I wandered in the vicinity of the Capitol today, the area between Union Station and the Senate offices, and I was struck, as I have been before, by how all the surface parking in that area pretty much ruins what could be very nice area. Apart from removing the potential for desirable retail development in an area which doesn't have all that much (at least right by the Capitol), it's pretty damn ugly. I'd lean towards development, as the Mall area generally is already a bit too commerce free, but even some nicely landscaped parks would improve the aesthetics of the area greatly.
