JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington, D.C. –
When the Air Force became the service responsible for leading Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling during the first-ever Department of Defense service lead transfer in October 2020, Airmen, civilians and contractors took a fresh look at base plans to transform the installation to better support its many diverse mission sets.
Key to the myriad planning requirements to make the vision a reality is the Installation Development Plan, which was recently approved by the National Capital Planning Commission on Feb. 3. The plan includes detailed development recommendations that seek to transform the base into a sustainable installation that supports the mission needs of the 11th Wing and its non-wing mission partners, while also preserving its historic heritage and architecture. Now that the development plan has been approved, the project team behind the coming changes are ready to share what is next.
“These are all great steps to incorporating essential elements into the base while taking into account the needs of our mission partners and the 11th Wing,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Cat Logan, JBAB and 11th Wing commander.
The project team conducted intensive planning and design forums to identify and resolve installation planning concerns and seek innovative considerations to improve the installation layout.
The project team invited key 11th Wing and mission partners players to relay their concerns and identify opportunities,” said Mark Berger, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron planning section chief. “Based on this input, the project team identified general installation areas at a high level to improve.”
Updates to the installation are centered on improving JBAB’s connections to local neighborhoods, functionality, and rehabilitation to current historic facilities. This includes redesigned entry control points to allow increased capacity, a new multi-use trail and specific environmental developments.
Environmental improvements include increased protection against rising water and flooding, as well as removal of unused pavement to reduce storm water issues.
Berger said the JBAB team is also interested in pursuing pedestrian and bicycle-friendly corridors and the creation of a new high-speed ferry terminal at the JBAB marina to offer an alternative to interstate commutes.
The approved development plan will serve as a broader-level framework while plans for more specific changes to JBAB’s four districts continue to grow.
The plan proposes that JBAB be divided into four districts: Historic Bolling District, Sentinels of the Capital District, Historic Anacostia District and Housing and Community Support.
The Historic Bolling District will contain the installation town center. It is intended to hold the 11th Wing mission support operations such as the United States Air Force Honor Guard, the United States Air Force Band and 11th Wing headquarters.
The Sentinels of the Capital District would house critical mission partners on the installation that provide support to local and global operations supporting national defense and security, as well as those that provide direct support to the White House.
The Historic Anacostia District is intended to contain the installation’s warehousing, 11th Wing support partners such as transportation and public works, Navy missions and D.C. Army National Guard.
Finally, Housing and Community Support would include housing, lodging and commercial support to Team JBAB.
“When you look at what the wing and our contactors are doing with the Transportation Management Plan and the Installation Development Plan, we’re laying the groundwork for a more cohesive working and living environment to make JBAB really and truly the place to be,” said Logan. “We will reap great benefits from these plans for many decades to come.”
Additional projects that will result from this plan include the completion of the LEARN D.C. Charter School, a new site for White House Communications Agency, and a redesign for Firth Sterling Gate to accommodate a large vehicle inspection station.
As JBAB’s evolving internal mission requirements and external development initiatives continue to expand, patrons can look forward to witnessing the transformation that unfolds.
To read the installation development plan and learn more about what JBAB’s transformation will look like, click here:
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Installation Development Plan - Historic Bolling District Plan (ncpc.gov)