How McMillan will take its place among Washington’s noted neighborhoods is the focus of the planning underway by the District and Vision McMillan Partners. Guided by nearby communities, ANC members, and other affinity groups, the vision for this property is informed by several key principles. The expertise of the partners applied to the following principles – which have been confirmed through extensive community outreach – will drive the development of McMillan during coming months:
View the general design goals and principals
- Preserve historic uses – preserve an association with the property’s historic uses, including relocating and restoring the historic McMillan Fountain
- Create connections – create a distinct and vibrant neighborhood, connecting to surrounding communities
- Plan quality open space – design a public plaza next to retail and create a variety of open spaces ranging from residential courtyards to a large, contiguous public park
- Provide community-oriented site amenities – including a variety of housing, community-serving retail and a variety of urban experiences
- Design historically and contextually complementary architecture – using a design palette that relates to site-documented historic materials including brick, wood, and concrete
- Develop varying character from north to south – design the North Court with an urban mixed-use character and the South Court with a residential character, varying building form and detail
- Strengthen the unique sense of place – enhance existing historic resources, utilizing a materials palette that reflects the site’s industrial past and amplifies McMillan as part of Washington while also being distinct from it
- Follow principles of sustainability – seek a LEED® Silver rating while building a mixed-use program to encourage people to live, work and play at McMillan
- Build mixed-use neighborhoods – accommodate various experiences that change throughout the day, and place service, retail, and a grocery story close to both residents and daytime office workers
- Make great urban streets – design a pedestrian-friendly community of interconnected streets, pathways, and service courts, encouraging awnings and public spaces in retail corridors and clear guidelines for successful storefront design
