Much of what is now Ward 8 was farmland during the early history of Washington, DC, and a rural character is still sometimes evident among the houses, apartment buildings and institutions of the ward. The historic Anacostia neighborhood is the oldest in the ward, having been founded as Uniontown, one of Washington’s first suburbs, in 1854. It has a variety of wood frame and brick houses and townhouses, as well as grander homes such as Cedar Hill, the Frederick Douglass House (pictured at right). Further south is the neighborhood of Congress Heights, which has the largest commercial area in the ward, which runs along Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X Avenues, as well as a number of garden apartments and single-family bungalows. Washington Highlands is located further south, and is home to many apartment complexes, as well as new single-family homes at Walter Washington Estates.
The neighborhood of Bellevue sits at the far southern end of the District, and has many garden apartments, one high-rise apartment building and some 1940's era detached homes with yards. Ward 8 also has several large federal and local institutions. Bolling Air Force Base, for example, is in many ways a small town of its own, stretching along the Anacostia riverfront. Saint Elizabeths Hospital is a large campus with sweeping views of the city. The Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant and DC Village both take up significant acreage at the southern tip of the city. The Ward has some of the district's largest green spaces, including Oxon Run Park, Fort Stanton, Anacostia Park, and Shepard Parkway.
Current Planning in Ward 8
Congress Heights Small Area Plan:
The DC Office of Planning is also kicking off a small area plan for the Congress Heights community! This plan will reflect the Comprehensive Plan Amendment’s focus on racial and socioeconomic equity, outline a community vision for the future of Congress Heights, and serve as a toolkit for community members to lead conversations around equitable community development. In addition to developing a shared community vision for Congress Heights and integrating ongoing community work, this plan will address adverse effects of increased development interest in the area and support COVID-19 recovery.
Contact the project team: [email protected] and visit the planning page: publicinput.com/CongressHeightsPlan to get involved!
Comp Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan Area Elements that falls within Ward 8 include:
The Comprehensive Plan’s Area Elements use planning boundaries, not Ward boundaries. The Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year plan, while Ward boundaries are political boundaries that can change every 10 years due to redistricting following the decennial Census.
The Comprehensive Plan Amendment project web page is plandc.dc.gov. Questions, comments and feedback on the Comprehensive Plan should be emailed to [email protected].
Completed Neighborhood and Corridor Plans in Ward 8:
- CHASE Action Agenda: a planning initiative focused on the Congress Heights, Anacostia, and Saint Elizabeths' areas, completed in 2014.
- CHASE Pattern Book and Design Guidelines: a design reference guide of local housing typologies, and construction advice, completed in 2014
- Greening America's Capitals The Anacostia Metro Station Area: a planning study with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency focused on the Anacostia Metro Station Area, completed in 2014
- Saint Elizabeths Master Plan: a master plan to guide the redevelopment of the Saint Elizabeths campus, completed in 2012.
- Saint Elizabeths Innovation Hub: a strategic plan for a new innovation hub on the Saint Elizabeths campus, completed in 2010.
- Bellevue Small Area Plan: completed in 2010.
- Congress Heights Neighborhood Investment Plan: a prioritized investment plan completed in 2008.
- Anacostia Neighborhood Investment Plan: a prioritized investment plan completed in 2008
- Anacostia-Transit Area Strategic Investment and Development Plan: A planning initiative focused on catalyzing new development around the Anacostia Metrorail Station and other transportation improvements, completed in 2006.
- Barry Farm/Park Chester/Wade Road Redevelopment Plan: a planning initiative for Barry Farm under the New Communities program, completed in 2006.