Ward 5, which comprises a large chunk of Northeast D.C., has a few development-heavy pockets, but it also contains half of D.C.'s industrial land. For every Hecht's Warehouse project or Monroe Street Market, there are the myriad city owned parking lots and garbage dumps in the surrounding blocks. So, the city plans to implement a five year plan called Ward 5 Works to make sure that the much-needed city functions and brand new residential and cultural spaces can peacefully co-exist.
· In the future, Ward 5 will have distinct zones. In some zones, waste-treatment facilities will be protected and in others, hotels and residential buildings will be prioritized.
· What's more, there will be a person in the government that actually advocates for and protects some of this industrial land from high rents and commercial developers.
· That said, existing garbage dumps and industrial spaces won't be moved so much as hidden from view. Trellises, newer buildings and large vegetative walls like the one by Dakota Crossing are all potential buffer zones between the industrial and residential spots.
· Similarly, sound barriers like the decorative one in Miami can be added to the sides of the garbage lots.
· Bike lanes, sidewalks and a Rhode Island Avenue streetcar line might be added to make areas like New York Avenue more friendly (read: less terrifying) to non-motorists.
· Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation Study [DC Government]
· On Ward 5 Industrial Land, Striking a Balance Between Neighbors' Desires and City's Needs [WCP]
· Plans Calls For Transformation Of Industrial Land In Ward 5 [DCist]