From the beginning of the proposal for the new 11th Street Bridge between Anacostia and Capitol Hill, planners and designers have promised to prevent the displacement of residents living nearby the new amenities offered by the bridge and its park.
Shaun Courtney reports on the latest efforts to ease the effects of gentrification and displacement around the 11th Street Bridge project in the works to provide a pedestrian connection between Capitol Hill and Anacostia, across the Anacostia River.
Back in 2015, the project made news for its deliberate focus on equity and gentrification; now, with the project expected to be complete in 2019, we're seeing some of those ideas in action.
According to Courtney, the project’s director, Scott Kratz, is "focused on making sure residents on the Anacostia side lock in a chance to profit from rising property values before being priced out." More specifically, "Besides helping train residents for jobs building the bridge, [Kratz and his team are] working with City First Homes to establish a community land trust to permanently preserve affordable housing around it. They’ve also partnered with the nonprofit Manna to support homeownership opportunities through first-time-homebuyer clubs—24 members have moved into new homes so far."
In addition to those community development and social equity efforts on the periphery of the project, Courtney also lists the ways the design of the Bridge Park, created by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and the landscape-architecture firm Olin Studio, "is meant to encourage social and economic equality, too." To do so, the design calls for free spaces, a sloping "X" design to encourage interaction, a study of nearby urban farms, and art installations to invite more residents on the Anacostia side of the river.
FULL STORY: The 11th Street Bridge Park Isn’t Just a Vanity Project

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ascent Environmental
Borough of Carlisle
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service