RESEARCH & INFORMATION
Van Ness Main Street is working hard to assist our current businesses with the latest research and information to help them improve and expand their businesses.
Here are some of the ways we are assisting local businesses:
First Retail Study for Van Ness Main Street Released
A comprehensive study detailing the retail potential of the Van Ness area was completed in 2018. Van Ness Main Street, The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Bernstein Management partnered to select HR&A to conduct the study through a highly detailed and competitive RFP process.
Van Ness Retail Study Press Release
Van Ness Retail Study 2018
The Office of Planning for the District of Columbia has conducted several studies for the Van Ness area:
Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy
Completed by the DC Office of Planning (OP) in April 2016, the Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy provides a framework to boost retail, enhance public space, increase sustainability, and guide development During this initiative, residents, local businesses, institutions, and property owners worked together to articulate a vision for the future of the Van Ness Commercial District. The Action Strategy focuses on public space, retail, sustainability, and commercial opportunities and builds on insight from previous planning studies of the retail market and streetscape.
Shades of Green: Green Infrastructure
This report builds upon the 2011 report, The Van-Ness-UDC: Commercial Corridor Enhancement Study, which developed conceptual-level recommendations for improving the pedestrian experience along Connecticut Avenue. The pavement removal strategy for Connecticut Avenue from Van Ness Street to Albemarle Street aims to improve the pedestrian experience by expanding the tree pit zone and identifying opportunities to include green infrastructure where possible. The Van Ness streetscape must serve a wide variety of needs and programs. The confluence of a major arterial road, the Metro line, underground utilities and variety of buildings place many demands on the sidewalk/pedestrian area. This study seeks to describe strategies for how all of these needs might be balanced in a functional, attractive sidewalk/pedestrian area.
Connecticut Avenue – UDC Commercial Corridor Enhancement Study
In July 2010, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government awarded DC OP with one of eight TLC Program technical assistance grants for funding an exploratory study for the Connecticut Avenue/Van Ness area in FY 2011. The goal of the study is to create a vision for the Connecticut Avenue corridor, from Albemarle Street to Tilden Street, to:
Explore Low Impact Development (LID) design techniques and identify implementation opportunities along the corridor to better manage storm water, better protect our creeks and waterways while enhancing the pedestrian experience on the Avenue.
Establish streetscape typologies that will organize and improve the identity of the corridor.
Provide recommendations for revitalizing public spaces along the corridor.
Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Van Ness-UDC Metro station, existing businesses, and adjacent communities and institutions.
The study resulted in new design options for private and public spaces along the Avenue. These options will need to be further analyzed by the District Department of Transportation before implementation in the public right-of-way and might be modified during the engineering phase. In addition, new design options for private plazas will be shared with private landlords as portions of the Avenue are redeveloped in the future to help generate a more consistent design experience.
Here are some of the ways we are assisting local businesses:
- Contracted with a restaurant consultant to assist in helping to improve the overall restaurant health in the Van Ness corridor.
- Completed a real estate survey for the Van Ness corridor.
- Track economic impact data for the corridor and distribute to Van Ness businesses.
- Distribute a weekly newsletter that provides information on D.C. grant and training opportunities for local businesses.
- Provide one on one technical assistance to businesses.
First Retail Study for Van Ness Main Street Released
A comprehensive study detailing the retail potential of the Van Ness area was completed in 2018. Van Ness Main Street, The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Bernstein Management partnered to select HR&A to conduct the study through a highly detailed and competitive RFP process.
Van Ness Retail Study Press Release
Van Ness Retail Study 2018
The Office of Planning for the District of Columbia has conducted several studies for the Van Ness area:
Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy
Completed by the DC Office of Planning (OP) in April 2016, the Van Ness Commercial District Action Strategy provides a framework to boost retail, enhance public space, increase sustainability, and guide development During this initiative, residents, local businesses, institutions, and property owners worked together to articulate a vision for the future of the Van Ness Commercial District. The Action Strategy focuses on public space, retail, sustainability, and commercial opportunities and builds on insight from previous planning studies of the retail market and streetscape.
Shades of Green: Green Infrastructure
This report builds upon the 2011 report, The Van-Ness-UDC: Commercial Corridor Enhancement Study, which developed conceptual-level recommendations for improving the pedestrian experience along Connecticut Avenue. The pavement removal strategy for Connecticut Avenue from Van Ness Street to Albemarle Street aims to improve the pedestrian experience by expanding the tree pit zone and identifying opportunities to include green infrastructure where possible. The Van Ness streetscape must serve a wide variety of needs and programs. The confluence of a major arterial road, the Metro line, underground utilities and variety of buildings place many demands on the sidewalk/pedestrian area. This study seeks to describe strategies for how all of these needs might be balanced in a functional, attractive sidewalk/pedestrian area.
Connecticut Avenue – UDC Commercial Corridor Enhancement Study
In July 2010, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government awarded DC OP with one of eight TLC Program technical assistance grants for funding an exploratory study for the Connecticut Avenue/Van Ness area in FY 2011. The goal of the study is to create a vision for the Connecticut Avenue corridor, from Albemarle Street to Tilden Street, to:
Explore Low Impact Development (LID) design techniques and identify implementation opportunities along the corridor to better manage storm water, better protect our creeks and waterways while enhancing the pedestrian experience on the Avenue.
Establish streetscape typologies that will organize and improve the identity of the corridor.
Provide recommendations for revitalizing public spaces along the corridor.
Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Van Ness-UDC Metro station, existing businesses, and adjacent communities and institutions.
The study resulted in new design options for private and public spaces along the Avenue. These options will need to be further analyzed by the District Department of Transportation before implementation in the public right-of-way and might be modified during the engineering phase. In addition, new design options for private plazas will be shared with private landlords as portions of the Avenue are redeveloped in the future to help generate a more consistent design experience.