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Rendering of the balcony of a residential unit, with views of (from left) the Frederick Douglass Bridge, Washington Nationals Ballpark,
the DC Water headquarters, the Capitol Dome, and the Navy Yard development across the Anacostia River.

where residents can meet most or all of their daily needs such In an additional move to restore the natural water
as wholesome food and childcare within a short walk or bike environment, the master plan calls for “daylighting” Stickfoot
ride from home. The key concepts include ample outdoor Creek. A tributary of the Anacostia, this creek was covered
public space, water conservation, renewable energy, green over and rerouted to an underground sewer as part of a late
infrastructure, transit access, and seamless connections to 19th-century effort by the Army Corps of Engineers to halt the
nature. Mobility and connectivity feature prominently in the spread of malaria. When the creek once again sees the light of
master plan, reducing dependence on the private automobile day, a new wetland park can be established in the precinct.
and increased availability of other travel modes. A dedicated Looking to a post-pandemic world, the Beyer Bindle Belle
pedestrian and bike promenade between the new bridge, master planners suggest economy of uses across residential units,
the Anacostia Metro, and Anacostia Park and its trail system offices, and retail spaces. Individual apartments and condos
provides city-wide access to 20 miles of contiguous bike trails, would be sufficiently flexible to accommodate work-from-home
parks, and recreation facilities. needs. Co-working spaces would be provided in both residential
The Beyer Blinder Belle planning team was guided by a and office buildings as would fitness facilities minimizing the
comprehensive approach to building sustainable communities need for such activities in individual living units. The plan
that the firm calls its six “Green Pillars”: Post Carbon, Living includes shops, grocery stores, and a day care center.
with Water, Restorative Ecology, Mobility after the Car, Well In addition to its commitment to environmentally sustainable
Living, and Adaptive Resilience. development, which is the foundation of the master plan, the
Among the specific water restoration and conservation project team carefully evaluated its work from the perspectives
elements proposed in the plan are rooftop stormwater systems, of upfront cost, durability, and near-term marketability.
on-site greywater filtration facilities, and a variety of building “This project was the most comprehensive in its ability to
typologies that could further reduce river pollution and protect be implemented and phased over time,” said one awards juror.
the watershed. An on-site bio-filtration system will limit “The phasing allows first for a creation of space then for the
pressure on city sewer facilities, and extensive landscaping in addition of density.” For another juror, the plan was successful
public spaces will support the replenishment of nearby wetlands because “We could see the translation of the design strategy
as well as increase flood resilience. down to small moments as well as the big moves.”

40 THE 15-MINUTE NEIGHBORHOOD