Shaping inclusive public realm transformation in Downtown DC

A neighborhood feel in the heart of downtown

Downtown DC is an emerging residential neighborhood and regional hub for arts and culture — a global seat of power with a mix that sets it apart internationally. Alongside a team of local partners, the Gehl team developed an action plan for public life guided by a vision for an inclusive, prosperous, and vibrant public realm. 

The team facilitated workshops with an interdisciplinary, multi-agency advisory group to establish the vision and define priorities. Extensive community-based engagement, research, and analysis helped the team take stock of dynamics influencing public space experiences Downtown and leverage the district’s existing strengths within the broader city and regional context.

The resulting Downtown DC Public Realm Action Plan seeks to redefine what Downtown can be beyond its nine-to-five, office-centric reputation by embracing attractions for distinct communities and sub-communities while identifying unifying public realm enhancements that appeal to all. It proposes four projects to signal and catalyze transition — enhancing existing area character, filling neighborhood amenity gaps, offering new public space experiences, and expanding inclusive, around-the-clock invitations to spend time Downtown. These proposals are supported by a detailed implementation plan that outlines how the many involved agencies can align with existing initiatives and policies to bring the vision to life.