Reimagine North Capitol Street as a Community Boulevard
NoMa needs enhanced connectivity to the west—to thriving neighborhoods like Mount Vernon triangle, to Truxton Circle and Shaw, and to Chinatown and beyond—but true connectivity must be more than roads. A reimagined North Capitol Street should serve the neighborhoods, residents, and businesses that depend on it, protect vulnerable users, and integrate communities rather than divide them.
The NoMa BID seeks both short-term and long-term ways to address the challenges of North Capitol Street, through focused core services, relationship-building with communities to the west, and intentional collaboration with ongoing efforts to recreate the corridor at the city level.
Progress on this initiative in 2023 included:
- Being a champion for the improvement of North Capitol Street in as many venues as we can.
- Collaborating with the North Capitol Street community stakeholder coalition, to address issues and create opportunities for collaboration and partnership, both with the BID and with one another.
- Building relationships with residents, communities, and businesses west of North Capitol Street and connecting them with targeted services, including the new developments at Banner Lane and NW One.
- Improving and increasing NoMa neighborhood branding on North Capitol Street through new street pole banners.
- Supporting North Capitol businesses, on both sides of the street, through both promotion and direct support.
- Implementing direct engagement with a public safety coalition, including ANC representatives, DC Council staff, law enforcement, residents, businesses, and more.
- Progressing work on the NoMa Meander, a North Capitol-adjacent public plaza space that will create an enhanced experience for pedestrians and attract new businesses.
- Working with DDOT to repair damaged sidewalks on Patterson Street NE and N Street NE to improve approaches to and from North Capitol.
Targeted work on this initiative for 2024 will include:
- Exploring the placemaking possibilities for the former site of the Kaiser Permanente building at L Street and North Capitol.
- Re-engaging with the North Capitol Main Street organization on an ongoing basis and exploring partnership opportunities.
- Helping activate and promote new residential and commercial properties along the corridor.
- Engaging with the community in response to the North Capitol Street Corridor Study conducted by DDOT upon its release.
A Magnetic NoMa is Dynamic
Pillars: Connectivity Economic Development Inclusivity Safety