Washington DC: Downtown Economic Resilience

Across the U.S., hospitality, convention and visitor sectors have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Washington, D.C. has seen a decline in visitation, hotel occupancy, and overall tax revenues. Retail and entertainment businesses have suffered similar retrenchment in the economic downturn.  Since the beginning of the public health emergency, a combination of remote work and stalled business and leisure travel has meant DC area businesses lost significant portions of their customer base, resulting in widespread business closures and vacancies and exposing the core vulnerabilities of a CBD.  

As a result of this decline, existing underlying community stresses and racial inequities have been amplified. Communities of color have shouldered a disproportionately high burden from these public health, economic, and environmental shocks to the system. And yet, Washington, D.C. remains an economic, cultural, and intellectual center of global significance.

The District of Columbia Office of Planning, DMPED, and the Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership asked the Advisory Services panel to evaluate the District’s CBD in order to provide actionable strategies for recovery and resilience for the District’s primary commercial district and employment hubs.

The panel was asked to consider specific issues and impacts of COVID-19 and make recommendations to optimize the mix and use of space in key employment centers aimed at minimizing vacancy, catalyzing vibrancy, bolstering tax base, and creating new opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs.

• Impacts & Issues. Consider the cumulative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on office, hotel, retail, hospitality, and entertainment on the CBD. Can and should the role and function of the CBD pivot towards one that embraces residential through conversions and other opportunities?
• CBD Model Rethink. Reimagine the traditional CBD model through an equity-forward lens to include residential and small-scale commercial spaces for underserved entrepreneurs.
• Which uses and economic activities should the District prioritize in the CDB?
• How can the District rethink the current approach and business makeup of the CBD to be more inclusive, and reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and small business?
• Supporting infrastructure. Examine the role of public space, placemaking, design and civic infrastructure in supporting vibrancy and equity.
• How can the interaction of public space and infrastructure, including access and mobility, support more equitable spaces and outcomes?
• How can public space, placemaking, design and civic infrastructure play a role in supporting vibrancy in the CBD? What are the specific opportunities?
• Solutions. Seek to increase the economic resiliency, equity and vibrancy of the CBD through innovative approaches and recommendations that rethink/catalyze commercial, residential retail, hospitality, cultural and entertainment uses and civic infrastructure.