Catching up on blog news regarding Art Place at Fort Totten.

A zoning commission hearing on the second phase of the project (Block B) is scheduled for April 4, 2019.

On March 5, 2019, the developer submitted comprehensive transportation review plans. The documents are lengthy so not linking here, but will link to the transportation demand managment portion of the filing that discusses ways of mitigating traffic and parking congestion. On March 15, the developer filed a supplemental prehearing submission, which includes a construction management plan and proposed security policies. The submission also discusses further refinements to the plaza areas, including a newly proposed dog run at the corner of 4th and Kennedy Street NE.

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Civic Association

On March 19, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association filed with the Zoning Commission a request for party status in support of the project. (Disclosure: I currently serve as president of the LRCA). As relayed by the LRCA, that decision was based on a paper and online survey conducted over several months, as well as feedback received in the multiple public meetings that have taken place on this project since the plans were originally filed in September 2018. Yesterday evening, the full LRCA body voted to support the project, concurring with the areas of concerns outlined in the LRCA’s party status application with one additional one. Full list of concerns: (1) Impacts of traffic on neighborhood; (2) Ensuring there are adequate pedestrian pathways; (3) Stormwater management; (4) Ensuring there is adequate security to protect the well-being of visitors to the neighborhood as well as residents; (5) Ensuring there is a plan to provide high-quality, sustainable retail, including neighborhood-serving retail; (6) Ensuring the project is well-integrated into the community; (7) Waste management; and (8) Rodent control.

District Agencies

DC’s Office of Planning (OP) submitted its final report on March 25, recommending approval of the project subject to receipt of additional information (copied from report below):

• Clarification of overall lot occupancy and FAR with and without public streets and alleys, distinguishing between those that would remain open and those proposed for closure;
• Clarification of proposed square footages and FARs of particular uses, noting the size of particular uses both with and without space that does not count towards FAR;
• Clarification of whether the applicant is committing to LEED Gold Certification for Building B;
• Submission of additional illustrations of the relationship between Building A and the proposed Building B, particularly a ground level view from the to-be-closed 4th Street to Building A;
• Submission of larger-scale drawings of façade details;
• Submission of diagrams showing the distribution of residential unit types throughout the east and west wings of Building B;
• The addition of balconies to residential elements;
• List amenities focused on project residents;
• Clarification of where the proffered dog run will be relocated after it is eliminated by the future realignment of Kennedy Street;
• Clarification of whether additional retail leases have been signed for Building A;
• Additional detail about wayfinding elements for pedestrians and emergency vehicles;
• Clarify amount of solar panels to be provided.

OP restated its encouragement for the Applicant to provide additional affordable units (accessible at lower family median incomes) beyond the total 171 affordable units previously approved for the entire development, of which 141 have already been constructed as part of the first phase and an additional 30 subsidized artist housing units are planned for the second phase. OP recommends that the 30 artist units be affordable for the life of the project (the developer is proposing 20 years). OP also recommends that the developer consider adding three-bedroom units to accommodate families for any future phases that will incorporate residential uses. OP encourages the developer to work with the community on securing neighborhood-serving retail and to consider neighborhood-based employment training for jobs that will be created on the site. All good ideas consistent with what the community has sought.

DC’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) also submitted its final report on March 25, not objecting to approval subject to certain conditions (copied from report below):

• Extend the northbound left turn storage at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue by 550 feet. The extension would include the restriping of the existing median area currently closed to drivers with bollards on both sides. DDOT needs the Applicant to add lane widths to the concept plan;
• Separate eastbound left and through right lanes at South Dakota and Kennedy Street. This mitigation will reduce existing on-street parking on the south side of Kennedy Street. In addition, the available roadway width of Kennedy Street does not seem to be 34 feet as indicated in the CTR but rather approximately 30 feet. Accordingly, the Applicant should commit to implement this mitigation subject to final design and approval at public space permitting;
• Add a full signal to the intersection of South Dakota Avenue and Ingraham Street. DDOT is currently developing plans to install a HAWK signal at the intersection. The Applicant should commit to install the signal subject to DDOT approval at permitting;
• Improve pedestrian infrastructure at the intersection of Hamilton, Ingraham, and the public alley at the southwest corner of the site. The Applicant should build curb ramps where they are currently missing, and should construct a sidewalk to continue across the alley on the north side of the intersection; and
• Improve pedestrian infrastructure on 3rd Street NE, which is a potential pedestrian route between the site and the Fort Totten Metro station. 3rd Street is currently disconnected and does not meet DDOT standards. The Applicant should fund improvements to 3rd Street that provide a connection for pedestrians and bicycles, which is subject to final design and approval at public space permitting.

ANCs

On March 25, ANC 4B agreed to provide a letter in support of the project. On March 27, ANC 5A voted 5-0 in favor of a resolution to support the project. Copies of those documents are not available yet.

Main Street

On April 1, the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street submitted a letter in support of the project.

So all around, there is a lot of support for the project with recommendations for further refinements and encouragement for continued collaboration with the community and District agencies. This is a remarkable and welcome change from where the project stood several years ago.

Anyone can submit statements in support of or against the project. The case number is Zoning Commission No. 06-10D