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A 19-acre, now-vacant portion of Pepco's Benning Road Power Plant and Service Center could be developed for industrial use to spur job creation in Ward 7, an Urban Land Institute panel has concluded.
The report, commissioned by the DC Office of Planning, recommends ways to improve the Parkside neighborhood's connectivity, attractiveness and employment opportunities.
For any development to occur, the District would have to make a land swap with Pepco for the decomissioned 19-acre site, which the report says could benefit both parties.
In the short term, it recommends an 800-foot extension of Anacostia Avenue NE on the west side of the site from Benning Road NE to Foot Street NE to strengthen access to the Parkside neighborhood.
For long-term development, it offers three ideas ranging in scale. The first, an "industrial business incubator," would be a 2k to 4k SF space devoted to light manufacturing activities. The second, an "eco-industrial park," would be a center for solid waste operations that could create up to 200 jobs. The third, an "energy innovation district," would establish a research and development microlab aimed at testing new energy technologies.
Currently, ULI notes, there are no plans to redevelop the site and Pepco has given no indication it plans to dispose of it. Speculation: maybe once the merger with Exelon is behind it, some movement will occur.
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