Monthly Archives: July 2018

July 31: LRCA Special Meeting on Main Street Program

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association
Special Public Meeting
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
6:30 pm
Lamond-Riggs Library Meeting Room 1 (5401 South Dakota Ave. NE)
Discussion of Main Street Program for the South Dakota Ave./Riggs Rd. NE corridor

The tenets of the Main Street program are:

  • Organization of commercial revitalization efforts (e.g., developing and sustaining financial and volunteer resources)
  • Promotion of neighborhood commercial districts (e.g., branding campaigns and special events) and individual businesses operating therein
  • Designs affecting the physical environment of the commercial district (e.g., clean teams and streetscape improvements) and the appearance of business storefronts and interiors
  • Economic vitality including business retention, recruitment, and expansion

Can’t make the meeting? Let LRCA know whether you support having a Main Street program for the South Dakota Ave/Riggs Rd. corridor. It could be because you want to see more neighborhood-serving retail along the corridor, you want to see improvements to the streetscape, beautification of certain business facades, etc. Let LRCA know what you think. If you have any questions, email info@lrcadc.org.

Metro-Donatelli Fort Totten metro project cancelled

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Metro Development

We are a little late in reporting this development news, which actually happened around May/June. Metro and Donatelli are no longer pursuing joint development of the long-term parking lot at Fort Totten metro station. We previously reported on the joint development proposal here in these posts. You can see from Donatelli’s website that the Fort Totten project is no longer listed on its upcoming projects page. In 2015, Metro selected Donatelli’s proposal to build a mixed-use development with approximately 345 rental units and 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail along with a new parking garage to replace the 422-space surface park-and-ride lot at Fort Totten metro station. The rental market has softened considerably, and lots of building has taken place around Fort Totten metro station with more in store. Fort Totten Square, a project of JBG Companies and Lowe Enterprises, delivered in 2015. JBG had previously proposed rental units for the second phase of Fort Totten Square to be located at South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE. Not too long after completing Fort Totten Square, after seeing the number of rental units in the pipeline, JBG decided to team up with EYA to develop for-sale housing for the second phase instead. The developers hope to break ground on that 160-townhome project by the end of the year. The Cafritz Foundation is still leasing up The Modern at Art Place, a 520 rental unit building at South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE that delivered in the fall of 2017. The second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten is expected to be mostly commercial. That was mostly always the plan. Future phases do have rental residential units on the books. We will just have to see if that actually comes to fruition. So it is no surprise really that developers are realizing that with the number of rentals that were in the pipeline, they would likely not be able to charge the exorbitant rents they had been charging and decided to change their minds.

Metro anticipates reissuing a request for proposals in another year. In the meantime, Metro is interested in hearing what residents would like to see at the site. Likely any RFP would require replacing the parking one-to-one. Based on previous guidance, after construction of a parking garage, there would be roughly 2.3 acres of developable space. The neighborhood needs office space, but as previously stated the second phase of the Cafritz project is supposed to deliver another 100,000 square feet of commercial space. I have always thought Aventine at Fort Totten (née Fort Totten Station, a joint development project between Metro and Clark) unfortunately set a terrible precedent for development around Fort Totten metro. Metro has acknowledged previously that it did not always get transit-oriented development right. Just because something is built next to the metro station, does not mean it is automatically designed well. The way Metro chopped up its properties around Fort Totten metro to offer for development has not been good for the neighborhood. Ideally, Metro would be able to start all over conceiving of the entire Metro property as a whole to be developed. Of course that cannot happen now.

Any design is complicated by the fact that Fort Totten is a major metro station with lots of bus bays, a long-term park-and-ride, and a short-term kiss-and-ride that is kind of awkwardly placed in the middle of everything. In 2011, DDOT released a plan for improving access to Fort Totten metro by redesigning circulation of buses, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. The joint development project was supposed to incorporate some of the recommendations in that plan. Now that Metro has cancelled the joint development, it is unclear how much of a priority it is to implement the recommendations of that plan. A couple of recommendations, such as a sidewalk on the south side of Galloway Street and connecting the station to the Met Branch Trail, are finally getting underway, but many seemingly simpler recommendations have not been done yet. Anyways, look forward to hearing more from Metro about their plans for development around Fort Totten metro station in the upcoming months.

 

Donatelli bid

Map Amendment Proposed for 3rd Street Properties

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development

The owner of properties on 3rd Street NE across from the Walmart (5642, 5648, and 5650 3rd St. NE) has filed for a map amendment to change the zoning of the properties from essentially light industrial use (officially called production, distribution, & repair or PDR) to mixed-use. The owners say they do not have a plan for the properties just yet, but color us skeptical about requesting a map amendment without some idea of what the owner wants to ultimately see at the site.

We knew this was coming. The neighborhood’s area development plan, which was approved by the DC Council in 2009, identifies these properties as development opportunity sites and recommends a land use change from PDR to moderate density mixed-use (see properties labeled Riggs Road North Industrial Site in picture below). The future land use map or FLUM recommends that these properties be designated for moderate density residential and moderate density commercial use. A hearing has not been scheduled yet. Expect to see announcements from ANC 4B about this in the future. The case number is 18-11.

See South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Area Development Plan Summary

Map of development opportunity sites in area development plan

 

Recommended land use designations for opportunity sites in area development plan

July 27: Fridays Fort Totten Concert Series with The JoGo Project

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series continues tomorrow with the JoGo Project, a funk, hip-hop, and jazz group. Eats by Swizzler Foods. On the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Hosted by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place. Keep an eye on the weather; if it’s raining too hard, they may cancel. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating.

Funding for Explore! Children’s Museum

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

The Washington Business Journal recently reported that the DC Council approved future funding for the Explore! Children’s Museum, which is planned for the second phase of the Art Place at Fort Totten development. If true, this is good news for the Cafritz Foundation. The $1 million grant is earmarked for 2023. The second phase of the development is expected to be all or mostly commercial. Besides the children’s museum, other expected uses for the second phase include a grocery store, theater, work space, and additional commercial uses. The Foundation must file its plans for the second phase with the Zoning Commission in September. There will be an ANC 5A meeting on August 1, 2018. More information will be provided there.

August 1: ANC 5A Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Public Meeting

August 1, 2018
6:45 pm
UDC-CC Backus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE)

Agenda:
1. Office of Muriel Bowser, Mayor
2. Office of Kenyan McDuffie, Ward Five Councilman
3. Art Place at Ft. Totten – Next Phase of Development
4. Update Re: ABRA Application – 4Seasons Convenience Store
5. Resignation – Commissioner Cofield-Lynch, SMD 5A03
6. Update – Providence Hospital
7. Zoning Change/Recommendations

 

 

July 28: Met Branch Trail Fort Totten Extension Groundbreaking

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Exciting! Remember all updates are located on the project website at https://www.metbranchtrail-forttotten.com.

As part of the plan to complete the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT), the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will connect Brookland to the Fort Totten Metro Station. This portion of the new 10-foot-wide multi-use trail will ease local access between the Fort Totten Metro, Catholic University and the surrounding community. Extending the trail 3,800 linear feet between Brookland and the Fort Totten Metro will make it easier to reach new development and amenities in the Lamond-Riggs community. This section of the MBT will provide pedestrians and bicyclists with a convenient and safe off-street route while traveling through the Fort Totten area.
 
Date: Saturday, July 28, 2018
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: 1st Place NE & Gallatin Street NE
 
Invitees include:
  • Mayor Muriel Bowser
  • DDOT Director Jeff Marootian
  • Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
  • WMATA Representative
  • NPS Representative

Reminder: Brookland & Rhode Island Ave. Stations Closed July 21-September 3

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

https://www.wmata.com/about/news/2018-Red-Line-Capital-Improvement-Project-starts-Saturday.cfm

Metro is encouraging Red Line customers to prepare for a major capital improvement project that will result in Brookland and Rhode Island Ave stations being closed from Saturday, July 21, 2018, through Labor Day, Monday, September 3. On the weekend of July 28-29 the work zone will be extended to Silver Spring Station, closing Takoma Station and the Red Line platform at Fort Totten.

Most Red Line customers can avoid the work zone by using the Green Line between Fort Totten and Gallery Place stations. In addition, Metro will run some Yellow Line trains to/from Greenbelt during rush hours to provide additional capacity.

During the 45-day project, free shuttle buses will replace Red Line train service between NoMa-Gallaudet U and Fort Totten stations, with additional shuttle buses serving Takoma and Silver Spring on the weekend of July 28-29. Free express shuttle buses will also operate between Brookland and Rhode Island Ave and the areas of Metro Center, Gallery Place and Union Station.

Customers should allow additional travel time or consider alternate travel options if traveling to or from the affected stations.

In order to provide faster, more efficient bus service to and from Downtown DC, Metro and the District Department of Transportation have worked together to establish a dedicated bus lane along parts of Rhode Island Ave NE for Metrobus service and shuttle buses traveling through the shutdown zone. Additional G9 MetroExtra service will operate during all hours the rail system is open, seven days a week using the dedicated bus lanes.

More information, including travel alternatives can be found on the upcoming track work page or for assistance customers may call Metro Customer Service at 202-637-7000.

Boil Water Advisory in Effect

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Update: Boil Water Advisory has been lifted

Parts of Riggs Park experienced low water pressure/no water last night. See full text of precautionary boil water advisory from DC Water & map of affected area below

DC Water Issues Precautionary Boil Water Advisory

July 13, 2018

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) advises customers to boil their water for cooking and drinking until further notice if they live within the area that is bounded by the following:

* The north is bounded by Western Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue to Nebraska Avenue to Military Rd to Missouri to New Hampshire Avenue.
* To the east by Eastern Avenue
* To the South by New York Ave to K St to Whitehurst Freeway, and
* To the west by Canal Road to the Clara Barton Pkwy.
Map of Affected Area:
https://www.dcwater.com/…/2nd%20High%20Boil%20Water%20Area_…

They should also boil their water if they experienced low water pressure or had no water after 8:30 p.m. on July 12. If customers do not have water service, they are advised to boil water when service is restored. If customers did not experience low water pressure and do not live in the affected area, customers do not need to boil their water.

On Thursday, July 12, at approximately 8:30 p.m., an open valve at Bryant Street Pumping Station resulted in a loss of pressure in portions of our distribution system for about an hour. A loss of pressure in the pipe system makes it possible for contaminants to enter the water. Due to this loss of pressure, as a precaution, affected customers are advised to boil their water until further notice. To minimize risk, customers should follow the instructions outlined below.

Customers should:

* If water is discolored, run the tap until clear, prior to boiling.
* Bring water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes.
* Allow water to cool before using.
* Store cooled water in a clean container with a cover.

Customers should use cooled, boiled water or bottled water for:

* Drinking
* Brushing teeth
* Preparing and cooking food
* Making ice
* Preparing infant formula
* Giving water to pets

The valve problem was corrected and pressure has been restored. Our teams will continue to test samples of the water and we will lift the advisory when we determine the water is safe. Customers will be notified immediately when the advisory is lifted. If you are concerned about your health or the health of your family, please consult your health care provider. Please share this information with everyone who drinks this water, especially those who may not receive this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).

For more information, visit www.dcwater.com, or read the FAQs at https://dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ. You may also contact DC Water Customer Service at 202.354.3600 or the 24-Hour Command Center at 202.612.3400.