USDA, Lot 9 Construction Project

The Whitten Building is located along the National Mall near the Smithsonian Metrorail stations on Independence Avenue, an arrival point for visitors to the National Mall and commuters to the adjacent federal office buildings. Lot 9 is bound by the North Lawn and boundary to National Park Service (NPS) jurisdiction to the north, 12th Street SW to the east, the Whitten Building to the west, and Independence Avenue SW to the south. The site hosts a weekly farmers market during the summer and fall, attracting large groups of people. On market days, 12th Street is typically closed. The site also hosts USDA social outreach, and education events, and supports other activities, such as providing a first aid station for the Marine Corps Marathon, a food truck gathering point for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and U.S. Presidential Inauguration staging. The redesign of Lot 9 access and the extension of the perimeter security to the east would provide for greater security for public events at the site. NOTE: SITE VISIT IS AUGUST 10, 2022 AT 11am. Lot 9, Whitten Building- 1400 independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250. The Commission reviewed the Public Gathering Area Security Plan Modication Concept in September 2020. At that time, the plan called for enlarged planting areas along 12th Street, Independence Avenue, and the northern edge of the parking area that would include a series of bollards. The concept would improve the pedestrian experience, allow emergency pedestrian egress, remove one vehicular entrance, remove 15 parking spaces, and avoid potential conflicts with subsurface infrastructure, such as the WMATA facilities. While overall consistent with the 2020 Concept, the 2021 Plan revises several of these elements. The modification to the 2014 Plan is needed to respond to public safety threats that have emerged since the approval of the plan, such as the use of vehicles driving into crowds, as has occurred in other locations in the world. USDA recognizes that Lot 9, where the USDA Farmers Market occurs, is an open area susceptible to ramming by vehicles. Therefore, revised security measures are proposed for Lot 9 in this plan. This would include the use of visible bollards needed to protect public gatherings from potential attacks. Visibility of the bollards from the inside of the lot is purposeful, due to the vehicle borne threat for which the design is intended and the potential for panicked pedestrian upright. The proposed physical design is a response to a substantially different threat than those identitified in the 2014 Plan. As an interim measure, USDA installed temporary water-filled barriers around the perimeter of the site to protect event participants. USDA also evaluated its long-term plans for perimeter security at Lot 9 and the Whitten Building. The focus of the site's perimeter security plan was the Whitten Building, rather than the building yard. The perimeter line security identified in the 2014 Plan separates the Whitten Building from Lot 9, leaving the outdoor area exposed. The 2014 Plan was developed in accordance with the Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities. The previous risk assessment determined that a Level IV standard of protection was necessary at the Whitten Building. In the time since 2014, the threat potential has evolved to include public gatherings in open areas like the USDA Farmers Market held in Lot 9. USDA determined that the previous risk assessment did not fully represent the potential threats associated with the grounds, including where public events occur. Additionally, USDA notes that perimeter security for public gathering spaces, where ability to exit the site is critical, functions di? erently than for a building. As a result, this plan attempts to rectify the omission and address the security concerns associated with the market common. Although the perimeter security is intended to protect the public gatherings within the parking lot, the security measures would also augment perimeter protection for the Whitten Building. NOTE: SITE VISIT IS AUGUST 10, 2022 AT 11am. Lot 9, Whitten Building- 1400 independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250.