Now that Fort Totten Square is getting underway, let’s turn attention to Art Place at Fort Totten. A new series called “What Should Go Here?” asks for input and discussion on various uses of the site once occupied by the Riggs Plaza apartments, now surrounded by fencing. The Cafritz development, currently called Art Place at Fort Totten (and I say currently for a reason), is envisioned as the site of nearly 1,000 rental apartments (including senior and affordable housing), retail, and a children’s museum. Formerly, the site was also to include a grocery store, but with the big box coming to Fort Totten Square, that plan has been nixed. The site was also slated to include space for arts nonprofit organizations. The current PUD modification application envisions hockey/ice skating rinks and other recreation uses. The Office of Zoning expressed some hesitation about the new plans at the latest hearing. I’ll post updates later on the PUD modification application, but in the interim, since it looks like the Cafritz team has run into some trouble pitching a vision that will attract dollars and community support, let’s help them out by suggesting what should go here.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
Pingback: Update on Art Place at Fort Totten « Next Stop…Riggs Park
What big box is expected for Fort Totten Square? If Walmart is the expected grocery store, it would be great to have another alternative for food. I wish that Wegmans, Trader Joes, or Whole Foods could be considered as an alternative to the planned big box.
Sankofa, yes Walmart is the big box expected for Fort Totten Square. The Cafritz team said they have spoken to other grocers, but the more common ones such as Safeway were scared off by the arrival of Walmart. There was always a question of whether the area could really support 2 grocery stores blocks apart even before Walmart was announced, considering there’s also a Giant on Eastern Ave (on the MD side). There is still a possibility that a smaller grocer might go into Art Place somewhere. The other grocers you mentioned have all been rumored to be lined up for other projects not too far from the neighborhood.
I would love to see more dining options at Arts Place. Right now, we don’t really have anything besides chinese food and KFC/Taco Bell. While those are great, it’d be nice to have some actual restaurants, perhaps with some patio space. I’m thinking some casual spots and one or two nicer places so that residents could actually be able to eat out and who knows, sit on a patio and have a drink. I think a coffee shop will be coming to Fort Totten Square next to Walmart, but hopefully that site has more than that as well. I’d also like to see a small grocer for the Arts Place residents, but we defintitely wouldn’t need a big one. Restuarants are what will attract people to most to the new apartments.
It would be great to have some workout space (a nice gym), an outdoor walking/running track, a dry cleaners, some eateries, and a nice spa. And I really wish that there could be a fresh-food market. I know that Walmart is coming to the area, but there should be enough demand for both. The most important thing, though, is that the development is pedestrian-friendly. If you look at other developments, like the Rhode Island metro area, it’s really cumbersome to walk over there, makes me not even want to bother.
Swimming pool
Would love to see a Whole Foods!.
Some nicer sit-down dining options would be fantastic. A place to sit outside and havea beer would be nice.
A coffee shop would be great.
A nice gym such as Sports and Health would be great. Make sure that it has a pool and can offer a large variety of exercise classes. Restaurants such as Bonefish Grill, Cheddars, McCormick and Schmidts, Rosa Mexicana would be very nice and would offer incredibly better options for dining that is currently available. Has a movie theatre been suggested at all? It would be nice to be able to walk to a movie theatre.