One of the most-hated and dangerous intersections in DC is finally getting a makeover. Last week, the Wendy's at Florida and New York Avenues NE closed its doors, allowing for the overhaul of "Dave Thomas Circle" to begin. Starting in late 2021 or early 2022, the $13 million redesign will include protected bike lanes, green spaces, and resumed two-way traffic on Florida Avenue, among other improvements. "Almost every Washingtonian has their own Dave Thomas Circle horror story," said Mayor Murial Bowser. "Now, we are taking the necessary actions to transform this confusing intersection into a multimodal project that supports the current and future needs of DC drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians."
It’s been called a failure, a hellscape, one of the city’s most dangerous intersections, and an “urban aneurysm.” And now, D.C.’s infamous Dave Thomas Circle is finally getting a rethink.
After years of planning, the District government is expected to pay more than $13 million to acquire the land in Northeast D.C. that’s home to the notorious triangle at New York and Florida avenues. The intersection is the site of a Wendy’s fast food restaurant, which sits on an island surrounded by rushing car traffic. Bisnow first reported the news Monday.
“Almost every Washingtonian has their own Dave Thomas Circle horror story. Now, we are taking the necessary actions to transform this confusing intersection into a multimodal project that supports the current and future needs of D.C. drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday night.
The District filed an eminent domain lawsuit last month seeking to take the site from its owner, an affiliate of Bernstein Management Corp. The city completed a study of the intersection in 2017, and it expects to begin construction on a redesign in late 2021 or early 2022. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the city’s plans for the intersection in November, after initially calling them “over-designed.”
The approved concept includes plans for protected bicycle lanes, multiple parks and the reintroduction of two-way traffic on Florida Avenue NE, among other fixes.
The intersection sits at the literal edge of Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the city; Florida Avenue was called “Boundary Street” until 1890. The Wendy’s restaurant is a relatively modern addition, having served Frostys from the orphaned plot of land since the mid-1980s. The city adopted the intersection’s current traffic pattern in 2010, expecting it to be temporary.
In 2019, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie urged the Bowser administration to take over Dave Thomas Circle, which is among the city’s most dangerous intersections for drivers. “It is no secret that this is a failing intersection that is unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists,” McDuffie wrote in a letter to Bowser.
The administration later budgeted $35 million over six years to overhaul the area. The property, including the Wendy’s, is assessed at about $8 million. The current owner bought it for $2.3 million in 2006, according to public records. In a press release, Bowser’s office said D.C.’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) is “working with the occupant of the acquired property to provide relocation assistance.”
DDOT plans to host more public meetings about the redesign process this spring.
“This is an important milestone in the Bowser Administration’s efforts to make this corridor safer for the thousands of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who use it every day,” Interim DDOT Director Everett Lot said in a statement.
The fast food restaurant on New York Avenue NE is one of four Wendy’s locations in the District. After it’s razed, fans of the chain’s square-shaped burger patties can still get their fix on Georgia Avenue NW, Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE or inside Union Station.