avenues, volume 2: spatial equity
pedestrians. The SE/SW Freeway was, for decades, a major barrier to connectivity to the Anacostia River. The strategy for how this infrastructure could be redesigned to provide needed parking for city buses while connecting the neighborhood to the river opens up new opportunities for access and enjoyment of the river by all District residents. It also promotes equity through personal connection to and stewardship of the river as a critical environment and place for all to enjoy.
Equity Begins with Engagement One of the essential goals of urban design must be to promote
Urban Design Committee
and facilitate equity in the planning process. Engaging all residents, including traditionally underrepresented groups in this process informs design, builds constituency and promotes trust.
Eisenhower West Small Area Plan Eisenhower West is a 620-acre low-density warehouse and industrial district in Alexandria, Virginia, located 10 miles from Washington, DC. The area consists primarily of singleuse buildings surrounded by surface parking, interspersed with residential enclaves, and served by the underutilized Van Dorn Metrorail station. Existing industrial land uses including a waste-to-energy plant located
steps from Metro present a considerable challenge to an area experiencing redevelopment pressure. The existing vehicular transportation network is limited to three roadways. The area is simultaneously bisected and bordered by railway lines — significant barriers to community connectivity. Natural amenities include three parks and a degraded stream, hidden behind the fences of the warehouse and industrial properties. The plan for the revitalization of Eisenhower West will increase the quality of life for people who live and work there, now and in the future: a dense, urban mix of uses that leverages
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