28 Maybe we’ve convinced you that the Embassy Row part of Mass Ave is a national and international treasure It embodies the design principles of grand avenues—impressive, inviting public thoroughfares that were crucial to the civic lives of US cities more than a century ago Today, the original landscapes and buildings have vanished along many other grand American avenues So, in the preceding pages, we have argued that on Embassy Row enough of the original street remains to merit complete restoration We hope this guide persuades Embassy Row stakeholders to landscape private and adjoining public land as befits the historic character of this unique street We hope this guide leads to synergies in which different stakeholders re-create unified long views across parcels and jurisdictions Many plantings and improvements will be needed for the day when a renewed “open-air salon of the street” is experienced here by residents, workers, runners, bikers, tourists, and people in the 25,000 vehicles that pass daily Beyond our unique two miles, we hope this guide inspires others to discover the design legacy—the best architecture and trees—along other streets How can these be unified and enhanced? This guide’s principles and steps suggest: • Tree rows are the foremost way to define a street’s character and add environmental benefits Double tree rows can give twice the benefit of single rows Initial care is needed for urban trees to grow to mature size • A street needs a visual focal point, such as a statue or eye-catching specimen tree, to become a large, enjoyable public space • Smaller landscape elements should support—not distract or block— key views • Adding trees to rear and side yards will expand DC’s urban forest In shaping 21st century cities, we cannot match the achievements of L’Enfant, Shepherd, and the City Beautiful Movement leaders But we can be inspired by their vision that cities can be beautiful and useful Thus inspired, we can act to realize a new model of urban “greening,” individually and together, tree by tree and view by beautiful view Reviving This and Other Streets
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