The Waterfront Development Community-Based Human-Centric Design in Ward 7 of Washington, D.C.

Abstract

For years, Ward 7 in Washington, DC, has been a neglected area cut off from the rest of the city. For decades, the Anacostia River has served as a dividing line between Wards 7 and 8 from the rest of Washington DC. However, the neighborhood has much more to offer than being characterized as a location of violence, unemployment, insecurity, and isolation. The neighborhood is home to many people of color. This thesis poses the question: How can a community abandoned and neglected for decades be revived into a place of refuge?

The project's target demographic includes families, students, and the community. However, the neighborhood has several obstacles, including food deserts, a lack of community gathering spaces, nearby amenities, residents having to drive to get necessities, and a lack of accessibility, transportation, walkability, and affordable housing.

The first thing that needs to be acknowledged about Ward 7 is the lack of equal treatment and opportunities compared to the other wards. Children and adults should not be forced to travel long distances to get necessities. They should not feel afraid and unsafe to travel around and feel left out of social gatherings by choosing to live in Ward 7.

The main goal of this thesis is to design and build a community in Ward 7 to accommodate housing and transform the neighborhood into an urban environment by enhancing different types of spaces to work in harmony to create an inclusive community experience for all. This thesis will also adapt sustainable elements to build a sustainable living environment that contributes to their well-being and the health of the individual community and the environment.

This project introduces affordable housing with various amenities, grocery shops, a gym, a community space for study and work, sit-down restaurants, outdoor seating places, a neighborhood café, a pavilion, and two bridges: One is an amenity bridge that links the building to the pavilion. The other is a pedestrian bridge that allows residents and community members to stroll or bike to Kingman Island.