Two weeks ago, we took a look at the developing discussion over the fate of proposed development on the campus of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (which we’ll refer to as the Home, or AFRH). The post prompted a long discussion and a stream of emails, so today we revisit the subject.

The campus site currently consists of about 270 acres, most of which is open space (though closed to the public) but which does contain about 100 different structures, located mainly in the northeast part of the property. The campus has Irving Street and the Washington Hospital Center to its south, North Capitol Street and Catholic University to its east, and the neighborhoods of Park View and Petworth to its west and north. According to the Master Plan for the site, planned development will occur in a number of zones — pockets spread around the periphery of the campus — over the course of 15 to 25 years. The nature of the development in each zone will vary widely.

Zones 1 and 2, along the far north and northeast edges of the property will be used primarily by the AFRH. Zones 3 and 4, on the eastern side of the property against North Capitol and south to Irving Street, will contain the largest and most dense development, including office and research facilities, some medical structures, retail, and a hotel. Zones 5 and 6 are in the southwest and west portions of the property and will mainly be residential areas with some small retail. Most of the property, the vast center swath, will remain unchanged. It will continue to be open space, behind a fence, available only to those associated with the Home.