Citizen Summit III—Long-Range Vision
Growing An Inclusive City
The last item on the Summit agenda was a presentation of a Draft Vision for Washington's future. The overarching goal of the Vision is to grow a more inclusive city, in which the benefits of growth are spread more evenly and the city's strengths are leveraged to bridge social, physical, and economic divides. After the Mayor provided a 20-minute presentation, citizens were asked how important the goal of an inclusive city was to them. As Chart 1 indicates, 61% said it should be the city's highest priority. Chart 2 further shows that 71% felt the Vision was on target or mostly on target.
Chart 1: How Important Do You Believe It
Is To Create An Inclusive City? |
Chart 2: Does the Vision Face Up To the
City's Toughest Issues? |
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Three challenges for growing a more inclusive city were outlined in the presentation, each accompanied by preliminary strategies. For each challenge, participants were asked to state what strategies they liked, and what they thought was missing.
The Vision's first challenge is Creating Successful Neighborhoods. Overall, participants liked the strategies to create "community anchors" (neighborhood centers). They also liked the focus on public transportation, pedestrian areas, and schools as points of contact for the neighborhoods. There was also support for the concept of restoring and reinvigorating neighborhoods, rather than tearing down and starting over. Participants stated that what was missing was stronger discussion of health care facilities, recreation centers and libraries, and more focus on the area east of the Anacostia River. While many agreed that we should celebrate the uniqueness of our neighborhoods, some stated that the emphasis should be to unify rather than to emphasize boundaries.
The Vision's second challenge is Access to Education and Jobs. Overall, participants liked the strategies to increase partnerships between our K-12 schools and our universities, institutions, and businesses. Participants also liked the idea of linking a larger share of local jobs to DC residents. Participants stated that what was missing was more discussion of the need for parking to attract retail and other development to the city. Another concern was to make sure that new job opportunities included high-paying, high-skilled jobs as well as low-level service jobs.
The Vision's third challenge is Connecting the Whole City, with a focus on physical connections across the city. Overall, participants liked the proposed light rail system, and proposals for more parks and green space. Participants stated that what was missing was a discussion of human and economic connections, as well as physical connections. Some observed that connections must be multi-directional and must occur on several levels-between neighborhoods, between downtown and the rest of the city, and between the city and the region.
Complete results from Citizen Summit III will be available in the coming weeks on the Neighborhood Action website.
For a print version of the full report, see Citizen Summit III Preliminary Report.*
