Monthly Archives: October 2015

Fort Totten Square Walmart still hiring

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square and tagged with , ,

The Walmart at Fort Totten Square officially opened yesterday. I managed to catch up with store manager Paul Hill, who said the store is still hiring in all departments. All applicants must apply online at http://www.walmart.com/apply. No applications will be accepted in the store. The store number is 3035.

Operating hours for the store are 6:00 am to midnight. Hill noted there is a very strong need for evening associates as well as overnight stock associates. The work hours for the overnight stock associates are 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. Applicants should indicate if they can or prefer to work evening hours.

He recommended that applicants call the store at (202) 756-4418 after they have submitted an online application, ask for personnel or Paul Hill, and inquire about the status of their application. He said that will let him know that the individual is really interested and really wants the job and he will be able to pull the application and take a look.

For individuals who do not have access to a computer with Internet service, DC libraries offer computers for public use, including the Lamond-Riggs Library, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE. In addition, computers are available at the resource center at DC’s American Job Center, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE (entrance on Hamilton Street).

 

Fort Totten Square Walmart is officially open

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square, Uncategorized and tagged with ,
Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, FTSQ Walmart store manager Paul Hill cut the ribbon to officially open the Walmart at Fort Totten Square. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield, Co-Chair of Lamond-Riggs Development Task Force

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, and Walmart store manager Paul Hill cut the ribbon to officially open the Walmart at Fort Totten Square. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield, Co-Chair of the Lamond-Riggs Development Task Force

On October 28, 2015, Mayor Bowser and Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd joined a number of Walmart representatives in cheering “Jobs!” as they cut the ribbon to officially open the Walmart at Fort Totten Square (310 Riggs Road NE). Festivities began early at 7:00 am. Led by store manager Paul Hill, the grand opening celebration was filled with music, speeches, and Walmart cheers. There were some consistent themes–affordable retail, jobs, keeping tax money in DC–in everyone’s remarks.

Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke of the long history of the project, which incidentally tracks her public service career in DC. A resident in the neighborhood, the mayor served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner and with a number of other residents created the Lamond-Riggs Development Task Force. As we all know, Bowser went on to become councilmember for ward 4 and eventually mayor. The task force with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) worked to develop the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue small area plan. That plan created the blueprint for development in the neighborhood. The mayor noted the impetus for the plan was the desire for high quality services and amenities in the neighborhood. She highlighted the reconfiguration of the South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road intersection that eliminated the fly-bys as the start of creating an urban square, one in which people can walk to dining and shopping. The mayor gave a nod to Walmart’s movement towards increasing wages. She turned what is often a criticism–the fact that there are now two Walmarts 1.5 miles from each other in ward 4–into a positive by saying that means there are 600 people working in the ward at those two stores.

The mayor acknowledged that there is still some work to do on the South Dakota Avenue-Riggs Road intersection that the city spent almost $10 million to reconfigure. DDOT is working on a long-term engineering solution. In the interim, there are traffic control officers at the intersection. They will be there everyday during rush hour, 7:00 am-9:30 am and 4:00 pm-6:30 pm, to direct the flow of traffic and make sure drivers do not block the box.

Councilmember Todd echoed many of the mayor’s remarks. He too acknowledged the efforts of the LRCA and the task force in advocating for development reflective and inclusive of all residents. Giving a shout out to his former boss, he said Mayor Bowser’s efforts to secure funding to reconfigure the South Dakota Avenue-Riggs Road intersection when she served on the council literally paved the way for this moment. He also celebrated keeping tax money in DC and noted there are over 100 Ward 4 residents working in the store.

The pharmacy manager of the store is one of those ward 4 residents. Repeating the theme of affordable retail options, the pharmacy manager said Walmart is proud to provide savings on generic prescription drugs. The store will be administering 300 flu shots to the first 300 customers who request a flu shot at the pharmacy. (It is completely possible that by the time this post is published, the free flu shots will be gone). The pharmacy is also offering free blood pressure screenings.  On October 31, the store will be teaming up with its nonprofit partner Mary’s Center to provide a dental clinic for residents.

Anthony Greenberg, principal of The JBG Companies, the developer of Fort Totten Square, called Fort Totten Square transformative for the neighborhood and noted that it would not have happened without Walmart’s early commitment to not just building a store, but one in a vertical alignment mixed-use development. He mentioned the second phase of the project, stating that his company wishes to continue smart and responsible development with that project.

Walmart’s regional manager spoke briefly about how the store will stimulate DC’s economy and provide affordable products. He reiterated Walmart’s commitment to giving back and hiring DC residents. He noted that nearly 75% of Walmart’s management started off as hourly workers.

At almost 120,000 square feet, the store is the largest Walmart built so far in DC. It has a sizable grocery component, around 50,000 square feet, which is about the size of typical grocery store. Operating hours are 6:00 am-midnight. The store has 24 hour security and there is free underground parking. During the first few weeks that the store is open, if there are products you would like the store to carry or have other suggestions or complaints, just let the store manager Paul Hill know.

 

 

 

 

 

October 28: DHCD Affordable Housing & Community Needs Forum

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized and tagged with

Recently, we posted about DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s survey on affordable housing needs. Tomorrow at 6:30 pm at Shaw Library (1630 7th Street NW), DHCD managers are hosting an informal forum. If you feel strongly about affordable housing, stop by the forum tomorrow to share your thoughts. If you cannot make the forum, remember to fill out the survey.

DHCD Affordable Housing & Community Needs Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

From the listserv. Please encourage your neighbors to take the survey.

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The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) created an online survey to solicit input for affordable housing and community needs in DC. The results will help shape the FY 2016 – FY 2020 Consolidated Plan (“Plan”). The document is updated every five years and submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). All projects and initiatives funded over the next five years will tie back to the policies and priorities outlined in this plan. This survey, along with public hearings and informal events, will drive DHCD’s Needs Assessment Analysis for this 5-year update. Share your thoughts with us and take the survey! For more information, visit DC Draft FY2016-FY2020 Consolidated Plan | dhcd

Crime update

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

A neighbor recently expressed concern about sounds of gunshots around the 800/900 blocks of Hamilton Street on two separate occasions, once on September 26 and again on October 19. I emailed Fourth District Commander Manlapaz about this and asked if there was any information they can provide at this time, if there is a pattern that we should be concerned about, and if there is anything residents can do to help police in addition to calling 911. Below is his response:

I have included Lt. Rosenthal, the PSA manager for this area for her attention. We don’t have any information at this point as to the source of the gunfire. We still ask that suspicious persons, activities, or vehicles be reported to 911.

I encourage residents to join MPD’s 4th District listserv. You can ask MPD officials about crimes (call 911 to actually report a crime). The more people who are bringing matters to the attention of the Commander, the better. Also, the PSA 405 meetings are combined with the monthly ANC 5A meetings. The next one is on October 28 at 6:45 pm at UDC-CC, Backus. That would be a good opportunity to bring public safety matters to the attention of MPD officials.

 

October 21: DC Utopia – Visionary Plans for the Future City

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized and tagged with

H/T to a neighbor for information about this event. Free, but registration required

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District of Change
D.C. Utopia – Visionary Plans for the Future City
Wednesday, October 21, 7:00 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

 

As the District of Columbia continues its transformation from government town to destination city, we examine different visions for the future. Are they feasible? Can they co-exist? Are they relevant?
 
Join moderator David Plotz in a discussion with Julian Hunt, founder of the Dupont Underground; Andy Shallal, artist, social entrepreneur and founder of Busboys and Poets; and Jair Lynch, Olympic medalist and founder of Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners are they examine their ideal visions of a future D.C.
 
Please click HERE to RSVP to this event (districtofchange-dcutopia.eventbrite.com)
District of Change is an ongoing series at the DC Public Library examining the transformation of Washington, D.C. It is produced by former Slate editor David Plotz and published author Hanna Rosin in conjunction with the DC Public Library Foundation. Each event will address a topic pertaining to D.C. culture and feature a panel of guests who will lead the discussion.

October 17 & 18: Couple of nearby festivities

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

October 17 – Best of Brookland

From Bozzuto Homes:

Join Us at the Festival for All Things Brookland!

Featuring Live Music, Food and Entertainment From Local Hot Spots:

Busboys and Poets | Hälsa | Brookland Pint | Brookland’s Finest | &Pizza | The Dew Drop Inn DC | Menomale | Community Foodworks | Smith Public Trust | A Creative DC | Dance Place | Barnes and Noble – CUA | South Rail | The Low Counts

Sponsored by Gallery Towns by Bozzuto Homes

 

October 18 – Takoma Park Street Festival

From Old Takoma Business Association:

Reminder! The 34th Annual Takoma Park Street Festival, Version 2.0, will take place THIS Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 10am-5pm in Takoma on Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, MD to Carroll Street, NW in Takoma, DC.

NEW! We have reschedule one stage of music for the day at the Gazebo. Children’s performer Mr. Gabe will kick it off at 11:00am, followed by 12:00noon -The Meer, 1:00pm – ilyAIMY, 2pm- Jay Summerour and James Mabry, 3:00pm – The Smokin’ Polecats and 4:00pm – Esther Haynes

The festival includes a talented mix of local artists, non-profits, green companies and food trucks. The Crawl is back  – festival attendees may purchase commemorative TAKOMA mugs good for discounted pours throughout the day at participating businesses.  Get your mug at the Takoma Pop Up (near Suntrust Bank) which will also include the latest Takoma gear. We have new colors and designs in adults, womens and kids t-shirts, plus onesies and hats.

For the kids: Mr Gabe, moonbounces plus the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department Open House during festival hours. TPVFD, 7201 Carroll Ave http://www.tpvfd.org/

We still need volunteers!  SSL hours available.  Please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4daaae2eaa8-takoma

More information:  http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/featured-events/takoma-park-festival/

Event hosted by the Old Takoma Business Association, Your Main Street Takoma.

 

Fort Totten Square: Walmart opening 10/28/15 & other updates

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square and tagged with , ,

Phase I: Fort Totten Square

FTSQ Walmart grand opening

Lots of people have asked and now we know the Fort Totten Square Walmart will have its grand opening on October 28, 2015. Operating hours will be 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight.

FTSQ retail pic

As for the other retailers, Subway and Five Guys have signed leases. Subway’s signs are up. Five Guys is waiting for permits from DCRA. At last week’s LRCA meeting, the developers announced they are in negotiation to fill the two remaining retail spaces. Pending successful negotiation, the space on the corner of 3rd Street and Riggs Road NE will be a new “restaurant” concept by a local owner. Restaurant is in quotation marks because it will not be a sit-down restaurant exactly, but there may be tables outside. They have not publicly revealed what the new concept is, but they did say we are sort of a test market for the concept.

The other space, which will be between Subway and Five Guys, on the corner of Chillum Place and Riggs Road NE will be a non-restaurant use. They declined to elaborate what that use will be, but they made a previous announcement, so make of that what you will.

Phase II: Townhomes and retail

Surplus property site

Phase II site

In previous posts, we mentioned there is a second phase to the project, which will be located across the street from the first phase. The developers and District officials are still negotiating the purchase of District-owned land adjacent to land already owned by the developers on the southeastern corner of South Dakota Avenue at Riggs Road NE. The District-owned land has to go through the public disposition process.

Originally the plan for the combined parcels was for more rental apartments with retail. The plan was changed to approximately 160 to 170 for-sale townhomes and roughly 27,000 square feet of retail because the developers now believe the market favors for-sale homes over more rental units in the neighborhood. One reader asked how they could possibly fit that many homes on the property. The answer is that the current conceptual plan calls for approximately 150 back-to-back townhomes and  approximately 20 loft townhomes. Back-to-back townhomes are exactly what they sound like, so more homes can be packed on the site. This is just a conceptual plan and it may change, so there are no renderings or real site plans to provide, except for those filed with the Office of Zoning. The publicly filed documents are available on the Office of Zoning’s website by searching case number 17606E.

At last week’s LRCA meeting, the developer said he thinks negotiations will be settled in a month or so. We do not know if he was speaking off the cuff, but if he is correct, then more details will be forthcoming soon. In the interim, remember we asked about community benefits. If you have additional thoughts about that, let us know in the comments.

Traffic Fatality on Sargent Rd NE

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

From MPD:

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Public Information Office 202-727-4383

October 14, 2015

Correction To Traffic Fatality:

5000 Block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, NE

 (Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Unit are investigating a traffic fatality which occurred in the 5000 block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, Northeast, on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at approximately 6:30 am.

An adult male was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road in the 5000 block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, Northeast. The striking vehicle did not remain on the scene. Immediately following the collision, the victim was struck again by a second vehicle. The second driver remained on the scene. The victim succumbed to his injuries, while on the scene. During the investigation, the driver of the initial striking vehicle was identified and is currently cooperating with police.

The decedent has been identified as 62-year-old John O. Lindberg of Northwest, DC.

A release on October 13, 2015 erroneously identified the decedent in this case as Leroy Barnes.  The correct identification for the decedent is John O. Lindberg.

Investigation into the crash is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The Metropolitan Police Department is asking anyone with information about this case to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

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ANC 4B07 SMD Meeting Tonight

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

For those of you on the Lamond side, Commissioner Judi Jones posted notice of an ANC 4B07 SMD meeting tonight. Agenda includes representatives from Appelles marijuana cultivation center, which will be operating at 6523 Chillum Place NW.

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015
At
Lamond Community Center
20 Tuckerman Street, NE
From
6pm to 8pm
Invited and Expected Guests
 
Mr. Keith Anderson,
DPR Director
*~*~*~~*~*
Appelles, LLC Reps
*~*~*~*~*
Vincent Orange, At Large Council Member
Please come out and bring a neighbor!!

Fort Totten Vibrant Streets Part III: Start at Step One

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

On September, 24, 2015, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association teamed up with Streetsense and DC’s Office of Planning (OP) to host “Vibrant Retail Streets – Fort Totten.” This is the final post in this three-part series on the presentation, available here: Fort Totten – Application of DC Vibrant Retail Streets (pdf). The first part discussed the market analysis conducted by Streetsense. The second part discussed ways to impact retail attraction. This post concludes with how to proceed.

Conclusion: Start at step one – Managed

A large amount of retail will be coming online in the next three to five years. The neighborhood will change, maybe not on the scale of say Columbia Heights, but enough to have a noticeable effect on residents. Between the trepidation and enthusiasm many feel as the buildings start to go up and retailers are announced, there is a need to have realistic expectations of what our vibrant streets may look like. Recall that Streetsense and OP identified several characteristics that vibrant streets share:

(1) Managed by a civic/nonprofit or merchant association;

(2) Retail-appropriate spaces like transparent storefronts and wide sidewalks;

(3) Mix of tenants;

(4) Safe as perceived by shoppers and pedestrians;

(5) Championed by private and/or public sectors;

(6) Anchored by a cultural feature that attracts people for a non-commercial use;

(7) Walkable as part of a walkable community; and

(8) Unified by a common character.

The ultimate takeaway from the presentation is that retailers will be most successful if there is an organizational framework in place that can manage the retail process, so starting with step one of the toolkit is the best place to start. According to Streetsense, the purpose of having a retail-specific organization is not to champion the vibrant street, but to have a structure in place to allow residents, retailers, elected and public sector officials, and other stakeholders to all have a seat at the proverbial table. For example, the organization could have an on-boarding process for retailers new to the neighborhood. If residents noticed a problem with trash, then they could take it to the retail organization to have it addressed because the retailer would be part of the organization and would understand its responsibility.

Streetsense and OP brainstormed a few ways in which this organization could take shape. It could be through the civic association, either a committee or sub-committee, through a separate business association, or once fully organized, a Main Streets group. We do not have all the answers right now. We do know, however, that the group should be inclusive, open to residents of the various neighborhoods bordering these projects.

If you have thoughts about any aspect of the presentation, whether market analysis, retail attraction, or how to manage the process, let us know in the comments.

 

 

Break-in on Kennedy Street

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

A neighbor asked to post information about a break-in that occurred on Tuesday in the 700 block of Kennedy Street NE:

There was a brazen break-in of a home in the 700 block of Kennedy Street NE yesterday. It happened between 2pm and 4pm, no one was hurt, the residents were not home at the time.  Neighbors should be aware and vigilant about unusual activity around their homes and report anything out of the ordinary to DCMPD.

Glad to hear no one was hurt. The neighbor said the back door was kicked in. On that note, I am a big fan of security doors and house alarms. Security doors are not the most attractive, but they will make it harder for someone to break in by kicking in a door. And house alarms that make a loud, obnoxious noise when they go off and that connect to a dispatch system might scare some intruders off. As always, be vigilant and keep a look out for each other’s homes.

Fort Totten Vibrant Streets Part II: Retail Attraction

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development and tagged with

Ways to Impact Retail Attraction

On September, 24, 2015, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association teamed up with Streetsense and DC’s Office of Planning (OP) to host “Vibrant Retail Streets – Fort Totten.” This is part two in a three-part series on the presentation, available here: Fort Totten – Application of DC Vibrant Retail Streets (pdf). The first part discussed the market analysis conducted by Streetsense. This post discusses suggestions made by Streetsense and OP on how residents can have an impact on retail attraction.

1. Give retail market time to prove itself: Want salad? Eat Five Guys

This area is an unproven, untapped market. Some of us may not be super thrilled about the announced retail options in phase one of Fort Totten Square (Five Guys and Subway), but they need to be supported because the success of those businesses will lead to more success. So say Streetsense and OP. That does not mean each one of us has to make hamburgers and cold cuts a regular part of our diet, but a little patronage will not hurt. On the contrary, giving dollars to those businesses will help our long-term goal of getting better retailers. If Five Guys and Subway do well, other (more desirable) retailers will see that this is a market in which they can do business.

On a personal note, this is a hard recommendation to stomach. If a developer knows that the retailers it is bringing in are not desired, then it should not be a surprise when people do not want to patronize them. If residents do not patronize them, then the conclusion becomes that the area cannot support retail when really the conclusion should be we will support the retail we want. Nevertheless, I have been repeatedly told that is the wrong attitude to have, so I will heed the advice from the experts. If we want a place to get a good salad or have a sit-down meal with drinks in the future, we should eat Subway and Five Guys . (I am not seriously knocking these places. It would have been nice to have one healthy sit-down option instead of all fast food in Fort Totten Square, but these are not bad options as far as fast food and non-sit-down options go).

2. Practical enthusiasm

Streetsense said residents should encourage developers to be ambitious in their tenanting strategies — but don’t be unrealistic. In other words, residents should have “practical enthusiasm.” I like this phrase because it nicely sums up the entire presentation. The great thing about the market analysis that was done is that we now have a better sense of what the neighborhood can support so we can manage our expectations. No, we are likely not getting a Lululemon any time soon. But we can shoot for a Panera Bread (or something like that and I know I am mixing retail categories with that example). Maybe we do not get the sit-down restaurant right away, and instead get a drugstore or dry cleaners. These are basic needs of any neighborhood, so there is room for excitement over these if they are designed well.

3. Understand tenants cannot go just anywhere, even with demand

Different retailers have different space requirements. Streetsense and OP held a full-day workshop in July that went into detail about retail economics. There, they explained the types of spaces retailers look for. For successful vibrant streets, we know that ground-floor retail space that engages the sidewalk and that is built for retail use is critical. Beyond that retailers have clear ideas about their space requirements. Retail space is classified in a few categories and share a few typical characteristics, according to Streetsense.

  • Class A space:
    • Located at major intersections; prominently situated among in-line establishments
    • Minimum 14 feet floor-to-ceiling height
    • At least 20 feet storefront width
    • Depth of 45 to 90 feet
    • Constructed with quality materials
    • Well-maintained
    • Visible from primary streets
    • Properly lit exterior and display spaces
    • Clear pedestrian and vehicular access
    • Associated or adjacent parking
  • Class B space:
    • Well-situated among in-line establishments
    • 12 feet or more floor-to-ceiling height
    • At least 15 feet storefront width
    • Well-maintained
  • Class C space:
    •  Floor-to-ceiling height less than 12 feet
    • Storefront width of less than 15 feet
  • Build-to-Suit (BTS):
    • Constructed for specific tenant
    • Conversion to another use or tenant difficult
    • McDonalds is a classic example

One thing made clear is that new construction does not automatically equate to Class A space. And having some Class B or Class C retail space is not necessarily a negative. One of the things Streetsense and OP hoped to do with this presentation and the toolkit is share some insight into how retailers make decisions so that if a developer presents a site plan with what looks to have mainly Class C space (even if it is new construction) and is promising retail that would need Class A space, then residents can engage in a conversation with the developer about how realistic the plan is and determine what may be the developer’s more realistic vision and tenant strategy.

4. Support office development when the market improves

One challenge this neighborhood presents for retailers is a low daytime population within a one mile radius of the commercial nodes. Particularly for food and beverage retailers, like the coffee shop many people want, sufficient daytime traffic is critical. Certainly there are several businesses in the neighborhood, but many of them are small businesses. There are a few medium to larger size ones like the community college and Food & Friends. One resident at the meeting thought it was curious that no forthcoming development is being marketed with office space, but apparently office projects are tough to finance right now. So Streetsense’s recommendation is that residents support office development when the market improves to bolster food and beverage demand.

I am not sure how this recommendation will fly. There have already been plenty of concerns expressed over traffic and parking. Some residents think the planned projects are too big at four and five stories and some ado has been made about wanting to maintain a low-density neighborhood. But it is clear that if residents want more food and beverage retailers, decent places to share a meal with family, friends, neighbors, then we need more people who will be able to support those businesses.

5. Identify entrepreneurial spirit among residents

OP said this is the only neighborhood in which they are making the recommendation to identify entrepreneurial spirit among neighborhood residents. There is and will be plenty of Class C space available. These spaces command less rent than Class A and B space, so they may be more accessible to residents with small businesses. We love to talk about supporting local businesses and always make a point of asking developers to keep an eye out for great local retailers.

Why not create that great retail ourselves. Residents who have given serious thought to opening their own business, whether food and beverage, some sort of maker/creative space, or any other type of small business should realize that there will be an opportunity to work in and shape the neighborhood. So work on those business plans, host a pop-up event, invite neighbors over to sample your latest recipe. Who knows, you could end up opening a great neighborhood spot.

ANC 5A September 30, 2015 Meeting Recap: Crime Bill; Bridges & Briya; DC Clean Rivers Project

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A and tagged with ,

Now that ANC 5A has started updating its website with meeting minutes, I will not be posting full recaps of the ANC meetings. Occasionally, I will post highlights from the meetings.

ANC 5A Meeting September 30, 2015

Councilmember McDuffie’s crime bill

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie spoke at length about his crime bill, the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act of 2015 (“NEAR Act”). He described this bill as taking an holistic approach to public safety and treating public safety as a public health issue. The bill would create an Office of Neighborhood Engagement and Safety, give grantmaking authority to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, provide incentives for youth identified as most at risk for getting into trouble, create a Community Crime Prevention Team Pilot Program, and require MPD to collect data and provide training in certain areas. For more information about the bill click here.

Bridges and Briya Public Charter School

We previously posted about the award of the Mamie D. Lee school building (110 Gallatin Street NE) to Bridges and Briya Public Charter School. They are teaming up with Mary’s Center, which will open a new location next to the school and offer dental and comprehensive medical services, including geriatric services. Mary’s Center plans to operate during normal business hours.

Bridges and Briya brought boards with their site plan and a few renderings. They said razing of a portion of the site should be completed soon and additions to both sides of the existing building will be constructed during winter and spring so that the school can be open in time for the 2016-2017 school year. There will be limited on-site parking, primarily for staff. Drop-off for students will take place within the site. They indicated they would like community input on a playground, which could be open to the community during non-school hours. There will also be a multi-purpose room in the school, which may also be available for community use. If you have suggestions/concerns about the school/medical facility, contact Commissioner Sandi Washington at 5A07@anc.dc.gov.

DC Clean Rivers Project

DC Water presented on its Clean Rivers Project Green Infrastructure Program. Part of ANC 5A falls within the Rock Creek Project A area. This area is slated for the first phase of work. DC Water will hold a public meeting on October 22, 2015:

DC Water will hold a public meeting to present next steps for Green Infrastructure (GI) Program implementation and seek input on potential locations to implement these GI practices. DC Water is currently conducting field investigations in the Rock Creek sewershed in the area from 3rd Place NW to First Street NE and from Oglethorpe Street NW to Gallatin Street NW. This phase of work consists of site surveys to gather background information for the design of GI to be constructed under the DC Clean Rivers Project.

This first phase of work entails finding locations, such as alleyways, parking lanes, and open places along the streets, that are suitable for green infrastructure installation. They are really looking to maximize co-benefits, such as replacing crumbling alleyways with permeable alleyways. For a copy of the presentation click here: DC Clean Rivers Project_ANC 5A_Presentation 09.30.15 (pdf).

Attend the October 22nd meeting to find out more.

Thursday, October 22

Presentation 6:30 pm

Open House 7:00 pm

Washington Latin Public Charter School, Multipurpose Room

5200 2nd Street NW

2015 1022 RC-A Public Meeting Invitation