The majestic trees and park-like landscape of Embassy Row form a street landscape that is unique in the nation, RMA President Deborah Shapley explained in a briefing at the State Department Office of Foreign Missions on March 5.

1. “Friends re-greening Embassy Row”
Presentation by
Deborah Shapley
President, Restore Mass Ave
Department of State, Mar. 5, 2014

2. Bare sidewalks, young dying trees.
Beautiful buildings, but what is this place?
Shrubbery overgrown, trash.
Front yards paved and cars parked
everywhere
No sense of community; neighbors and
diplomats don’t speak.
The Problem

3. Restore Mass Ave formed
In late 2006. Since, we have:
Arranged > 300 trees of historic types. We add trees by:
Getting UFA to plant street trees of historical types ~150 trees;
Advising property owners on trees and landscape; of 150 new
lawn and yard trees, most are donated by Casey Trees;
Worked with DC govt, Dept of State and community reps
to explain DC Tree Law and to protect green space.

4. Participating

5. The Legacy

6. L’Enfant’s Grand Plan

7. A Grand Avenue Axis - Berlin
Unter
den
Linden
in
Berlin.
The
raised
statue
of
Frederick
the
Great
is
the
focus.

8. Post-Civil War Greening
Washington population was 60,000 in 1860; grew to 110,000 by 1870.
Huge public works program 1871-73 under Alexander “Boss” Shepherd.
Paving, utilities, 60,000 trees.
“Parking” was created on public land between sidewalk and buildings.

9. • Parking Commission of 3
distinguished horticulturalists
advise engineers and city nursery
from 1871 to early 1900s.
• Engineers’ annual reports map
trees planted. One species per
street.
• Linden trees were chosen for
Mass Ave to be like Berlin’s
• Mass Ave’s “parking” is wider
(40’ each side) and longer (4
miles) than Unter den Linden’s
planting space. (only use if have
UdL data)
Mass. Ave is
“Parked”
Engineer’s report Map (sectio
1880

10. Grand Avenue, Cont’d - 1892
DuBois map shows Engineers’ straight 150’ wide road to
the new circle; where road pivots 11o to start new
straightaway up to cross Rock Creek.

11. “Urban Forest flows through streets and parks like
water through Venice.” – C.M. Robinson, 1901
1970

12. Lost History
• Other iconic Grand Avenues lost in 20th Century
• Thousands of Washington’s trees lost to
development, roadway widening for commuters
blights, eg Dutch Elm Disease, and neglect.
• Many buildings east of Dupont Circle on Mass Ave
lost.
• Most buildings west of Dupont Circle on Mass Ave
saved by historic designation and zoning.
• But many trees and landscape are lost.

13. Landscape Design Guide:
1. Full row of street trees
2. Second tree rows in the “parking”
3. Connect long views
4. Supporting landscape to scale
5. Expand the urban forest and save energy

14. Tree rows make views
Continuous lawn framed by trees
creates a connected public space.
Long axis to focal point

15. A marriage of
public and private space
Star
Collection
–
Embassies
–
Turkey
-­
1956

16. “Parking”
unifies
the public
street
Low
hedge
2nd
row
tree
Lawn
is
con;nuous

17. Many stakeholders, one landscape
Embassy
of
Norway
-­
2006

18. Historic Landscape Summary

19. Prefer no
• Fences or hedges higher than 3’
• Added impervious paved area
• Pavement “creep” over green space
• Industrial-looking flagpoles, so
flagpoles, if vertical, scaled to architecture
Prefer flagpoles over entrances
• Signs
• Statues that distract or are not scaled to street

20. Flagpole pair 2343 Mass
• Above: before
• Right: after installation 7-1-2013

21. Sign – 2217 Mass
• Installed at Greek Embassy Oct 2013
• Similar at church on Mass near Wisconsin

22. Critical Issues
Trees are killed by
construction Public space is walled off
How can regulation and policy restore this unique landscape?

23. What are our values?
• A revived Grand
Avenue of buildings
and public space
unified by landscape,
adds monetary value to
Mass Ave and adjoining
areas. It creates a new
DC destination.
• A revived Grand Avenue
has social value; it allows
people from all over the
world to experience our
openness, civic
engagement and respect
for the planet.

24. Questions?
Tree planting by RMA/Casey Trees hosted by Embassy of Ireland, with Embassies
of Greece, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Togo participating..
Copyright Restore Mass Ave 2014

25. Where We Work