A Map Amendment Could Pave the Way For More Residential Development in Congress Heights

• August 12th 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

More development plans may be in the works in Congress Heights.

The owner of two of the four buildings abutting Shepherd Parkway at 3703-3715 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE (map) has filed an application to rezone the sites to allow for denser mixed-use development. Right now, the strip is occupied by two office buildings, the Fort Carroll Market and Unity of Love Praise Temple.

While details on a potential redevelopment of the site are still pending, the application implies that residential-over-retail could be in the works.

"The proposed Zoning Map Amendment will capitalize on the potential of the Subject Properties to meet the substantial demand for higher quality housing and increased  neighborhood serving retail in this area of the District by facilitating the redevelopment and productive use of the underutilized sites," the application states. "The subject Amendment will instead promote the efficient use of land in a manner that will, among other things, strengthen the District's economy and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the Congress Heights neighborhood and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE corridor through support of both the residential and commercial sectors."

A zoning hearing has not yet been scheduled.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a-map-amendment-application-for-congress-heights-church/15745.