ASLA Chapter Awards 2005

The H Street NE Corridor is an important transportation connector, both within the District and the region as a whole. The history of H Street has been shaped by transportation. In the late 19th century, the establishment of the streetcar along H Street spurred residential and commercial development in the area, and by the mid-1900s the H Street NE Corridor had become the City’s second largest commercial hub, serving both the local neighborhood and the District at large. However, Washington DC, like many other American cities, began losing population following World War II. As residents of the surrounding neighborhoods moved to the suburbs, the population loss and resulting economic decline devastated the Corridor.

Today, H Street is at an important juncture. A renewed interest on the part of local government, the community, business owners, and other critical stakeholders has created momentum for significant change along the Corridor. Projected private investments total over $1 billion, with an additional $42 million in public money committed. H Street NE is on the verge of a major transformation.

As part of the larger effort to revitalize H Street, the District Department of Transportation is spearheading a project to plan, design, and re-construct the Corridor to accommodate the new streetcar. Currently, H Street is under construction and will be the first corridor to have state-of-the-art transit system in Washington, DC.