Street Plans partnered with the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) as part of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) to lead a multi-phase creative placemaking effort at the Lincoln Heights and Richardson Dwellings communities. Working alongside project partners including Torti Gallas + Partners and Teass Warren Architects, the team developed a placemaking strategy to inform early-action public realm investments and long-term redevelopment.
Through a robust engagement process—including outdoor workshops, tape art demos, resident leadership meetings, and ongoing collaboration with resident councils—community members shared priorities related to safety, open space quality, programming, and access to healthy food. These insights informed a Creative Placemaking Project Menu outlining near-term and future interventions for each site, along with implementation strategies, materials, and potential partners.
From this broader strategy, two Quick-Build projects were identified and implemented to bring recommendations to life. At Lincoln Heights, the 50th Street basketball court received a community-designed surface mural. At Richardson Dwellings, the second and final installation transformed a worn courtyard into a brighter, more welcoming plaza with a new art mural, freshly painted benches, and two new picnic tables, with six shade trees and lighting soon to follow. Neighbors came out to paint, share food, play music, and help bring the space to life.
Together, these projects demonstrate how early-action placemaking can translate long-term planning into tangible improvements—creating safer, more vibrant public spaces that reflect resident priorities and build momentum for future investment.
