Monthly Archives: January 2015

February 7: Invitation to Sustainability Green Home Tour & Beer Tasting Celebration

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development and tagged with , ,

In our last post, we shared an interview with True Turtle, the developer of the newly constructed green homes located at 5516 and 5520 4th Street NE. To celebrate their first ground-up project, they are hosting a celebration event with new neighborhood brewery Hellbender Brewing Company.

The Hellbent on Sustainability: GREEN HOME TOUR & BEER TASTING

 WHEN:                 Saturday, February 7th  1-4pm

WHERE:               5516 and 5520 4th St NE DC 20011

METRO:                10 min stroll from Ft. Totten Metro (Red/Green)

 IT’S A CELEBRATION OF SUSTAINABILITY!

 True Turtle is celebrating the completion of their latest project with a sustainability learning opportunity two-fer:  Learning tours of the green homes and a free beer tasting from DC’s newest brewer Hellbender brewery!

True Turtle www.trueturtle.com is a DC focused sustainable real estate developer focusing on bringing LEED Platinum, net zero energy homes to the District.  Our latest project is near and dear to our hearts:  two new construction LEED Platinum row homes.  Come check them out!

Hellbender http://www.hellbenderbrewingcompany.com is DC’s newest brewery.  This sustainable brewer opened its doors just last year here in Ward 4.  Come show them some DC love and learn about their brewing techniques …you might find your new favorite beer!

 LEARNING EVENTS

2pm  Green building guided tour  Tanya Topolewski  LEED H, ASLA, CPHC/CPHB  Owner, True Turtle

3pm  Sustainable craft beer presentation  Patrick Mullane, Co-Founder Hellbender Brewing Co

1-4pm  Self Guided tours  Through extensive signage and displays, learn what it took to create higher quality homes that provide better air quality, ultra energy and water efficiency, sustainable landscapes and better for the planet finishes.

TRY OUT A FEW SELECT BREWS, COMPLIMENTS OF HELLBENDER and VISIT THE BREWERY!

Free beer tasting!  Plus, if you like what you sampled the brewery’s tasting room is open from 1-6pm!

5788 2nd Street, NE DC 20011 (Just a two minute drive or 10 minute walk)

 MORE INFO ON THE HOMES and SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

 www.trueturtle.com

http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/5520-4TH-NE-WASHINGTON-DC-20011-138988483

Interview with green homes developer True Turtle

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development and tagged with ,

From South Dakota Avenue, it is hard to miss the banners announcing two new green homes in the neighborhood, located at 5516 and 5520 4th Street NE.  We got in touch with the developer, Tanya Topolewski of True Turtle, who was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

Photos courtesy True Turtle
Photos courtesy True Turtle
Photos courtesy True Turtle
Photos courtesy of True Turtle
  1. Can you tell our readers a little about your development company and what makes it unique?

True Turtle is a sustainable real estate developer. We build exclusively high performance “green” homes. To True Turtle, a sustainable home is a higher quality home designed and built to provide better air quality, better ventilation, and ultra high energy and water efficiency. Our homes use low environmental impact materials and have landscapes that bring back birds and bees. In summary, we provide a “green done for you” home that is more comfortable and healthier to live in while being less costly to operate and maintain.

Our offices are located in Ward 4 (Takoma DC) and we have done multiple highly sustainable LEED Platinum gut renovations in Petworth.

  1. What made you choose Riggs Park for your first new construction project?

It was a combination of factors. As a developer, I was familiar with the area as I look at a lot of property. I knew it to be full of solid mostly smaller attached homes in stable neighborhoods. These are things that are attractive to buyers. At the time, the South Dakota/Riggs intersection was under reconstruction and the JBG development was only just beginning. However, knowing more development was on its way was compelling to my choosing to develop here. Of course, the proximity of the property to the Metro was crucial. Putting these factors together, it looked to me like Riggs Park was going to finally start to turn the corner from being off the beaten path to becoming a new “place”.

I did not do an extensive amount of research before I made my decision. Had I done so, I would have uncovered a lot of background information on Art Place, and Ft. Totten Square Phase II (which is potentially going to be built directly behind my properties). Now that I know of these developments, I’m very excited for the residents of Riggs Park. I think the addition of walkable retail and real public civic places will be another milestone in bringing newcomers together with long standing residents. Many times people think of development in negative terms, in my opinion, I think that for Riggs Park it will be transformative in a very good way.

  1. Can you tell us a bit about the homes? What particular features make these homes sustainable? Did you incorporate features like reclaimed wood, solar panels, recycled products?

For True Turtle, a sustainable or “green” house means high quality construction creating a healthier, more comfortable home. I’ve highlighted a few specific features of the homes below. However, I think it’s important to note that many of the ‘features’ of our homes are now hidden behind drywall. Fortunately, through the LEED process everything behind the drywall has been inspected, tested and/or verified by an independent 3rd party. This additional level of quality control is the value of having a green building certification such as LEED.

Some highlights:

Exceptional air quality…special HVAC equipment (an ERV) delivers fresh air throughout the home 24/7. This air is highly filtered through MERV11 filters that remove up to 100% of particulates depending upon size. Our mechanical equipment is tested by third party inspectors to ensure that things like bath fans and kitchen exhausts actually work to remove excess moisture, not just make noise.

 Exceptionally energy efficient…our super insulated skin provides up to twice the amount of insulation required by code. 5516 and 5520 4th St have R78 roofs (R38 is required) and fully insulated basement walls and floors (no sub slab insulation is required by code at all). Needless to say, these homes are easy to heat and cool, with minimal hot and cold areas, even with the large windows!

Virtually draft free…our homes are designed and built with a special air tight layer that wraps the home and focuses on air tight connections at doors and windows. A virtually draft free home is comfy and snug…no matter how cold or hot outside.

Highly water efficient…we’ve already installed low flow toilets, faucets and showerheads. Our clothes washer and dishwasher are the highest performing Energy Star models we can afford. This all adds up to lower water bills.

We use no or low toxicity finishes…We seek out and use special finishes for our paints, floor finishes and special wood finishes that have either no or low levels of harsh or toxic chemicals. This limits offgassing to protect your family’s health.

We use low environmental impact finishes…our palette of finishes include: Richlite countertops which are exceptionally durable compressed paper with a non-toxic binder, rapidly renewable pressed bamboo flooring and FSC bamboo backsplashes and kitchen details. All these products can be reused and/or recycled.

Provide habitat for birds, bees and butterflies…our landscape is exclusively native plants that will provide drought tolerant exterior beauty for native flora and fauna.

Near net zero energy if solar panels are installed…no, there are no solar panels on the home. Why? Because we as a developer do not qualify for many of the incentives that homeowners do and they do not fit into our budget. We’ve made it easy to install them however, we’ve pre-installed conduit for them, pushed all roof penetrations to the edges to leave space for them and left space in the electrical panel. If solar is installed, these homes are modeled to be near net zero energy.

This is only a partial list of what we do to make our sustainable home higher quality, more comfortable homes to live in. Our website (www.trueturtle.com) has many more details about this project and our past projects.

  1. When will you know what level of LEED certification you have achieved for the homes?

LEED Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification attainable. 5516 and 5520 4th St. are on track to achieve LEED Platinum. All of our projects have been LEED Platinum (or higher). We have never missed achieving Platinum and I don’t forsee any problems arising with 4th St. either.

If you are wondering what “higher than LEED Platinum” is, we built DC’s first gut rehab net zero energy home in Petworth. Net zero meaning that the home produced as much energy as it captures from the solar PV system. This is a goal we have for all of our homes, but the cost of solar is prohibitive as we do not qualify for many of the incentives. Irrespective, for any home we build, if solar is added they are usually what is called “near net zero”…which is pretty darn good.

  1. What were some of the challenges of building these sustainable homes from the ground up as compared to the renovation projects you have done in the past? Did you learn anything new about sustainability doing this project?

You get the technical answer to this question…so hold on for some geek!

Since we typically do gut renovations. Building new construction meant we had to use a new type of building envelope. Meaning we built different kinds of exterior walls, roofs and floors than we normally do. We ended up with continuous, connected, super insulated walls, roofs and subslab insulation. This is technically challenging to do and something we cannot do on our gut renovations. It was a change for us and we learned a lot doing it.

Of course, the largest challenge had nothing to do with sustainability…it had to do with building on a large slope! Once we found the right contractor to deal with the site work, things went swimmingly.

  1. Are more new construction projects in your future?

Of course! Our next project will be a ground up four unit building in Edgewood/Brookland. In addition to LEED Platinum, it is planned to be built to the Passive House standard. Passive House is a green building standard whose main focus is energy use. A Passive House uses just 10% of the energy of a code built home. They are so energy efficient that people joke they can be heated with a hair dryer…and depending on the climate that’s actually true!

  1. How can people find out more about the homes?

OUR NEW WEBSITE: www.trueturtle.com

We have a brand new website that we’ve just brought on line (full disclosure: it’s not 100% done). It includes large amounts of information about how we build our homes sustainably, how sustainably built homes are higher quality homes, our past projects and a little about us.

OPEN HOUSES: We’re open about every other Sunday…people are welcome to just drop in. We love neighbors!

LISTINGS: Some people are interested in

http://www.mrishomes.com/homes-for-sale/5520-4TH-NE-WASHINGTON-DC-20011-138988483

SPECIAL TOURS BY REQUEST We are often asked to give special tours of our homes to local green organizations and other interested groups. We’d be happy to give special tours while we still own them…because once they are sold, we can’t! People should just reach out and ask.

ANC 4B08 Vacancy

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B and tagged with

From the office of ANC 4B:

Due to the resignation of the newly-elected commissioner for ANC 4B08 (due to taking on a new job), this seat on the Commission is vacant.  On Friday, 1/16, the Board of Elections and Ethics officially declared the seat vacant.  The official notice is embedded below.  Persons interested in serving as ANC 4B08 have until Monday, February 9, 2015 to obtain a minimum of 25 signatures on a nominating petition and submit it to the BOEE.  The date of the special election to fill this vacancy will be announced after the BOEE has certified the candidates.  If only one candidate submits a valid petition, there will be no election and that one candidate will be certified as ANC 4B08 commissioner.

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

  CERTIFICATION OF ANC/SMD VACANCIES

 The District of Columbia Board of Elections hereby gives notice that there are vacancies in two (2) Advisory Neighborhood Commission offices, certified pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-309.06(d)(2); 2001 Ed; 2006 Repl. Vol.            

VACANT:    4B08 and 7E01

Petition Circulation Period: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 thru Monday, February 9, 2015

Petition Challenge Period: Thursday, February 12, 2015 thru Thursday, February 19, 2015

Candidates seeking the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, or their representatives, may pick up nominating petitions at the following location: 

D.C. Board of Elections

441 – 4th Street, NW, Room 250N

Washington, DC  20001 

For more information, the public may call 727-2525.

4b08

Fort Totten Square signs & construction update

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square and tagged with

The Washington Business Journal notes permits issued for Fort Totten Square signage:

300 Riggs Road NE: Roughly 17 signs will be installed on the JBG Cos.’ soon-to-deliver Fort Totten Square project, including signs announcing the Wal-Mart, a restaurant and parking. Fort Totten Square will feature 350 apartments and an urban format Wal-Mart.

We are a bit delinquent in posting the January 15 construction update from JBG:

The Fort Totten Square project is 85% complete. Interior finishes continue in all 345 apartment units along with the associated balconies with railings, wall and ceiling finishes.  The turnover process of apartment units from the contractor has commenced and the final first floor occupancy inspection is scheduled for early spring. The north retail area at the corner of Riggs Road and Chillum Place will be completed in the next few months and interior retail construction of these spaces will commence.

The brick work is complete on the façade of the residential garage on Chillum Place and fence infills and lighting is all that remains on the garage structure. The two story lobby entrance glass enclosure to the apartment building is underway at the arrival court as are the canopies. Work continues in the amenity areas of the building and the club room and fitness area located between the two courtyards is in the final finish stages with millwork, trims and final painting. The façade treatments on the courtyard elevations are complete and most all of the trees are planted in the courtyards. Streetscape site work activity will continue through the winter, weather permitting, as new street light pole bases will be installed along Riggs Road along with new engineered tree pits and finally new sidewalks.

WaPo article on children’s museum

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten and tagged with ,

When news broke a few months ago that the National Children’s Museum was seeking to return to DC from the National Harbor as early as 2015, we were immediately curious about what its potential return would mean for the anticipated children’s museum at Art Place at Fort Totten. Reporting on the National Children’s Museum challenge in returning to DC, the Washington Post provides this nugget:

One potential problem for the museum may be competition for money and philanthropic or business partners. This spring, lawyer and former board member Jane Cafritz plans to launch a mobile educational lab to serve schools, libraries and community centers in the District. She also wants to open the Washington D.C. Children’s Museum near the Fort Totten Metro in Northeast, on property owned by the family foundation of her developer husband Calvin Cafritz. This D.C. museum, she said, “will inspire children to discover and learn through hands-on activities so they may develop and acquire the 21st-century learning skills needed to succeed as citizens, workers and leaders.” And might she collaborate with the National Children’s Museum? “I would never say no.”

The timeline the Art Place team provided in its July 2014 update to the Zoning Commission indicated the children’s museum would be part of Building B, which would be constructed in 2019 at the earliest. As the Art Place team continues to revise and refine its PUD, it seems that the team is still very much committed to keeping the children’s museum in play no matter where the National Children’s Museum eventually decides to locate.

 

 

February 2: NPS community meeting on shortcut between Gallatin & Galloway

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk and tagged with ,

On February 2, 2015, the National Park Service will hold a public meeting on the Environmental Assessment for improvements to pedestrian access to Fort Totten metro station. Specifically, the NPS proposes to construct a formal direct path between Gallatin and Galloway Street to replace the shortcuts pedestrians currently use (discussed in this post).

The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm at Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE).

The NPS indicates comments will be accepted at the meeting. Comments can also be submitted online on the project website or mailed to:

Rock Creek Park
Attn: Fort Totten-North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements EA
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Comments must be submitted or postmarked by February 19.

Metrorail service changes for Tuesday morning

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Metro alert

Metrorail service information for Tuesday, January 13

Updated: 4:55 a.m. / January 13, 2015

Metro is advising rail customers of the following service changes for Tuesday, January 13, following today’s incident at L’Enfant Plaza:

All Yellow Line service will be replaced with additional Blue Line trains operating between Huntington and Largo Town Center, via Rosslyn. Trains on this route will depart every 12 minutes. Use Green Line trains for service between Greenbelt and Downtown DC.

Blue Line trains between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center will operate every 12 minutes.

Orange Line trains will run every 8 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton.

Silver Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Town Center, with many trains expanded to 8-cars long to provide additional capacity.

Green Line trains will run normal service every 6 minutes between Branch Avenue and Greenbelt.

Red Line service is unaffected and will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

A limited shuttle bus option is available between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza, running every 20 minutes. Board shuttle buses from Pentagon on the lower level of the Pentagon bus bays; from L’Enfant Plaza at 7th & Maryland St SW.

FOR UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION, PLEASE CHECK OUR ALERTS PAGE.

Regular Metrobus and Circulator bus service may provide a good alternate travel option for some riders. To check, use the Trip Planner at wmata.com and select the “bus only” option.

 

Metro alert: L’Enfant station temporarily closed; Green/yellow line service suspended downtown

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Metro alert

L’Enfant Plaza Station temporarily closed; Green/Yellow service suspended in Downtown DC

Updated 5:05 p.m.

Green Line shuttle bus boarding locations –
Navy Yard – NJ Ave & M St SE
Waterfront – M St & 4th SW
L’Enfant Plaza – C St & 7th St SW
Archives – Pennsylvania Ave & 7th Street NW
Gallery Place – H St & 7th St NW
Mt Vernon Sq – M St & 7th St NW

Downtown Yellow Line customers should use Blue Line service between Downtown DC & Virginia. Transfer after Pentagon City to a Huntington-bound Yellow Line train.

Yellow & Green Line customers at Mt Vernon Sq may use Metrobus Route 70 or 79 to reach Gallery Place & Archives.

NON-METRO ALTERNATIVES
DC Circulator:  from M St/Navy Yard: 2 different routes available to either Eastern Market (OR/SV/BL Metrorail) or Union Station (Metrorail Red Line). SmarTrip accepted.
VRE:  Fredericksburg Line from Union Station or L’Enfant Plaza to Crystal City, King Street-Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield

 

###

Metro Transit Police and fire department personnel are on scene at L’Enfant Plaza for smoke in the station.

The source of the smoke has not been determined. The station has been evacuated and is temporarily closed at this time.

Metro has activated tunnel fans to ventilate the area.

Service Information

  • Green Line service is SUSPENDED between Navy Yard and Mt Vernon Square.
  • Yellow Line service is SUSPENDED between Pentagon City and Mt Vernon Square.
  • Blue/Orange/Silver line trains are BYPASSING L’Enfant Plaza (passing through the station without stopping).
  • L’Enfant Plaza is closed.
  • Riders should consider alternate travel options. To view bus options, use Metro’s trip planner and select the “bus only” option. Expect significant delays.

News release issued at 3:54 pm, January 12, 2015.

Proposed Capital Bikeshare price increase

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation and tagged with

Capital Bikeshare is hosting an open house on January 28, 2015, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library (901 G Street NW) to discuss proposed price increases, future expansion plans, and rider policy. The price for an annual pre-paid membership would increase $10 to $85. Usage fees for trips over 30 minutes would remain the same. The entire proposed fee schedule is printed in the chart below. Written comments on the proposed fee schedule may also be submitted via email by February 15, 2015.

Proposed price increases

Proposed price increases (source: Capital Bikeshare)

 

Icy sidewalks around Art Place construction site

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

We were surprised to find the sidewalks around the Art Place at Fort Totten construction site still covered in snow and ice last night. This is the first significant winter weather event since construction began in earnest summer 2014. We hope this is not what we can look forward to during the winter for the next few years of construction. If the sidewalks are still icy, consider submitting a 311 request for snow/ice removal.

Note January 8:  We received a 311 update at 2:30 pm stating that the area has been plowed and salted.

Comments due February 19 on direct path option for metro shortcut between Gallatin & Galloway

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The National Park Service conducted an Environmental Assessment on four alternatives to the current shortcuts pedestrians use between Gallatin Street and Galloway Street NE to  access Fort Totten metro station. The NPS selected the direct path option as its preferred alternative. We covered the proposed options [(1)No Action; (2) Improve Street Side Access/Fence off Area; (3) Direct Trail; (4) Trail System] in this post last year. The NPS plans to hold a public meeting about the Environmental Assessment (date and location to be determined) during the open comment period, which runs from January 6 to February 19, 2015 .

The project website provides the following summary:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Park Service has prepared an Environmental Assessment that describes four alternatives for the Fort Totten-North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements Project, as well as the impacts on natural and historic resources of implementing these alternatives. The National Park Service has identified “Alternative 3: Direct Trail” as the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, the National Park Service would construct a paved multi-use trail through the project area, which is part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington and is managed by Rock Creek Park. The design for the trail, which would connect Gallatin and Galloway Streets, NE, would account for existing topography to allow for sufficient sight lines and proper grade for universal accessibility. In addition, existing unofficial trails would be closed and restored with native vegetation. This alternative also would include the option to incorporate low impact, fully shielded pole lighting into the trail design.

The Environmental Assessment for each option is available on the project website and also at Rock Creek Park Headquarters (3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008) and the Rock Creek Park Nature Center (5200 Glover Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015).

Comments may be submitted online by clicking on the “Open for Comment” tab on the project website or by mailing to:

Rock Creek Park
Attn: Fort Totten-North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements EA
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Stay tuned for a date for the public meeting.

January 13: Brookland Middle School Principal Selection

Posted by nextstoprp in Education and tagged with

On January 13, 2015, in partnership with the Brookland Civic Association and DCPS, the Ward 5 Council on Education is hosting a meeting on the selection of a principal for the new Brookland Middle School.

The meeting will be 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE). If you have questions prior to the meeting, contact Andrew Katz-Moses with DCPS.

Fort Totten Square Walmart opening pushed back

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square and tagged with ,

We have an update on the Fort Totten Square Walmart from community representatives. The Walmart will not open in spring 2015 as anticipated due to changes in the construction schedule, but is expected to open in either summer or fall 2015. The opening of the hiring center will be pushed back as well.

From January 19 to January 30, 2015, the Walmart Foundation is accepting applications from qualified non-profit organizations for grants in the $25,000-$250,000 range.  Visit the Foundation website for more information. Organizations interested in smaller grants should contact Kimberly Lockett.

Walmart representatives also shared the following Q & As:

1. What additional retailers at Fort Totten Square, other than Walmart?

JBG and Lowe are still in lease negotiations with restaurants and neighborhood serving retail.

2. Will there be any retailers inside the Walmart store?

No, there will not be other retailers located inside of the Walmart store.

3. What is the character of the Fort Totten Walmart going to be?

There will not be any other retailers inside the store, but there will be grocery, financial services, and health & wellness services. Financial services include GoBank accounts, Walmart-to-Walmart wire transfer and Blue Bird pre-paid check cards.

4. Where is the Walmart customer parking entrance and is there zoned parking in the DDOT plan for the neighborhood?

Customers will enter Walmart from two parking entrances, one on Riggs Rd. NE the other on 3rd [St.] NE, per the plan approved by DDOT. Community stakeholder meetings after the store opening will be used to receive feedback on issues including parking, transportation, etc. If there are any specific issues noted by the community, Walmart will work with [the]community to address any outstanding issues. There is no zoned parking directly surrounding the store due to garage parking availability.

5. What will traffic patterns be for delivery trucks to Walmart and Fort Totten Square?

All truck loading/unloading for Walmart will be conducted inside the underground parking garage. Trucks will use Riggs Rd. NE and not travel on Chillum Rd. or other local roads.

6. Employment

a. How many people will be employed at the Walmart?

Approximately 300 associates will be employed at the Walmart

b. Are there requirements for local hiring?

While there are no local hiring mandates, our stores actively recruit, hire and retain associates from the local community. For example, over 65% of Walmart’s associates in Washington’s two existing stores are DC residents.

c. What will the job hiring center look like and what is the application process?

All of the applications are submitted online. Our HR department reviews all applications and interviews candidates at the job hiring center. Once a candidate has satisfied the conditions stated in the offer of employment, they begin training and employment shortly thereafter.