NEIGHBORHOOD
Draft Redistricting Maps Released
Council Subcommittee Seeks Public Comment by Andrew Lightman
T
he DC Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee Committee released three draft maps on Nov. 1 in advance of its Nov. 3, Ward 6 hearing. The subcommittee selected the three “discussion” maps from the more than 130 proposals received through the District’s online redistricting mapping tool. “I’ve committed to making this process transparent, accessible, and centered on community input,” said Redistricting Subcommittee Chair, At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I). “Our unprecedented 11 hearings on redistricting, the online redistricting mapping tool, and the release of these three “discussion” maps are designed to give our residents the most opportunity possible to understand the law, the choices we need to make to make sure political representation is equal and fair, and to make their voices and opinions heard,” Silverman stated. Here are the three draft maps examined in detail.
Map 1
The first draft map moves the border of Ward 8 across the river to encompass the Navy Yard neighborhood bounded on the west by South Capitol St., on the north by I-695 and the Southeast Blvd. ending at the Sousa Bridge and on the south by the Anacostia River. It also extends Ward 7 east of the river with a northern border that follows Benning Rd. NE to 15th St. NE, turns south to Pennsylvania Ave. SE and then heads back east over the Sousa Bridge. Map 1 shifts the border between Wards 7 and 8 slightly to the northwest. From the Sousa Bridge, it traces a path along Pennsylvania Ave. SE, turns down Fairlawn Ave. SE, takes a south
1 6 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M
turn on 18th St. SE, heads east on S St. SE, turns south on 22nd St. SE, heads east again on Retta Gilliam Court SE, extends east in a straight line to Fort Circle Park, before turns south again on Good Hope Rd. SE and finally follows Naylor Rd. SE to the District Line. Map 1 retracts the western borders of Ward 6 in Shaw ceding them to Ward 2. The new line snakes along P St. NW to Ninth St. NW, then heads west briefly along N St. NW, before turn-
ing south again to M St. NW, then heading east to Seventh St. NW where it turns south to follow Massachusetts Ave. NW to Independence Ave. NW. The map makes an additional adjustment on Ward 5’s western border retracting to North Capitol St. and Harewood Rd. NW. This places Washington Hospital Center and the US Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home squarely in Ward 1. The borders of Wards 3 and 4 remain unchanged.
