The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative

About the Initiative

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the General Services Administration (GSA), the National Park Service (NPS), and the District of Columbia Government formed an Executive Committee and launched the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative to consider near- and long-term improvements to the Avenue.

Pennsylvania Avenue is one of Washington’s–and the world's–most recognized streets, physically and symbolically connecting the U.S. Capitol with the White House. As a home to federal headquarters, businesses, museums, residents, civic activities, and lively downtown events, it plays a significant economic and cultural role in the capital city. A major redevelopment effort led by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) from the 1970s to the 1990s shaped the design and character of the street and surrounding neighborhood.

Today, the Avenue retains a strong civic identity and character, but does not provide a consistently engaging experience. With public input and the guidance of the Executive Committee, the Initiative will improve the Pennsylvania Avenue experience.

Findings & Strategies Summary

The Initiative’s Executive Committee completed a summary of goals and strategies to shape a future vision and role for Pennsylvania Avenue in the capital city. Based on the research and findings, it includes a framework of strategies that include short-, mid-, and long-term activities to improve the Avenue.

To download the summary and supporting studies completed by the Executive Committee, click the image above or check out the Resources section below.

To watch an overview of the summary from the May 3, 2018 Commission meeting, click on the “Watch Video” button below.

Study Area Map



Latest Updates

Learn About the Initiative

Pennsylvania Avenue is one of the world’s historic thoroughfares, physically and symbolically connecting the U.S. Capitol with the White House. Every four years, it hosts the nation’s celebration for its democratic and peaceful transfer of power. As a home to federal headquarters, businesses, museums, residents, civic activities, and lively downtown events, the Avenue plays a significant economic and cultural role in the capital city. Pennsylvania Avenue is one of the nation’s most captivating representations of stability, democracy, and power.

While the Avenue continues to evolve, current planning and development guidance for the Avenue is over 40 years old. Its civic identity and character remains strong, and it’s well-served by multiple modes of transportation, but it also faces many challenges:
  • It does not provide a consistently engaging experience.
  • It lacks connectivity to surrounding areas.
  • It faces economic competition with emerging neighborhoods.
With new uses and development revitalizing the Avenue, including the Trump Hotel, and a new National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park, now is the time to improve the Avenue. To keep pace with these rapid changes and challenges, the Initiative brings stakeholders together to shape a vision for Pennsylvania Avenue. This work ensures the Avenue's public realm and adjacent land uses promote an economically thriving, well-connected destination for the capital city.
A number of policies and guidelines regulate planning and development along the Avenue, including:
  • The 1974 PADC Plan (as amended) and General Guidelines provide development guidance on a unified public realm and adjacent parcels within the PADC boundary.
  • Square Guidelines for most PADC parcels, provide detailed design guidance for building setbacks, sidewalk widths, and massing relationships to adjacent buildings.
  • The law dissolving PADC and the 1996 Memorandum of Agreement, distribute some of the Corporation's responsibilities to GSA, NPS, and NCPC.
  • DC Zoning Regulations, provide development controls and incentives for private development.
This unique public-private management structure was originally developed in the late 1960’s and early 70’s. After decades of deterioration along Pennsylvania Avenue's north side, the area redeveloped through the vision of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, created by Congress in 1972. The nation’s Bicentennial celebrations served as a catalyst for forming the PADC.

The PADC oversaw the development and implementation of the 1974 Plan, the basis for redevelopment that transformed the Avenue’s design and character. The Plan was also a catalyst for the rebirth of downtown Washington.

By 1996, most of the Avenue had redeveloped. Congress then dissolved the PADC and distributed ongoing management responsibilities to GSA, NPS, and NCPC, with the District of Columbia continuing maintenance of the Avenue’s roadway. These agencies formed the Initiative to improve coordination and guide future changes to the Avenue.
Executive Committee agencies are working with local and federal stakeholders to determine necessary improvements for the Avenue that meet capital city needs. Outcomes of the Initiative will include:
  • A common vision that balances physical, economic, programmatic, and operational needs.
  • Near-term actions to address quick fixes for some of today's challenges.
  • A plan, funding needs, and funding structure for larger, long-term improvements.
  • An improved framework, operational structure, and agreements to achieve the common vision.
NCPC, GSA, NPS, and the DC government formed the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Executive Committee. The committee works collaboratively to provide direction and oversight of the Initiative’s activities. Staff conducts the daily work.
The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative will take place over several years. In the first phase, the Executive Committee will assess existing economic, physical, and operational conditions within the Initiative’s study area and develop goals, objectives, and an action plan that includes initial near- and long-term strategies to improve these conditions.

Generally, phase two work will begin to implement the near- term actions and the next steps to achieve long-term improvements to the Avenue. These next steps will include the necessary environmental and historic preservation analysis (NEPA and Section 106 consultation), development of agreements, and/or updating the 1974 Pennsylvania Avenue Plan.

Phase three will focus on implementation of the long-term action plan and relevant strategies.
Development on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 15th Streets, NW is governed by PADC’s 1974 Plan, as amended, in addition to local zoning. The 1974 Plan is supplemented by General and Square Guidelines, which further regulate most of the parcels along this stretch of the Avenue. Square Guidelines identify the size and shape of the building, and provide guidance on general land use, circulation, and other urban design components. NCPC, GSA, and NPS have authority to propose changes to the 1974 Plan and develop and/or amend Square Guidelines.

A recent amendment occurred on January 5, 2017, when the Commission unanimously approved the final square guidelines for Squares 378 and 379 on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is currently occupied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) J. Edgar Hoover Building. Unlike other squares in this area, the 1974 Plan did not include guidelines for Squares 378 and 379 because the current FBI Headquarters building was under construction during the Plan’s development. NCPC worked with agency stakeholders and the public to develop these Square Guidelines for more than a year prior to the approval and transmission to GSA. Read the about the FBI Square Guidelines on our dedicated resource page above.