Reservoir District - Gorove Slade

Transforming Historic McMillan Through
Strategic Transportation Planning

Description

The Reservoir District represents one of Washington, D.C.’s most significant urban redevelopment projects, transforming the historic 25-acre McMillan Sand Filtration Site into a vibrant mixed-use community. The 25-acre site, located at North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue, NW, is being transformed into a mixed-use project that includes historic preservation, open space, residential, retail, office, and hotel uses.

Project Overview

This transformational development creates an entirely new neighborhood connecting historic preservation with modern urban planning. The project features:

Mixed-Use Development: Coordinated planning for multiple developers including EYA (single-family townhomes), Jair Lynch (multi-family residential), and Trammell Crow (medical office building)
Community Amenities: The District has invested more than $100 million to support a 17,000 square-foot community center with a pool and a 6.2-acre park.
Historic Preservation: Integration of the site’s historic underground filtration cells and architectural elements into the new development
Transportation Infrastructure: Comprehensive improvements to enhance connectivity and safety

Gorove Slade’s Role

Gorove Slade was brought onto the project in 2013 to lead transportation planning after addressing earlier consultant challenges. Our team worked closely with the project management team and multiple developers to create a comprehensive transportation strategy for this complex urban infill site.

Key Services Delivered:

Comprehensive Transportation Analysis

Complete Transportation Review for the entire site
Operational analysis for North Capitol Street access integration
Parcel-by-parcel traffic studies as development phases progressed
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) planning and monitoring

Infrastructure Design & Implementation

Signal design plans, signing, and striping for three new traffic signals
Modifications to existing signals at 1st Street & Michigan Avenue and North Capitol Street & Michigan Avenue
Loading dock design for the anchor grocery store
Internal street circulation planning

Regulatory & Approval Support

Planned Unit Development (PUD) entitlement support
Stage 2 approvals for individual development parcels
Coordination with District agencies for permitting and construction

Transportation Improvements & Pedestrian Safety

Enhanced North Capitol Street Connectivity

The project’s most significant transportation achievement is the dramatic improvement in pedestrian safety and mobility along North Capitol Street. Improvements will be made to the surrounding streets (First Street, Michigan Avenue, and North Capitol Street) to help offset traffic impacts.

Our team designed and implemented:

Three new traffic signals providing controlled crossing opportunities across North Capitol Street
Complete signal infrastructure including underground conduit systems and modern pedestrian countdown timers
Coordinated signal timing to improve traffic flow while prioritizing pedestrian safety
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant crosswalks and pedestrian facilities

North Capitol crosswalk before and after

Unique Design Solutions

The project presented extraordinary design challenges that required innovative solutions:

Historic Silo Integration: Created a new street grid that incorporates the historic underground silo alignment, preserving the site’s industrial heritage while establishing modern circulation patterns
Constrained Right-of-Way: Developed creative solutions for signal infrastructure along North Capitol Street’s narrow eastern sidewalk, working around existing residential concrete walls and limited space
Sight Distance Management: Carefully positioned traffic control devices to work with the historic silo locations and ensure safe vehicle and pedestrian operations

Our goal with this transportation plan is to successfully bridge the gap between existing residential neighborhoods and the new Reservoir District, creating seamless pedestrian and vehicular connections that enhance mobility for both new and existing residents.

Project Impact

Safety Improvements: The new signal system along North Capitol Street represents a significant upgrade in pedestrian safety infrastructure, providing safe, controlled crossing opportunities in an area that previously had limited pedestrian facilities.

Community Access: The transportation improvements enable safe access to the new community center, park, and retail amenities for residents throughout the broader neighborhood, extending the project’s benefits beyond its boundaries.

Historic Preservation Integration: By adapting the new street network to work with the historic silo structure, the project demonstrates how modern transportation infrastructure can respect and highlight historic preservation goals.

Project Recognition

The new Reservoir Park Recreation Center features an indoor pool and 6.2-acre park, enabling the first public access to the site since World War II. Together, they received the 2025 AIA Regional & Urban Design Award and an AIA | DC Design Award for Urban Design / Master Planning, representing the successful culmination of years of careful planning and community engagement.

The Reservoir District demonstrates how intentional transportation planning can support large-scale urban redevelopment while enhancing safety, preserving historic character, and connecting communities. Through strategic infrastructure investments and creative design solutions, the project has transformed an underutilized site into a thriving neighborhood amenity that serves both new residents and the broader community.

Details

Client: EYA, Jair Lynch, Trammell Crow Company
Location: Washington, DC
Land Use: Mixed Use
Sustainability: LEED Gold certification – Recreation Center
Awards: 2025 AIA Regional & Urban Design Award – Master Plan and Recreation Center

Rendering courtesy of EYA

“Working with multiple development teams on a project of this scale took real collaboration and shared vision. Gorove Slade’s thoughtful planning helped bring the Reservoir District vision to life, from the new traffic signals and pedestrian infrastructure that provide safe access to the community center and park, to the broader network of connected streetscapes that make the neighborhood easy to navigate. Their work helped us deliver on our promise of Life Within Walking Distance.”

Matt Thorne

Director, Engineering at EYA, LLC