Parkside

Once the site of substandard public housing, between a highway, former city dump and active power plant, the vision for transforming a long-neglected 24-acre stretch in Northeast Washington, DC, finally took shape in the mid-1980s. Bordered by Kenilworth Park, Mayfair Mansions affordable housing, and a new Metro station, Parkside stood as the largest vacant lot under single ownership in the city. For years, legal and financial complications stalled progress, until the District partnered with Trust for Public Land and Consumers United Insurance Company to lead a bold land banking initiative to convert this space into the neighborhood gem it is today.

This initiative allowed TPL to protect this site through an innovative financing model and sparking a vision for a mixed-use residential development built around a vibrant and green town square.  With city leaders, local nonprofits, and neighbors all working side by side, the work here not only transformed the land, but it also changed how people connect to one another and the outdoors.

Today, the Parkside development and Green at Parkside represent a turning point for Northeast Washington, DC and a rare example of reimagining neglected urban spaces to benefit people and nature. Our work here not only supports environmental and community health for generations of residents, but it also demonstrates the power of collaboration to unlock the potential of overlooked spaces.