Nourishing Development: Restaurants and the Remaking of Urban Space in Washington, D.C.
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sheehan-erins251-mcp-dusp-2026-thesis.pdf
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2.07 MB
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e77445298ef38bc4e126ca9f7ea0713a
Author(s)
Sheehan, Erin
Advisor(s)
Levine, Jeff
Date Issued
May 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
In contemporary urban development, restaurants are increasingly central to how cities are built, marketed, and experienced. This phenomenon is evident in Washington, D.C., where the rise of a nationally recognized dining scene has reshaped neighborhoods and intensified questions of equity, identity, and displacement in a rapidly changing city.
This thesis defines the culinary district as a distinct urban development form in which food and beverage businesses drive development and shape the brand, identity, and economic activity of a place. It argues that culinary districts in Washington, D.C., function as tools for urban planning, economic development, and placemaking, and evaluates their broader social and spatial consequences.
This research draws on comparative case studies of three Washington, D.C., culinary districts—Mount Pleasant’s main street, the H Street Corridor, and the Union Market District—to develop a typology for analyzing different models of culinary districts. Impacts vary by typology. Community-based culinary districts, such as Mount Pleasant, emphasize community culture, heritage, and local ownership; revitalized culinary districts, such as H Street, reflect incremental change and ongoing tensions between investment and displacement; destination culinary districts, such as Union Market, prioritize a curated identity and substantial economic growth. These differences produce uneven social and economic outcomes.
This thesis concludes with recommendations for more inclusive culinary district development. Because culinary districts represent a distinct urban development form, they require planning approaches that extend beyond conventional strategies for commercial district growth and activation. Recommendations include expanding support for community-oriented leadership and governance; integrating culinary districts into cultural and heritage planning efforts; adopting more flexible and creative approaches to permitting and commercial space design; and establishing pathways for small business growth within larger scale developments.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
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