DC Water Ward 4 Town Hall
June 30, 2020
6:30 pm
Join the virtual town hall meeting at https://www.dcwater.com/ward4townhall
DC Water Ward 5 Town Hall
July 1, 2020
6:30 pm
Join the virtual town hall meeting at https://www.dcwater.com/Ward5TownHall
Monthly Archives: June 2020
Art Place Construction Notice 06/29/2020-7/13/2020: 4th Street Closing July 2
Art Place Construction Notice 6/29/2020
Note 4th Street NE between Ingraham Street and Kennedy Street will be closed starting July 2, 2020.
Chick-fil-A Curb Cut Closures Approved with Conditions
On June 25, 2020, the District Department of Transportation’s Public Space Committee approved by a vote of 4-0-1 Chick-fil-A’s application to close two curb cuts for its planned new restaurant at 220 Riggs Road NE. Recall Chick-fil-A plans to tear down the KFC/Taco Bell located at the corner of 3rd Street NE and Riggs Road NE along with the former Dakota Liquors building next door and build a new 3,900 square foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with 42 interior seats and outdoor seating. Chick-fil-A wants to close two curb cuts on 3rd Street, including the curb cut closest to the 3rd Street/Riggs Road intersection, as well as one of the curb cuts by the Dakota Liquors building. It will retain a curb cut on 3rd Street and reconfigure the curb cut on Riggs Road. I wrote about Chick-fil-A’s traffic study in this post.
The Public Space Committee voted to approve the application with conditions. DDOT noted that the traffic study indicated adequate space for queueing on site except for Saturday afternoons. The agency stated it was satisfied with the proposed overflow queue lane. The agency requested that Chick-fil-A observe and collect data on movement and ingress and egress around the site for three months after the restaurant opens, particularly with respect to U-turns on 3rd Street near Walmart’s driveway. Before obtaining its permits, Chick-fil-A will need to collect a bond in order to ensure payment for any traffic mitigation measures, such as adjustments to the median on 3rd Street, signage, and striping. In addition, Chick-fil-A will have to work with DDOT’s Urban Forestry division on tree protection and to determine the best placement for new street trees around the site. Chick-fil-A agreed to these conditions.
ANC 4B supported the application. The ANC has also requested removal of one parking space near Walmart’s driveway along with installation of flexiposts to prevent future illegal parking in order to improve sightlines and traffic circulation.
It will be helpful to see how traffic circulates when the restaurant opens. Removal of a parking space will also be helpful. But I still think additional improvements are necessary and maybe it would make sense to wait until the restaurant opens. As already noted, there will be a lot of U-turns around the area. The immediate area would benefit from improved sidewalks and marked crosswalks. The 2nd Street/3rd Street intersection needs to be adjusted. Though Chick-fil-A stated that DDOT indicated the 2nd Street/3rd Street intersection is too far from the restaurant to have an impact on traffic circulation, that intersection still needs to be addressed. Some people will eventually figure out that it might be easier to travel down 3rd Street from Chillum Place to the restaurant rather than trying to make a U-turn into the site. The intersection at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue, reconfigured in 2011, needs to be reconfigured again because it is poorly designed.
In any case, approval of the public space permit application gets the neighborhood one step closer to having a Chick-fil-A.
June 24, 2020 ANC 5A Meeting Recap: Catholic University; Art Place; Public Safety; Census; Alley Repairs; Grants
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on June 24, 2020. Commissioners present: Grace Lewis (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio (5A03); Ronnie Edwards (5A05); Claudia Barragan (5A06); Sandi Washington (5A07); Gordon Fletcher (5A08)
(Note I did not provide an ANC 5A meeting recap for May 2020 because the commission’s secretary Commissioner Emily Lucio (5A03) produced minutes that were very detailed. Based on discussion at the June meeting, I do not expect that the ANC will continue to provide this level of detail).
The District Department of Public Works was on the agenda but did not attend due to a conflict.
Ward 5 Councilmember Report
Silas Grant, Senior Advisor to Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, noted a couple of council office personnel changes. Barbara Mitchell and Nolan Treadway have departed. Ms. Mitchell was the deputy chief of staff and Mr. Treadway was the communications director.
The DC Council has passed a series of emergency bills related to COVID-19. One piece of legislation requires utilities and telecommunications/cable providers to offer payment plans to residents.
Catholic University Residence Hall
The ANC voted 5-0-1 to support construction of Catholic’s new residence hall. Commissioner Claudia Barragan (5A06) abstained. View Catholic’s presentation here.
The Zoning hearing for the residence hall will be held in July (case number 12-01C). The residence hall is part of Catholic’s approved Campus Plan. The four-story building on John McCormack Drive NE will have 360 beds. In response to previous questions from ANC 5A, Catholic provided a list of its contractors, including local contractors. In addition, the university noted that it maintains a database of contractors so that when contracting opportunities arise, those on the list will have first opportunity. The university asked for names of local contractors who would like to be added to the database.
Commissioner Barragan expressed her belief that Catholic has not done adequate outreach, and she also expressed concerns about equity. She asked for information about how many residents in her SMD work at Catholic. She thought one good idea would be for Catholic to share employment opportunities to her SMD first before the general public.
Catholic makes up a single SMD in ANC 5A and typically does not have an ANC commissioner representing the SMD. A student served as commissioner from approximately 2016 to 2019, but the seat has been vacant since then. Two SMDs, 5A06 and 5A07, border the campus. Commissioner Sandi Washington (5A07) has been a commissioner for many years, while Commissioner Claudia Barragan (5A06) is new to the commission this year and has lived in the neighborhood for four years. It is clear that Commissioner Washington has an established working relationship with Catholic and a lot of institutional knowledge regarding Catholic, while Commissioner Barragan is just starting to build her own relationship with the university. This dynamic has led to a few testy exchanges at recent ANC meetings. One neighbor noted to me after the meeting that it would be a good idea for the ANCs to help one another, as it is unclear if that is happening.
Unrelated to the residence hall, in response to a question from Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08), Catholic representatives noted they are still working on a plan for fall classes. They will need to submit a reopening plan to DC for approval. Currently, they are thinking about having in-person classes with capability for online connection for students who cannot be present in person. They would like to have the semester start earlier than usual by August 24 so that students can be dismissed by the Thanksgiving holiday and not have to worry about traveling back and forth between Thanksgiving and the end of the semester.
ANC 5A08 Public Safety Task Force
The ANC previously approved the establishment of a resident task force to address public safety issues in ANC 5A08. At the June meeting, after discussion of the national climate around policing, the ANC decided it wants to have a larger community discussion on public safety and policing over the summer. Catholic University representatives stated they want to be part of the conversation. They noted Catholic has a new public safety chief who lives in the surrounding neighborhood and also noted that campus security officers are unarmed.
Edit: The ANC also voted to table a motion to support a statement on policing drafted by the DC Chapter of the NAACP.
Art Place at Fort Totten
24 Hour Fitness has rescinded plans to open at the Modern at Art Place, the first phase of Art Place at Fort Totten that was completed in 2017. Preparation is taking place to tear down the remaining Riggs Plaza apartment buildings for construction of the second phase of Art Place. Accordingly, know that 4th Street NE between Ingraham Street and Kennedy Street will be closing at that time, so people used to parking on that street will have to find somewhere else to park. View the most recent construction notice here.
At the next executive meeting, the ANC will discuss what to do with allocated office space for the ANC at the Modern. Art Place is a planned unit development (PUD), which required public benefits. One of the approved public benefits was free office space for the ANC. The ANC has yet to utilize the space though because there has been disagreement over which party is responsible for utilities and insurance. The Modern is requiring the ANC to have insurance in order to occupy the space and has asked the ANC for a self-insured document so that the Modern will pay utilities.
The ANC enjoys free office space at UDC-CC’s Backus campus. At the time the first phase of the Art Place development was approved, the ANC did not have office space, and therefore the commission at that time determined that it was a good idea to request office space from the developer of Art Place. Commissioner Washington, treasurer for the ANC, stated that the Office of ANC will not provide a self-insured document for a non-government building. And the Office of ANC questions why the ANC would want to give up free space in a government building. The ANC is not allowed to have two office spaces. At this stage, Commissioner Fletcher would like the ANC to resolve once and for all what it would like to do with the space at the Modern. It sounds like the ANC will not be using the office space and may instead ask that it be used for some other public purpose.
ANC 5A06 Reopen Plan
At a previous ANC meeting, Commissioner Barragan noted she wanted to work on a neighborhood-level reopening plan because she believed that the District-wide plan did not take into consideration needs and vulnerabilities of particular neighborhoods. At that time, ANC 5A Chair Ronnie Edwards told Commissioner Barragan to develop a timeline and framework for the plan and to ask for any help she needed. It appears Commmissioner Barragan has a draft document available on the ANC’s website, but it is unclear what exactly is supposed to happen from here. If you live in Commissioner Barragan’s SMD and would like information on her plan, please contact her.
Respond to the 2020 Census
There is still time to participate in the 2020 Census. The Census determines funding allocations at all levels of government, including for ANCs, so it is important for residents to respond. The Census questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete.
DDOT Alley Repairs
DDOT is planning its next round of alley restorations. If your alley is in need of repair, let your ANC commissioner know. The ANC needs to submit the list to DDOT by July 6, 2020.
Mutual Aid Grant
A resident who volunteers with a Ward 5 mutual aid group is working with Commissioner Barragan to apply for a grant from the ANC. The volunteer noted that the mutual aid group is not a 501(c)(3) organization. The volunteer stated that other ANCs have suspended any requirement that grant applicants be 501(c)(3) organizations in order to support mutual aid efforts.
At a previous ANC meeting, Silas Grant noted that Councilmember McDuffie wanted to work with Ward 5 ANCs to make them aware of mutual aid groups and to help direct aid where needed. At that time, Commissioner Barragan expressed hesitancy about supporting mutual aid groups because in some cases, these groups are not 501(c)(3) organizations and so she thought there would be liability and accountability issues.
Anyhow, with respect to this grant application, there was discussion about the need to make sure the mutual aid benefits the entirety of ANC 5A. Commissioner Barragan apparently told the applicant that she wanted to make sure the mutual aid focused on residents of SMD 5A06 because there are many residents in need in that SMD, but Commissioner Washington noted DC law requires that grants benefit the ANC as a whole.
Finally, there was some discussion about the maximum amount the group could receive. The group would like to request $5,000, but according to Commissioner Washington, the award may not exceed $2,000.
The ANC will discuss the grant application at its next executive meeting.
Donations may be made to the Ward 5 mutual aid group via venmo (@ward5mutualaid) and cashapp ($w5mutualaid). To volunteer with the group, apply at this link.
Next ANC meeting
The ANC anticipates holding a special meeting in July.
To be added to the ANC 5A email list in order to receive meeting notices and announcements, visit https://www.anc5a.org.
24 Hour Fitness out at Art Place (UPDATED)
Update 7/2/2020: The developer contacted me to let me know that 24 Hour Fitness has not rejected the lease and still might be coming to the Modern.
Original Post
At last night’s ANC 5A public meeting, ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) announced that 24 Hour Fitness has backed out of its contract to anchor the first phase of Art Place at Fort Totten due to the financial impact of COVID-19. The first phase, called the Modern at Art Place, was completed in fall 2017. As noted in this post, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy so this result is not too surprising, though disappointing. Notably HR Retail, the leasing agent for the development, has an updated brochure and site plan for Art Place that do not list 24 Hour Fitness (though 24 Hour Fitness is still listed as a confirmed tenant on HR Retail’s website). It looks like those marketing materials were updated on June 23, 2020.
With DC’s move into Phase Two of reopening on June 22, 2020, gyms are now permitted to reopen at reduced capacity. But this comes after months of being closed. Other gyms and fitness companies have also filed for bankruptcy or permanently closed locations.
I for one was really looking forward to having a decent gym in the neighborhood and I still am. I thought perhaps one benefit of not having the gym built out at Art Place at this point would be that by the time the gym finished building out the space, we would be further along in managing COVID-19, so we would have the benefit of time. It is unclear if the developer is now negotiating with another gym.
MBT Fort Totten to Takoma
At ANC 4B’s public meeting on June 22, 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented design plans in progress for the Metropolitan Branch Trail extension from Fort Totten to Takoma. View the presentation here.
A more detailed presentation of the design plans released in May 2020 is available on the MBT Fort Totten to Takoma extension website at http://metbranchtrail.com/met-branch-trail-fort-totten-to-takoma. The 100% final design plan is expected to be completed by winter 2020 with construction anticipated to begin in fall 2021.
DDOT plans to expedite installation of a full traffic signal at Riggs Road and 1st Street NE. DC Bilingual Public Charter School is near this intersection and residents and school staff have long advocated for pedestrian safety improvements along this corridor. The traffic signal will be installed in early 2021 and DDOT will later add bike specific signals when the MBT extension is constructed. There will also be a full traffic signal installed at New Hampshire Avenue NE/South Dakota Avenue NE/McDonald Place NE as part of the extension.
ANC Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) noted that some residents continue to express concern about the plan to have the trail along 1st Street NE and along McDonald Place NE. DDOT noted that separate from this design plan, the agency continues to look at an alignment closer to the red line train tracks through National Park Service land.
ANC Commissioner Geoff Bromaghim (4B07) commented about the need to look at east-west connections to the trail and to make the experience riding through a fairly industrial area a little more friendly. DDOT noted that the agency has worked with the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities to commission public art along completed portions of the trail and so that could likely be an option for the extension as well.
There are still design decisions the agency needs to make. I have always thought the plans for the segment along Blair Road look more like an extra wide sidewalk rather than a trail, but there are a lot of driveways that the agency has to take into consideration. DDOT is considering an alternative that would remove the northbound curb lane along Blair and put a protected bike lane on the street, but there are drawbacks to that option.
In early June 2020, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association distributed communication about the design plan for the Fort Totten to Takoma extension with four recommendations:
Full time Parking for Blair Road at Rittenhouse Street (Option 3) – North of Kansas Ave, speeding is a chronic problem on Blair Road. To help calm traffic, create parking for local businesses, add new safe crosswalks and make a more pleasant trail experience, DDOT should convert the extra northbound travel lane into full-time parking, add curb extensions, and add new crosswalks starting at Rittenhouse Street
Trail Priority at Driveways – Frequent driveway crossings are the biggest challenge to a low-stress and safe trail along Blair Road. DDOT must take great care in designing how and where vehicles are permitted to cross the trail, so that trail users are always given priority. Where possible DDOT should:
1. Close curb cuts to eliminate conflicts entirely
2. Shrink the width of driveway entrances and reduce turn radius to reduce speeds
3. Use striping, different paving materials, and signage to highlight the trail’s path across a driveway and communicate that trail traffic has priority
Keep the Trail in Met Branch Trail – On Blair Road, DDOT proposed an alternate design which would send walkers onto an existing sidewalk and people on bikes onto a new curbside protected bike lane. While it may be simpler to build, this design will be too stressful for kids or less confident bicyclists as iit puts people on bikes right next to car traffic and leaves them completely exposed at every driveway.
Aggressive Traffic Calming on First St NE – To ensure the trail is actually safe and low-stress, First St NE needs far more than speed bumps to slow car traffic and discourage non-local trips. DDOT should explore mini-roundabouts, chicanes, diverters, and traffic calming techniques.
If you have thoughts about specific segments of the extension, let your ANC commissioner know. In addition, written comments may be sent to metbranchtrail@dc.gov.
Run for ANC
Advisory Neighborhood Commission nominating petitions for the November 3, 2020, general election will be available this Friday, June 26. Advisory neighborhood commissioners (ANCs) are hyperlocal nonpartisan elected representatives. The ANC is a voluntary, noncompensated position. Each ANC represents a single member district (SMD) of roughly 2,000 residents. Each term is two years. Because the position is nonpartisan, generally government employees can serve (of course accounting for individual circumstances that may require recusal or prohibit participation). To get on the ballot, a candidate needs only 10 signatures from voters residing in the same SMD as the candidate.
Having an effective ANC is really important. Our neighborhood is seeing a lot of development and change. Our neighborhood straddles Wards 4 and 5 and therefore is represented by two different commissions–ANC 4B and ANC 5A. There are a certain number of monthly meetings that each commission must hold, but otherwise as with any voluntary position, it is as much work as one wants it to be.
I try to keep things positive on the blog, so I will just make a general observation that in recent years, some of our ANCs have been missing in action or are otherwise sowing division in the community. So I appeal to reasonable, sensible residents who care about the community to consider serving. I have made this appeal periodically over the years. Maybe you like researching, maybe you have ideas about DC’s budget, maybe you have specific ideas about how to improve the neighborhood, maybe you would like to advocate for the community before DC agencies. Maybe you have asked yourself, “Did anyone think of this or that?” when it comes to development. Maybe you have a list of things you wish DDOT were doing in the neighborhood. Well serving as an ANC is a chance to serve in a position that matters because views of the commission are given great weight.
For those wondering, no I am not interested in running. So if there is anyone who lives in ANC SMD 5A01 in particular who is interested, I say go for it. It does not matter how long one has lived here (except one has to have lived in the SMD for at least 60 days) or what one’s cultural background may be. Anyone who is willing to listen, be respectful, and treat the position seriously would be good.
Find more information about ANCs at https://anc.dc.gov. For information on getting on the ballot, visit the DC Board of Elections website.
Officially Official: Riggs Park Place Deal Closed
Press release from the mayor’s office announcing long-awaited closing on financing for Riggs Park Place:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 19, 2020
CONTACT:
LaToya Foster (EOM) – (202) 727-5011; latoya.foster@dc.gov
Jessica Carroll (DMPED) – (202) 550-6845; jessica.carroll@dc.gov
Mayor Bowser Closes Deal on Long-Awaited New Housing Community in Fort Totten Neighborhood
New Development in Ward 4 to Deliver Homeownership Opportunities, Apartments for Seniors, and Retail Options
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), announced the closing of financing on Riggs Place Park in Ward 4, a long-awaited 171-unit housing community of townhomes, apartments, and retail located at the intersection of Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave, NE.
“These types of projects are helping to continue our commitment to delivering a variety of housing options – rental and home ownership – for all different income levels and family sizes across the District,” said Mayor Bowser. “Despite the current financial challenges, we are pressing forward with economic development opportunities and creating new affordable housing further setting up the District up for an equitable recovery.”
The first phase of Riggs Park Place will feature 90 new townhomes for sale, five of which will be designated as affordable homeownership opportunities. Phase two will be a mixed-use senior apartment community with at least 30 affordable units. The 90 townhomes will be modern, two, three, and four-bedroom floor plans close to Fort Totten Metro Station, a café and shopping across Riggs Road, the newly renovated Lamond-Riggs Library, as well as cultural and art experiences at Art Place, an adjacent mixed-use development offering apartments, retail, a new fitness center, a children’s museum, and more.
“Ward 4 is known as one of the most desirable places to raise a family, live, work, and shop with a vibrant and diverse community,” said Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd. “The city’s public private partnership with EYA brings for-sale townhomes and senior rental housing for a broad range of incomes and supports neighborhood revitalization.”
The Lamond Riggs Citizens Association and ANC4B expressed support for the project, particularly for senior affordable apartments and neighborhood-serving retail.
“This project is a long time coming – in fact, Mayor Bowser was working towards this goal when she was an ANC Commissioner herself,” said Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “Who would have thought that in these uncertain times, our team would push this over the finish line bringing new housing opportunities to families of all income levels in Ward 4. It’s a proud day for DC.”
Other financial partners for Riggs Place Park include EYA, JBG Smith and Paramount Development, with its lender, Eagle Bank.
“Riggs Park Place and our partnership with the city exemplifies EYA’s ability to effectively work with residents, local jurisdictions, and our financial partners to both create value and bring meaningful projects to life,” said Aakash Thakkar, EVP at EYA. “We are moving forward even in these uncertain times because there is tremendous demand for high-quality, attainably priced new housing in the region. The public-private nature of the project, its revitalization impact on the neighborhood, and its delivery of missing middle townhomes that address a broad demographic are all core tenets of our mission. We appreciate the partnership with JBG Smith, the District, and the community that enabled us to move the project forward.”
The closing of Riggs Place Park follows other recent closings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including Spring Flats, The Hartley on the Parks at Walter Reed and the Karin and Anna Cooper Houses. Mayor Bowser reaffirmed her commitment to investments in affordable housing with her Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal, recognizing that both short- and long-term efforts must be ongoing to preserve housing affordability and stability for all District residents. The Mayor’s FY21 budget proposal includes an investment of $100 million in the Housing Production Trust Fund – for the sixth consecutive year – and a $1 million investment in the Housing Preservation Fund.
June 24: ANC 5A Public Meeting (Virtual)
ANC 5A Monthly Meeting
June 24, 2020
6:45 pm
ANC 5A’s monthly meeting will be held online only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with Mayor Bowser’s Stay-At-Home Order.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89005991346?pwd=RzY1cUNYR2NiaGUveWRIMXcyWUNxdz09
Meeting ID: 890 0599 1346
Password: 012471
Call in number: 929 436 2866
All residents will be muted. Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
Agenda Items
1. Police Reform Resolution
2. DPW Update on Cleaning during COVID-19
3. Reopening Neighborhood Plan
5. 5A08 Community Requests
Full agenda and minutes from May meeting are available on the ANC 5A website
June 22: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)
ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, June 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:
For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://bit.ly/ANC4BJune2020. Meeting ID: 856-6848-7792. Password: 237111.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 856-6848-7792. Password: 237111.
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/wdsE74ytMuY.
Agenda
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Consideration and Approval of June Agenda Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
C. Approval of May Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
3. Presentation: Ellen Peterson & Caroline Fehr, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, COVID-19-Related Legal Information (Commissioner Palmer – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
4. Presentation: Michael Alvino, Samer Alhawamdeh, & Sayra Molina, District Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Branch Trail (Commissioner Yeats – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
5. Reports:
A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)
6. Consent Calendar:
Resolution 4B-20-0601: Requesting Traffic Calming and Safety Measures on Piney Branch Road NW from Eastern Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW (Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-20-0602: Calling on MPD and DDOT to Address Speeding on Riggs Road, NE (Eastern to Nicholson) (Commissioner Huff)
Resolution 4B-20-0603: Supporting Funding in FY2021 for Public Housing Repairs (Commissioner Palmer)
Resolution 4B-20-0604: ReOpen DC Recommendations regarding Phased Opening of Schools and Childcare Centers (Commissioner Johnson)
7. Letter of Support for Renaissance Healthcare (Commissioner Knickerbocker – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
8. Resolution 4B-20-0605: Calling for Divestment of Local Police Funding and Reinvestment in Community-Based Supports and Services (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
9. Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
10. Adjournment
Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, July 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer(4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)
Art Place Construction Notice 6/15/2020-6/29/2020
24 Hour Fitness Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
24 Hour Fitness has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking restructuring with plans to close approximately 130 locations. This move was not unexpected. The CEO released a statement to members in April acknowledging the financial impact of COVID-19 on operations, in response to media reports that the company was considering seeking bankruptcy relief. At that time, I reached out to the developer of Art Place at Fort Totten to find out if they expected any impact on the opening of 24 Hour Fitness at Art Place. The developer stated that to their knowledge, plans for the 24 Hour Fitness at Art Place had not changed. The thinking was that the gym would seek reorganization and close some gyms, but newer facilities under construction would not be impacted.
The gym is supposed to anchor the first phase of Art Place in Building A. Residents know it has been a long slog to get the first phase of retail off the ground. X-Sport Fitness was originally slated to anchor the first phase, but that company had its own problems and could not make adequate progress towards opening, so the developer struck a deal with 24 Hour Fitness. Just when it looked like interior buildout for 24 Hour Fitness was finally making progress, the COVID-19 public health emergency hit.
I have reached out again now that the company has officially filed for bankruptcy relief to find out if there will be any impact to Art Place.
Explore! Children’s Museum Sandbox Activities
Check out Explore! Children’s Museum new Sandbox portal. The site contains free hands-on activities and resources for children nine years old and younger.
Welcome to the Explore! Sandbox, our curated list of online, at-home, and hands-on activities and resources. Find “your” inner artist, performer, scientist, musician, chef, and storyteller in this exciting collection of hands-on art activities, science experiments, cooking lessons, storytelling, creative movement, theatrical, and musical performances. Travel around the globe for virtual tours of museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, zoos, concert halls, theaters, and cultural centers that highlight special experiences for children, ages 0-9, and their families.
Zoning Commission votes to approve Art Place Block B modification
At its public meeting on June 8, 2020, the DC Zoning Commission voted 5-0-0 to approve slight changes requested for Block B of Art Place at Fort Totten (case number 06-10E). We described that Modification of Consequence application in this post.
ANC 5A supported the request; the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association offered no objection; and ANC 4B did not participate (as they did not in the underlying case). Zoning Commission member Peter May noted that this project is a complicated one that always felt unsettled so it was not surprising that the developer was returning with changes. At least there is agreement that these are changes for the better.
Progress on Pedestrian Walkways
By Robert Oliver (Contributor)
The construction of a pedestrian path linking Gallatin Street NE and Galloway Street NE across Fort Circle Park near Fort Totten metro station will soon become a reality. The project has been fully designed and awarded according to the National Park Service (NPS). The contractor is currently submitting the paperwork needed to begin construction.
Construction is anticipated to begin no later than June 30, 2020, and it should be completed within 120 days. The area will be closed to the public during construction, so the public will have to use the sidewalks on Gallatin, Galloway, and South Dakota Avenue until project completion. With luck, we should have a paved, lighted path this fall.
But, the good news does not stop there. Progress is ongoing on project development for a sidewalk on the south side of Galloway Street NE across from The Modern at Art Place. As noted in this post, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is working with the National Park Service on design. Bid solicitation for contractors is anticipated in 2021 with construction anticipated in 2022. Click here for more information on the project.
Let us keep our collective fingers crossed and hope for the best.
Missing Cat
A neighbor asked to share information about her missing cat. Please contact Karen at the phone number or email address below if you spot Ma’Cat.
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My Siamese mix cat, Ma’Cat, has been missing since Tuesday, May 26. He’s tan/brown with a black face and paws, and striking blue eyes. (He has seal point colors…) He’s an indoor/outdoor cat (though more indoor than outdoor). He was a rescue from the streets of Delaware, so he’s generally not afraid to be outside. He is a medium size cat. He’s neutered. He has a microchip but no collar (it always falls off).
We live on 8th Street, NE, between South Dakota and Gallatin. After I posted on FaceBook and some local listservs (NextDoor and Brookland list), two folks said they may have seen Ma’Cat on Chillum between 11th and Jefferson. I’ve put up a bunch of fliers in the area but no luck so far. Looking for a lost cat is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack, but he might be hiding out in Riggs Park. If anyone may have seen Ma’Cat, please give me a call at 202-640-8679 or email me at karen.orenstein@gmail.com.
Anything folks can do that could help us find Ma’Cat would be deeply appreciated. His 6 year old human brother misses him!
Thank you!
Unofficial DC Primary Election Results
There was a DC primary election yesterday. There was no Ward 5 race on the ballot, but there was a competitive race for DC Council in Ward 4 (along with competitive races in Wards 2, 7, and 8). With 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial results as of early Wednesday morning show Ward 4 council candidate Janeese Lewis George leading incumbent Brandon Todd by over 1500 votes, 54.14% to 43.62%, for the Democratic nomination. So far, Brandon Todd is carrying the precincts covering Lamond-Riggs by not large margins–357 to 325 votes in Precinct 64 (Lamond and a tiny part of Takoma) and 469 to 328 votes in Precinct 65 (Riggs Park). Ballots postmarked by June 2, 2020, and received by the Board by June 912, 2020, will be counted, so the tally will change as ballots trickle in over the next week. Update: Brandon Todd conceded on June 4, 2020.
At-Large Councilmember Robert White (D) is seeking reelection and won the uncontested Democratic nomination.
DC officials made a big push to get people to vote by mail and closed the majority of precincts. Only problem is that many people did not receive the ballots they requested by mail. Because these residents were waiting to receive their mail-in ballots, they did not vote during the early voting period. When they never received their ballots, they ended up having to vote in person at one of roughly 20 voting centers on Election Day, waiting in line for up to 5 hours according to some reports.
It is too early to know what the process will be for the November general election, but hopefuly it will not be a disaster. For that election, it looks like there will be a very competitive At-Large council race.
A few thoughts on this moment
It is a tough time in DC and around the country right now. In the midst of a pandemic, we are seeing nationwide protests catalyzed by police brutality, racialized violence, systemic inequalities, and the deaths and mistreatment of Black people. People are grieving and people are also mobilizing.
I think most readers of the blog know I am a Black woman. What many do not know is that my father was killed by police when I was a junior in college. This was over 15 years ago when facebook was just becoming a thing. And now of course we have a ton of social media and so many ways of having conversations and expressing ourselves, so people are having difficult conversations around policing, race, equity, and democracy. We were already having many of these conversations in DC before the protests because of concerns around gentrification and change in this city, but protests have a way of focusing dialogue.
So I did want to take a moment to acknowledge this moment. There are a lot of resources out there for people who want to participate and also just learn. The National Museum of African American History and Culture just released a new portal called “Talking About Race.” Anyways, I encourage neighbors to find ways to embrace this moment as we continue to take care of ourselves and one another.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 