A Move to Upzone a Stretch of Benning Road

• January 5, 2022

by Nena Perry-Brown

The Office of Planning (OP) is taking another step to encourage development along the DC streetcar line.

On Tuesday, OP applied to rezone the south side of Benning Road NE between 16th Street (map) and Oklahoma Avenue NE (map). The map amendment would increase the density from moderate-density residential apartments and mixed-use development to medium-density mixed-use of 7-8 stories.

The rezoning is in collaboration with the Ward 7 Economic Development Advisory Council, and it would also bring the properties in line with the city's Future Land Use Map. Any new development on the blocks would be subject to the increased Inclusionary Zoning standards (IZ Plus).

"The proposed rezoning would allow future redevelopment opportunities including multi-family residential use, which is desired under the District’s affordable housing goals and initiatives including an infusion of housing and commercial uses to add vitality to an area," the application explains. "The potential affordable housing units that could be created under the requested MU-5A zone is substantially higher than if the property was not rezoned. Making room for affordable housing has the potential to benefit non-white populations who on average have lower incomes than white residents."

The map amendment application comes almost two years after an Advisory Neighborhood Commission got zoning approval to upzone a few of the corresponding blocks on the north side of Benning Road. The Zoning Commission is expected to set the application down for a hearing next week.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a-move-to-upzone-stretch-of-benning-road/19106