Updated 11/10/2021 with information about MPD public safety meeting

ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) held a single member district meeting on November 4, 2021. This one was pretty short, roughly 35 minutes.

Commissioner Fletcher stated MPD Chief Robert Contee will be having a public safety meeting on November 20, 2021, at 10:00 am. You can send questions to Commissioner Fletcher at 5a08@anc.dc.gov.

National Park Service Update on Pedestrian Path

As noted previously, the National Park Service (NPS) had to stop construction on a path planned between Gallatin and Galloway streets NE in Fort Totten Park after the construction team uncovered the top of Metro’s green line tunnel during construction. NPS representatives Nick Bartolomeo and Kym Elder stated that the agency has now hired a contractor to survey the area to determine exactly where all of Metro’s infrastructure is located and to determine the best location for the path. The survey report is expected to take several weeks to complete. NPS will update the ANC likely around January 2022. The area will be fenced off again on both sides and the detour will remain in place. NPS does not want people walking through the area because it is still considered a construction zone. Agency officials reminded residents that the park closes at dark and stated several times that residents should exercise good judgment, so that means residents should take the long way around using South Dakota Avenue NE at night.

Art Place at Fort Totten Block B

A limited scope hearing for Art Place at Fort Totten Block B is scheduled for December 13, 2021, regarding proposed changes for the second phase (Zoning case number 06-10G). The developer, Cafritz Foundation, originally submitted a Modification of Consequence application for the changes to the Zoning Commission. The Zoning Commission determined that the changes should be handled through the Modification of Significance process, so the team resubmitted the same changes in a Modification of Significance application. (Note: I discussed the changes in these posts).

The development team also shared updates about plans to connect 3rd Street NE between Ingraham and Kennedy streets NE. Recall the Zoning order required the developer to install bike lanes and sidewalks for pedestrians in this area. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has instead requested the developer to extend the road so that it is open to vehicles. The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) requested more information about this plan and a rendering showing safety features that will be installed before the road is open to vehicles. The road will have two travel lanes, one in each direction, and sidewalks on each side. The road will have sharrows (indicating that bikes can use the same travel lanes as vehicles), a 20 mile per hour speed limit sign, and signs to indicate that road users should share the road. The team mentioned wanting to get DDOT to reduce the speed limit here to maybe 15 miles per hour given that this area is right next to schools. There is not enough room for protected bike lanes as ANC 5A requested in its resolution. Residents noted that people walk their dogs in that area, so the team plans to speak with Greystar, which owns the Aventine apartments, about having doggie bag receptacles in that location.

The team continues to work on a traffic study.

Also, a resident asked whether the street/campus in front of Social Justice School would be beautified. The Cafritz representatives stated that the schools do plan to work on that with the spring and that they plan to have planting sessions with the students.

Miscellaneous

Speed humps were installed in a few locations in the SMD.