Tensions ran high between developers and community members last Wednesday night, June 25, during a meeting regarding the proposed redesign of the Southwest neighborhood held at the Capitol Skyline Hotel.
The Southwest Small Area Plan, still in its feedback and revision phases, plans for a “newly envisioned” Southwest neighborhood, including the M Street corridor, which is expected to see the most changes, according to Associate Director for Neighborhood Planning Tracy Gabriel.
The border boundaries of the area proposed are Maine Ave. SW, P St. SW, South Capitol and the Interstate 695, and the project has been in development for the last year.
The meeting, led by Gabriel as well as Ward 6 Community Planner Melissa Bird, noted the significant change already happening in and around Southwest, and depicted the proposed plans as the next step of an expansionary growth process.
“Southwest is incredibly unique, and we want to move forward in the best way and best tools to preserve that,” Ward 6 Community Planner Melissa Bird said. “People want to make sure there is a place for everybody to stay in Southwest.”
However, the plan’s potential changing of traditionally low-density areas of Southwest to areas of high-density is a cause of concern and conflict for many community members.
“I count 17 different building properties on this list, and unless I’m wrong, all but for two, the density goes up. Twenty years from now, SW will have double the population if all of these things happen,” 15-year Southwest resident and activist Rick Bardash said. “We want a neighborhood, and we can’t have a neighborhood when density is twice as much.”
Even more of a concern for community activists was whether or not the plans and expansion will displace residents of Greenleaf Gardens Apartments, a public housing complex just south of M Street.
Community activist and 38-year District resident Thelma D. Jones noted that there is deep distrust held by lower income residents for developers, lingering from a long citywide history of redevelopment and gentrification.
“What they do know and remember is that when urban renewal occurred before, more than 23,000 people were displaced,” Jones said. “That fuels even greater fear and anxiety. The people have lost faith.”
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The DC Office of Planning is accepting feedback regarding the plan until July 9 . The proposed plans are available here.
