On November 27, 2017, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the first phase of Art Place at Fort Totten, The Modern at Art Place. Developed by the Cafritz Foundation, the first phase brings 520 rental apartments and over 100,000 square feet of retail to Riggs Park.  

Calvin and Jane Cafritz gave opening remarks. Mr. Cafritz spoke about his late father Morris Cafritz, who developed the Riggs Plaza apartments as workforce housing in the 1950’s. Most of those apartment buildings were torn down in 2012 to make way for the new development.

Mrs. Cafritz followed by speaking about the role of art in bringing a community together. The Modern features works by various artists influenced by the Washington Color School. Mrs. Cafritz noted that the first phase will have a 24-hour gym (X-Sport Fitness), pharmacy, pediatric dentist, daycare facility, ANC 5A office, and possibly a coffee shop and eyewear shop later on. The retail portion is not completely built out just yet and is expected to open after the new year. The Explore! Children’s Museum is lined up for the second phase. Future phases could bring additional retail, community and family recreation space, cultural spaces, and even another school to the neighborhood, this one focused on art.

Mayor Bowser focused her remarks on the importance of maintaining affordable housing. Of the 520 apartments at the Modern, 140 are offered at below-market rate for seniors and for the tenants who resided in the Riggs Plaza apartments.

This is the second ribbon cutting for the mayor during the month of November in our neighborhood. Mayor Bowser, who lived in Riggs Park for 17 years, celebrated the opening of Culture Coffee Too on November 13. It is really exciting to see long-planned development delivering in Riggs Park.

To view video of the ribbon cutting of The Modern at Art Place, click here.