Highlights from the May 10 ECA Meeting have been posted. This meeting focused primarily on Eckington’s proposed amendments to the DC Comprehensive Plan, which were proposed by the civic association in 2017, received support from ANC 5E in 2017 and 2020, and were adopted by Mayor Bowser’s Office of Planning in May 2020.

Nevertheless, the Eckington Amendments were taken out of the Comprehensive Plan Act of 2021 by the D.C. Council in April 2021.

The Eckington Amendments would change the designation of industrial land that currently occupies a large amount of land in the eastern half of the neighborhood that is directly adjacent to the Metropolitan Branch Trail and the red line Metro stops. By changing the designation of this land from production, distribution and repair (“PDR”) to “mixed use”, our amendments would encourage and allow for more residential and commercial uses that would benefit Eckington by:

  • Offering opportunities to build new housing, especially affordable housing
  • Promoting environmental justice by encouraging property owners to phase-out sources of pollution like the asphalt plant and construction lots for diesel vehicles
  • Providing opportunities to expand city services and bring jobs and neighborhood-facing businesses to Eckington.

We’re asking members to help follow up by contacting DC Councilmembers by May 18 to ask that they reinstate our Amendments. Please see the meeting highlights for more background information as well as contact details for the councilmembers.

Published by eckingtoncivic