ANC 5A packed the agenda for its meeting on June 26, 2019, the final meeting before the summer break. Isaiah Burroughs, who previously represented ANC 5A04, which covers Catholic University, has resigned because he graduated from Catholic in May. All other comissioners were present: Frank Wilds (5A01), Grace Lewis (5A02), Emily Lucio Singer (5A03), Ronnie Edwards (5A05), Jamaal Lampkins (5A06), Sandi Washington (5A07), and Gordon Fletcher (5A08).
ANC Business
Commissioners voted for Commissioner Singer (5A03) to replace Mr. Burroughs as the new secretary for the ANC.
The ANC wants to purchase “Do Not Litter” signs. Resident input on the issue was mixed, but it appears that the ANC is going to move ahead with the purchase. They are still researching the cost.
Lt. Patrick Schaut is new to MPD’s Fourth District. The best way to reach him is by email at patrick.schaut@dc.gov. Usual report: You can report tips anonymously via text at 50411. Take advantage of the camera voucher/rebate program. If you are buying and selling online, arrange pickup at a police station to be safe. The McDonald’s in the 4900 block of South Dakota Avenue NE was robbed in the early morning hours earlier this week.
Councilmember McDuffie Satellite Office at Luke C. Moore
Next week, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie will open a satellite office at Luke C. Moore High School, located at 1001 Monroe Street NE. The satellite office will be open Tuesday and Thursday each week from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (except next week when the office will be open on Friday July 5 instead of Thursday July 4). It will be staffed by Kelley Cislo, Silas Grant, and Jonathan McNair. If you have any issues, drop in. The office plans to set up a calendar so that residents can reserve 30-minute time slots.
Rocketship Fort Totten
The big presentation for the evening came from a team that is planning to open a Rocketship public charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in two older warehouse buildings owned by the Cafritz Foundation near Fort Totten metro (5450 3rd Street NE) in fall 2020. Some background: Recall we previously shared that the Cafritz Foundation intended to lease two older warehouse buildings located at 3rd and Kennedy Street NE to City Arts and Prep Public Charter School, which was then located in Edgewood. I only learned that information when I looked at the zoning case file for Art Place at Fort Totten and noticed a letter from the Foundation’s previous counsel asking the Zoning Administrator for confirmation that the developer could lease the two warehouse buildings to a charter school as a matter of right. I asked for updates about the charter school, did not get any, and was eventually told that City Arts was being shut down and that the Foundation was in negotiations to lease to a different school. City Arts did in fact close at the end of the 2018-2019 program year. Now, the Foundation is finalizing a lease with Rocketship, which is a national network of public charter schools that started out in California. The school is known for embracing “blended learning,” which incorporates online learning into the curriculum.
The school plans to open in phases, occupying one building in fall 2020 and eventually the second one in fall 2021. It will focus on STEAM, robotics, and foreign language. Rocketship partners with AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School to serve pre-kindergarten (PK3 and PK4) students at its locations, so the Fort Totten location will serve those grades as well. From what I recall of the presentation, their target enrollment for fall 2020 is 100 Rocketship students and 50 AppleTree students. They hope to eventually grow to 400 students. It is worth taking a look at the presentation to see what they are proposing for the Fort Totten location.
I asked the team about Rocketship’s failure to launch in Ward 5 last year, which was widely reported in local media. When I asked what has changed between last year and this year such that they believe they will successfully get off the ground at the Fort Totten location, they explained that there is new leadership leading the effort this time around. They also said the previous location they were seeking in Brookland was only going to be a temporary location while they looked for permanent space. Accordingly, they said their enrollment numbers were lower than they wanted, so they decided not to open and to focus on finding a permanent space. That explanation pretty much tracks what they said in their public statement last year. They plan to have a 35-year lease at the Fort Totten location so they are definitely committed to being part of the community for a long time.
They said Rocketship’s model is to open quality schools in underserved areas. There are three charter schools around the corner from the Fort Totten location, with another three or four public charter or traditional public elementary schools within a mile radius of the Fort Totten location. Rocketship currently operates two schools in DC, Rise Academy in Ward 7 and Legacy Prep in Ward 8.
The ANC meeting was the first stop on their community engagement tour, so look out for more community meetings after the summer break. By that point, their traffic study should be completed or just about, and the school will have a formal presentation on the design and other aspects of the school.
Rocketship design presentation 
Wesley Housing
Wesley Housing representatives were back before the commission to share the concerns they have heard from the Fort Totten community about the proposal to replace an existing apartment building on a triangular island at Hawaii Avenue NE, Rock Creek Church Road NW, and Allison Street NW with a new building. The new building will consist of all income-restricted units just as the existing one. The existing building has 34 units, and Wesley initially planned 78 units in the new one. Some residents in that area feel that is too many. The existing building does not have any three-bedroom units. The planned building will have three-bedroom units and a decent number of two-bedroom units. District officials and residents always talk about the lack of affordable family size units in DC so this project will address that need.
Residents apparently also have concerns about the height of the proposed building. The existing building is three stories. The new one is planned to be five stories, with the fifth story set back. Residents have also asked if the developer can increase the number of the planned 12 parking spaces, which is the minimum required for the site. The current site does not have any parking spaces. Residents have also asked the developer to work out where the building’s entrance will be located because of concern that ride-hail vehicles will drop off residents and impede the flow of traffic on Hawaii, where the proposed entrance is located. Over the summer, the developer will continue to meet with the Fort Totten Civic Association and Commissioner Sandi Washington (5A07) to seek resolution on these issues before the Zoning Commission hearing, which is scheduled for September 16.
Aerial view of existing building 
Aerial rendering of proposed new building
Providence Urgent Care and Caroll Manor Update
Due to the closure of Providence Hospital, Carroll Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will begin operating as an affiliate of Ascension Living. Services will remain the same, but they do plan to renovate part of the nursing home facilities.
The urgent care facility at Providence will open July 9 in the former emergency department. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for August 2. Business hours will be 8:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekdays and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekends (including Sunday). Follow updates on the planned healthy village at www.providencehealthyvillage.org. Share feedback at communityrelationsdc@ascension.org.
Verizon
Verizon plans to install small cells (Class B installation) throughout the District to support its new 5G technology. One will be located near Riggs Road NE and Blair Street NE.
Aggregate Industries
Aggregate Industries has operated in Fort Totten since 1957. The company has a corporate giving policy for giving away concrete to worthy projects, such as installing handicap access ramps at homes for residents in need. If you have any ideas in mind, please contact them.
Student Seeking Interviews About Providence Hospital Closure
Blake Coleman, a 16-year-old student in the neighborhood, is seeking to interview residents about the impact of Providence Hospital’s closure. Contact her at bcoleman@cathedral.org.
DC MicroTransit
DC is operating a new shared shuttle service called DC MicroTransit in parts of Northeast and Northwest DC thanks to a federal grant. The original boundaries have expanded since the launch of the service earlier this month. New boundaries: Georgia Avenue (west), Florida Avenue (south), Eastern Avenue (east), and Bladensburg Road (south). Service is free until September 30, 2019. After that each ride will cost $3.00. Download the MicroTransit app or call (202) 398-0500.
Free Summer Meals
DC is offering free summer meals at neighborhood libraries and recreation centers throughout DC.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
The location of the charter school would appear to be within the boundaries of Block C of the Art Place PUD, which according to an earlier post, Cafritz expects to file a PUD application for Block C in either 2024 or 2030. If the charter school will truly be signing a 35 year lease, there really would be no change to Block C as the charter school would occupy the majority of the site. Also, not sure if locating a school in an area that will be active construction zone for the next 5-10 years is the best idea.
Thanks NSRP for the detailed summary.
I struggle to understand some of the concerns regarding the Wesley Housing proposal. The current building is an eyesore–made worse by sitting at a prominent intersection–and the proposed building looks like a significant upgrade for the neighborhood (not to mention the building’s current residents). The addition of affordable family-sized units is also desperately needed in this city. Not that people shouldn’t feel free to share concerns, but the benefits of this project for the neighborhood and families seem to far outweigh the potential negatives.