Poplar Point
Spring 2020 | Washington, D.C.instructed by Patty Heyda
How can new development reach across the Anacostia Freeway and benefit locals and newcomers alike?
Poplar Point is a rare undeveloped tract of land in the nation’s capital, a 120-acre plot located just two miles southeast of the Capitol Building across the Anacostia River. Previously owned and maintained by the National Park Service, ownership is in the process of being transferred to the city of D.C., with development imminent. Development proposals have been hotly contested by the residents of Anacostia, who fear that development will cater to outsiders and bring rapid gentrification.
Following extensive anaylsis and a week spent in the city meeting with stakeholders including Anacostia residents and the D.C. Office of Planning, I developed a framework plan focusing on increased access to the park, public transit, jobs, and housing. My proposal forms a hard edge between the natural and developed areas and creates a new park that bridges the highway and acts as a connector between Poplar Point and Anacostia, with the hope that this design will make Poplar Point better for everyone.
