LU-3.2) GRESHAM PL NW GRESHAM PL NW McMillan Ensure that large non-profits, service GIRARD ST NW GIRARD ST NW Reservoir organizations, private schools, seminaries, colleges and universities, and other institutional ST NW FAIRMONT FAIRMONT ST NW uses that occupy large sites within residential Government of the District of Columbia HowardAnt Universityhony A. Williams, Mayor areas are planned, designed, and managed in a OffiCentralce of Planning Campus ~ April 21, 2006 W This map was created for planning N purposes from a variety of sources. ST M It is neither a survey nor a legal document. C MILL 12TH Information provided by other agencies AN DR NW LEGEND should be verified with them where appropriate. 9TH ST NW HOWARD PL NW Oblique imagery6TH ST NW ©2003 Pictometry International SHER Campus Boundary MAN A VE Low Density Residential N COLLEGE ST NW W Low-Medium Density Residential BARRY PL NW Medium Density Residential ST NW BRYANT High Density Residential Low Density Commercial Moderate Density Commercial W ST NW 2 Medium Density Commercial N D ST THNW ST 4TH N High Density Commercial 10 V ST NW W ST NW Production, Distribution and Repair V S WN T OAKDALE PL NW Federal GEORGIAAVE NW ELM ST NW Local Public THST NW 12 3RD ST NW U ST NW Institutional U ST NW Parks and Open Spaces VERMONT AVE NW ST NW Mixed Land Use 5TH ST N 0’ 200’ 400’ 800’ T TS NW BOHRER T ST NW Water T ST NW FLOR W IDA AV E NW Figure 3.3: DC Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use0 100 200 Map 400 800 WEST SNIM TE S RT WN THST NW TBERGERST NW 8 3RD ST NW 47 Howard University WIL way that minimizes objectionable impacts on 3.1.2.2 Comprehensive Plan Maps adjacent communities. The Comp Plan is generally summarized into two The Mid-City Element maps – the Generalized Policy Map (GPM) and the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), which together Policy MC-2.1.4: Howard University are intended to provide a generalized guide Encourage and strongly support continued for development and conservation decisions. relationship-building between Howard University Both maps represent a generalized depiction of and the adjacent residential neighborhoods. anticipated changes through the horizon year of Work with Howard University in the abatement the comprehensive plan. of any outstanding community issues such as Future Land Use Map the redevelopment of vacant property, façade/ building enhancements, and buffering issues This map’s color-coded categories express associated with campus expansion. Stimulate joint public policy on future land uses across the city. development opportunities with the University Preparation of this map is required by DC Law to that benefit students and surrounding residents. “represent the land use policies set forth in the proposed Land Use Element,” using “standardized The “DUKE” Small Area Plan colors for planning maps.” In 2004, the District completed a Strategic Land use patterns reveal a large city “core” Development Plan for the Uptown Destination surrounded by an inner ring of moderate to high District (called “DUKE”), focusing on the area along density residential and mixed-use neighborhoods, U Street between 6th Street and 13th Street and extending west to Georgetown, north to Capitol along 7th Street/Georgia Avenue between Rhode Heights and Petworth, east across Capitol Hill, and Island Avenue and Barry Place.