Monthly Archives: May 2023

April 26, 2023 ANC 5A Meeting Recap: McDonald’s Public Space Permit Application; DPR Hiring; Bertie Backus Campus Plan

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 26, 2023.

Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03 – Secretary; Diego Rojas (5A04); Kweku Toure (5A06) – Vice Chair; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Zachary Ammerman (5A09) – Treasurer. At the time of this meeting, ANC 5A05 was vacant.

ANC Business

The ANC unanimously voted to stop paying for individual ANC phones for commissioners. Commissioner Ammerman, treasurer for the ANC, stated that in previous years, the ANC had been spending roughly $400/month for each of the commissioners to have a separate phone for ANC-related business. The commissioners will explore use of google voice so that they have a phone number separate from their personal cell phone number that they can use for ANC-related business.

The ANC also voted unanimously to renengotiate their contract for Comcast internet service at their UDC Bertie Backus office, which is costing the ANC roughly $400/month.

The ANC voted to get a bank debit card. Commissioner Cozart voted no and Commissioner Toure abstained.

Commissioner Rojas will look into pricing for ANC business cards.

Mayor’s FY2024 proposed budget (Phil Thomas, Director of the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City)

Phil Thomas presented on the mayor’s FY2024 proposed budget. Information available at budget.dc.gov. One thing that stood out was the mayor’s proposal to replace all of the supercans. Former mayor Vince Gray replaced all of the supercans during his administration nine years ago. Mr. Thomas said the new supercans will be different and better than the supercans residents have now. 

ANC Special Resolutions for Grace Lewis

The ANC voted to approve a special resolution recognizing the service of former longtime North Michigan Park resident Grace Lewis. Mrs. Lewis is moving out of the city. Mrs. Lewis served as an ANC commissioner and president of the North Michigan Park Civic Association for a long time. She also worked in the office of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. at one point. The ANC approved spending around $140 to purchase a plaque to present to Ms. Lewis for her service.

DC Super Mart/Z-Burger Gas Station Proposal (5A08)

The Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing for the gas station proposal in front of the Z-Burger/convenience store has been rescheduled to September 2023. Representatives for the gas station will present at the ANC’s June meeting. The property sits in ANC 5A08.

McDonald’s Public Space Permit Application Related to Building Drive-Thru (5A08)

Read ANC 5A Resolution regarding McDonald’s Public Space Permit Application.

The ANC voted 4-3-1 to support the public space permit application of McDonald’s in relation to its plans to build a drive-thru. Commissioners Malone, Hardy, and Ammerman voted no. Commissioners Lucio, Rojas, and Toure voted yes. Chair Fletcher cast the deciding vote to support the public space application. Commissioner Cozart abstained. The Public Space Committee hearing is scheduled for May 25, 2023. The property, located at 4950 South Dakota Avenue NE, sits in ANC 5A08.

Following a change to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) in the Comp Plan Update, a separate Zoning Commission process resulted in a map amendment (rezoning) of the McDonald’s property that permits rebuilding the restaurant with a drive-thru as a matter of right. The restaurant does not currently have a drive-thru. Part of the public space permit application involves where McDonald’s will be able to have curb cuts for the drive-thru.

At previous meetings, McDonald’s stated that DDOT was opposed to having any curb cuts at all on South Dakota Avenue. Then McDonald’s said that DDOT was fine with one curb cut on South Dakota Avenue. McDonald’s wants two curb cuts on South Dakota Avenue because they said having the drive-thru entrance and exit on South Dakota Avenue would keep traffic out of the residential neighborhood. The curb cut issue is primarily what the ANC focused on for purposes of the vote, though the vote was stylized as support for the entire public space application. The public space permit application covers everything in the public space, not just curb cuts.

The ANC resolution contains a few conditions for supporting the application, including that McDonald’s will install signage near the shared alley, propose other signage and road markings for DDOT approval, conduct a “post-construction operations study,” and consider certain mitigation measures.

(Bit of commentary: The ANC did not share a copy of the resolution before the vote and it is not clear if any of the commissioners saw a copy of the resolution before voting. Chair Fletcher did not want to have a full discussion and presentation about this topic, stating he just wanted to take a quick vote. McDonald’s ended up showing just a few slides from their presentation. The presentation is not available on the ANC’s website.

The resolution endorses a misrepresentation that counsel for McDonald’s has repeatedly made regarding DDOT’s report on the map amendment request to the Zoning Commission. Counsel used to say DDOT wants McDonald’s to put 93 apartments on the property before I pointed out that the report does not say that. So she instead shifted to saying that DDOT wants McDonald’s to build mixed-use. The report does not say that either. This misrepresentation is usually paired with a statement that “McDonald’s knows that the community does not want mixed-use,” to essentially say therefore pay no attention to what DDOT says. People can read DDOT’s Zoning Commission report for themselves.

This misrepresentation is just unnecessary to even keep repeating, especially at this point. If anything, these statements by counsel continue to show why OP’s decision to support a change to the FLUM at McDonald’s request during the Comp Plan Update, a request made only in order to support a future map amendment request that would permit a drive-thru as a matter of right, is an interesting (read unsupportable) one. It is unfortunate that some ANC commissioners continue to co-sign mispresentations about what happened during this whole process. Moving on.)

Fort Totten Park Soil Testing Resolution (Commissioner Ammerman)

Read ANC 5A’s Fort Totten Park Soil Testing Resolution

The ANC voted to support a resolution requesting comprehensive soil testing in Fort Totten Park following the additional discovery of questionable munitions material in the park. Commissioner Cozart voted no. Chair Fletcher said that the office of the DC Attorney General wants to work with the ANC on this issue. Commissioner Ammerman said he had spoken with someone from the Attorney General’s office the day of the ANC meeting.

ANC Committees

It sounded like Chair Fletcher said that the ANC will send an email soliciting interest from residents who want to serve on ANC committees. Unclear when that solicitation will take place.

Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Ward 5 MOCR Anthony Black)

The mayor was scheduled to have a public safety presser the day after the ANC meeting.

DPR is hiring for many positions and is offering free lifeguard training. Visit earnwithdpr.com.

Mr. Black said he is still trying to get DDOT director Everett Lott to an ANC 5A meeting.

Faith United Church is installing a rain garden on its property.

A resident inquired about activity at the DC Super Mart convenience store where plans for a gas station are stalled. Mr. Black said he will look into it.

Ward 5 Council Report (Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker)

Councilmember Parker had a conversation with the National Park Service (NPS) about the soil testing issues at Fort Totten Park. The U.S. Army is still working to determine what is in the canisters found on the west side of the park. Once that testing is done, they will determine next steps.

Councilmember Parker introduced a firearms bill that would empower the DC Attorney General to sue for harms caused by the failure of the firearms industry to take reasonable precautions in the manufacturing and sale of their products.

Councilmember Parker is scheduled to have a walk with Director Lott along the southern portion of South Dakota Avenue near Rhode Island Avenue. CM Parker’s team will work to schedule a walk for the northern stretch of South Dakota Avenue.

UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan (5A01)

See UDC’s Campus Development Plan presentation.

UDC officials presented on the campus development plan that is part of the UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan process. The campus sits in ANC 5A01. The first phase will consist of modernizing the existing buildings on the campus. The second phase will consist of a 55,000 square foot new wing. UDC officials said the second phase is not fully funded yet. UDC continues to make smaller facade improvements around the campus. University officials plan to submit the Bertie Backus campus plan application to the Zoning Commission in May. (Note: I covered this presentation in this post).

END

Fort Totten Park Closures

Posted by nextstoprp in National Park Service

On May 8, ANC 5A circulated the announcement from National Park Service below

The National Park Service has announced today that it will install “No Trespassing” signs around an area of Fort Totten Park where two canisters were found a few weeks ago. Fencing and barriers will be installed around the area where the munitions were found until further testing can be completed. Unofficial trails through the woods are also closed off.  

The park is closed east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street/Metropolitan Branch Trail and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St. A majority of Fort Totten Park is open for recreation, but visitors should stay on the Metropolitan Branch Trail and the grassy areas of the fort itself (near Fort Totten Dr. and Crittenden St. NE).  

We are still awaiting the results of testing of the two objects found.

UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan April 2023 Presentation – Campus Development Plan

Posted by nextstoprp in UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus & Expansion (formerly Bertie Backus Campus)

UDC officials presented on the Bertie Backus Campus Plan at ANC 5A’s meeting on April 26, 2023. UDC officials said they plan to submit the campus plan application to the DC Zoning Commission this month. For information about the campus plan process, visit https://www.udc.edu/campus-master-plan.

(This post described initial meetings about this process).

DC zoning regulations require universities to update campus plans every 10 years. According to UDC, the goal of the regulations are to ensure that university campuses “(1) are well-planned and designed; (2) have long-term facilities plans; (3) minimize any negative impacts the university may have on the surrounding residential neighborhood; and (4) are consistent and transparent with their planning processes.” The Bertie Backus plan under development is the first one for the campus.

View UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan April 2023 Presentation

The April presentation provides a few more details on the phased development plan for the campus. I have asked for a fact sheet about the Backus campus plan. I will update the post when I receive that information.

The existing campus, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE, sits on a large city block along South Dakota Avenue between Galloway and Hamilton streets. The campus houses UDC’s community college programs (which were relocated from the university’s North Capitol Street campus) and UDC’s Bertie Backus food hub. There is also a DOES American Job Center located on the grounds with an entrance on Hamilton Street NE. The campus sits in ANC 5A01.

(Separately from the campus plan process, the university is currently completing a few beautification projects on the campus.)

Phase One

The first phase would consist of modernizing the existing buildings on campus.

  • Upgrade utilities
  • New HVAC
  • Solar panel installation
  • Addition of a few long-term bicycle parking spaces
  • New green/bioretention spaces, new trees, new wayfinding signs in a reconfigured parking lot (160 parking spaces)
  • New food court/coffee station on first floor
  • New loading area close to Hamilton Street

Phase Two

The second phase would consist of an expansion. UDC officials said there is no funding for this phase.

  • New 55,000 square foot wing and courtyard on part of the existing parking lot.
  • New main entrance
  • Reconfigured parking lot with 100 spaces
  • Green roof on the new wing
  • Removal of chain link fence
  • New bike parking along South Dakota Avenue
  • New UDC clock tower with UDC logo
  • Improved signage/facade improvements along South Dakota Avenue
  • New green spaces
  • Food Hub components and 9/11 memorial will remain

Campus Plan Timeline

  • May 2023: UDC submits Bertie Backus campus plan application to DC Zoning Commission
  • Summer 2023: UDC anticipates Zoning Commission hearing
  • Fall 2023: UDC anticipates Zoning Commission approval

Send comments/questions to Juanita Gray at juanita.gray@udc.edu.

Metropolitan Branch Railroad 150th Anniversary

Posted by nextstoprp in Met Branch Trail

By Gavin Baker (Guest Contributor)

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which has shaped and connected our community since its construction.

Built from Washington Union Station to Point of Rocks, MD, today the Metropolitan Branch is owned by CSX. For passenger service, today it’s used by MARC’s Brunswick Line to Frederick, MD, and Martinsburg, WV, as well as Amtrak’s Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.

The Metropolitan Branch is also the backbone for two other important routes near our neighborhood. Metrorail’s Red Line follows the Metropolitan Branch between Union Station and Silver Spring. In addition, the Metropolitan Branch Trail follows its namesake from NoMa from Fort Totten, then continues on-street (for the time being) until Takoma Park, where its route again follows the railroad to the north.

The Metropolitan Branch doesn’t just go through the neighborhood – its trains also used to stop here. There were stations at Terra Cotta, near today’s Fort Totten Metro station; Lamond, apparently near Whittier Street; and Chillum, somewhere in between Terra Cotta and Lamond, possibly near Riggs Road. For instance, here’s a timetable from 1919, when the train stopped at all three stations. However, the area was probably less well known for the stations than for the train wreck near Terra Cotta in 1906 that killed 53 people.

With regard to the 150th anniversary: Service on the line actually began in 1869, but it only went as far north as Silver Spring at that time. It took another four years to complete construction to Point of Rocks.

On April 30, 1873, an inspection tour of the new line left from Washington. The opening was evidently a major event; notable guests on the train included General William Tecumseh Sherman, Alexander “Boss” Shepherd (the last Governor of D.C. and namesake of the Shepherd Park neighborhood), two U.S. Senators, and the Postmaster General.

Regular passenger service on the full line started on May 25, 1873.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary, our neighbors in Montgomery County are hosting a variety of activities this month.

Riggs Road NE Cycletrack 30% Design Phase

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is soliciting public comment on the 30% design of the Riggs Road NE two-way cycletrack (NOI #23-75 PSD; 30% design plan). This is the proposed cycletrack on eastbound Riggs using part of the existing dedicated right-turn only lane between South Dakota Avenue and 1st Place NE that DDOT mentioned at ANC 5A and ANC 4B meetings last year. The project sits in ANC 5A09. Send comments to sean.burnett@dc.gov by May 22, 2023.

Rendering of proposed cycletrack from NOI

According to the notice of intent (NOI), “DDOT proposes to reconfigure the 100 block of Riggs Road between First Place NE and South Dakota Ave NE to remove the curbside eastbound travel lane for 800 feet, and convert that space to a two-way protected bike lane (aka cycletrack).” DDOT says the purpose is to “create a dedicated and safer connection for people biking under the railroad tracks to reach the Metropolitan Branch Trail. This will reduce conflicts between people walking and people biking on the sidewalk.”

The cycletrack is less than 800 feet in length, about 0.13 miles. Traveling eastbound Riggs from 1st Place, it looks like the cycletrack would take up the right-turn only lane to just past Food & Friends’ main entrance/driveway, leading to a bike ramp that DDOT proposes to build that would take the rider to the sidewalk before reaching South Dakota Avenue. So there would still be a dedicated right-turn lane from Riggs to South Dakota Avenue, just a shorter one.

Section from Riggs Road/1st Place NE

Section leading to South Dakota Avenue

I cannot say I have strong feelings either way about this cycletrack. (I really want DDOT to completely overhaul the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road NE intersection because it was poorly reconfigured in 2011. This cycletrack is so short I am not sure how useful it will be. And a good chunk of the MBT extension from Fort Totten to Takoma is largely on the sidewalk anyway, including the part leading from 1st Place & Riggs to 1st Street and Riggs).

(Edited to add 5/4/2023: A reader emailed a good point regarding east-west connections to the MBT in Riggs Park. If DDOT is interested in making safe east-west connections, DDOT should work on constructing the Avondale segment approved in the National Capital Trail Network. Also the reader stated DDOT should look at other neighborhood streets to make an east-west connection rather than what is proposed for Riggs.)

But I absolutely think that without any barrier, drivers will “accidentally” drive in the cycletrack to get to South Dakota Avenue. There is a dedicated right turn lane on eastbound Riggs to turn onto 1st Place NE. This right turn lane is useful for all of the buses that go to Fort Totten Metro station. Non-bus drivers, however, often get in this dedicated right turn lane and just keep driving straight to continue on Riggs to turn onto South Dakota. I do not think this practice will change at all just because DDOT puts in a clearly marked cycletrack.

I think DDOT really needs to be careful to have clear signage and road markings directing vehicle traffic on this stretch so that drivers do not use the dedicated right turn lane leading to 1st Place to continue straight onto Riggs only to run into the cycletrack and then have to either keep going (because why not), or swerve into the travel lanes at the last second. It is easiest to see what I am talking about by looking at the Riggs Road/1st Place section in DDOT’s plans.

There is an ever so slight downhill descent on eastbound Riggs from 1st Place to South Dakota Avenue, but it is enough for drivers to pick up quite a bit of speed along this stretch (which is why there is a speed camera on the southeast corner of 1st Place & Riggs). Anyone familiar with this area knows that weekday evening rush hour sees a lot of cars on this stretch and drivers feel entitled to take all sorts of illegal actions and drive at whatever speed they want to get to where they want to go. DDOT really should consider having concrete barriers.

Also, I do not have any data on how often delivery vehicles enter and exit Food & Friends, but I do know that adding this bike facility here will introduce one more thing for delivery drivers to have to watch out for as they enter and exit. Food & Friends drivers have to watch out for pedestrians and bike riders using the sidewalk now. While there is a sign warning drivers not to block the Food & Friends driveway, people often do, so I can see delivery drivers deciding to pull out into the cycletrack and sitting for a bit in order to enter the travel lanes.

All that to say, let’s help DDOT get this right by sending constructive feedback to DDOT.

Send comments to sean.burnett@dc.gov by May 22, 2023.

Lamond-Riggs/Lilian J. Huff Library Concrete Benches Installation Date & Heritage Wall Update

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

From DC Public Library

Lamond-Riggs Library closure on Saturday May 20, 2023 to enable installation of concrete outdoor benches.

The much awaited outdoor concrete benches and the DDOT approval to set these benches with a crane are in place for Saturday, May 20, 2023 installation and the Library will be closed to the public for the day.  

In the small likelihood that a subsequent day is needed to complete installation of these concrete benches with a boom truck, a separate notification will be provided for date and logistics.

Per the DDOT approved traffic control plan:

  • On Friday, May 19, DDOT will install no parking signs along Kennedy St. & Jefferson Ave.
  • Starting at 5:00 PM, the no parking will go into effect.
  • On Saturday, May 20, the crane is scheduled to arrive at 4:00 AM, and the installation of benches will take place until 7:00 PM. The crane will leave around 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 20.
  • The crane and two tractor trailers will initially be set up at the intersection of South Dakota Ave & Jefferson Street. Over the course of the day, the two tractor trailers will move to Kennedy St. and the crane will move to the library parking lot.
  • Library parking lot will be off- limits.
  • Access to Jefferson Street from South Dakota Ave will be blocked.
  • Kennedy Street will be partially blocked, however, traffic will continue in both directions.
  • Residents/Visitors that typically turn onto Jefferson St would be rerouted by a flagger at Chillium Pl & Jefferson St.
  • Sidewalk access on Jefferson Street will be blocked and foot traffic will be diverted across South Dakota Ave.
  • General traffic will be rerouted per the detour signs installed by DDOT – see diagram  below

Traffic detour and crane set-up diagram

Conceptual rendering of benches. Actual placement will be coordinated onsite with landscape architect.

Heritage Wall Update – Installation Coming Soon

The community-sourced photos and fabric swatches for the Heritage Wall have been translated into a digital collage by Artist Michelle Lisa Herman – see rendering below. 

The physical wall covering is in production by the graphic wall covering sub-contractor.

Start date finalization is underway for the four-week Heritage Wall Art installation.

During these four weeks, the monumental staircase will not be available to patrons.

The install will include temporary removal of the glass railing, installation of scaffolding, and wall preparation before the wall covering can be adhered. 

The work for this will be done during the day, typically between 7:00 AM & 3:30 PM.

During these four weeks, the maximum allowable occupants on the second floor will be limited to 49 occupants. Patrons will access the second floor using the elevator, and the back staircase will be used for emergency exit only.

Branch manager David Gaston and his team at the library will enable ease of access to the patrons as this work begins.

Heritage Wall rendering

Any general questions can be directed to Library’s Community engagement liaison Martha Saccocio at her email: Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.

Any time-sensitive Construction Safety issues can be reported to Consigli Construction Onsite project manager Zachary Turner at 774.573.7192.

May 14: Explore DC Public Library by Bike

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

[Note, this year’s Tour de DCPL starts at Lamond-Riggs Library!]

From DC Public Library

Tour de DCPL is coming back for its 13th year! On Sunday, May 14 at 12:30 p.m. explore the ongoing transformations at DC Public Library by bike! The Tour de DCPL was born in 2010, a free community bike ride that visits a selection of our 26 library locations. Every year, to celebrate National Bike Month, a group of library staff, advocates, and community members strap on their helmets and hop on their bikes to help the DC Public Library promote environmentally friendly transportation and explore how our libraries connect with the communities they serve. Check out the route on the website and get ready for the big ride!

For details, visit https://www.dclibrary.org/bike-month-2023.

Metro Yellow Line Reopening & Green Line Summer Construction

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Metro’s yellow line will reopen on May 7, 2023, but it will not go to Fort Totten. Yellow line service will operate only between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square. Metro has offered reasons for this change, the main one being to support better headways for the southern end of the green line. Color me skeptical. Maybe we will all be pleasantly surprised if Metro does in fact operate six-minute headways on the green line. We do know those promised six-minute headways will not happen during planned summer construction on the green line.

Image from Metro
Image from Metro

Metro is planning a long shutdown of green line stations north of Fort Totten from July 2023 to September 2023, for installation of fiber optic cables.

There will be no green line service at all at Fort Totten station July 22-23. Red line service will be available.

From July 24 to September 4, green line service will operate only between Branch Avenue and Fort Totten. Metro says green line trains will operate with eight-minute headways during this time.

Shuttle bus service will be available. Details at https://www.wmata.com/about/news/2023-Major-Construction-travel-alternatives.cfm.

May 6: Hellbender Record Fair & Food Drive

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

Hellbender Record Fair
May 6, 2023
1:00 pm-7:00 pm
5788 2nd Street NE

Hellbender Brewery is hosting a record fair on Saturday, May 6 from 1pm to 7pm. In addition to numerous vinyl vendors, there will be two food trucks, a DJ, and a live band! This is a free, all ages event and fun for the whole family.

Hellbender Brewery is also accepting non-perishable donations for the University of Maryland’s food pantry which works to help eliminate food hardships for University of Maryland students and ensure that all students have a steady source of healthy food.

More information about the event can be found here.

Providence Campus Update – School Expansion & Housing

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A
Media release circulated by ANC 5A

This morning, ANC 5A circulated a screenshot of a media release regarding the redevelopment of the Providence Health Campus, located at 1150 Varnum Street NE. Part of the campus will be redeveloped with a school and housing. Providence plans to close the urgent care center, imaging center, and pharmacy on July 31, 2023. Carroll Manor and the Police & Fire Occupational health clinic will remain open. The release states that the medical buildings at 1150 Varnum Street and 1160 Varnum Street NE are not impacted. Providence sits in ANC 5A.

Mundo Verde Public Charter School, which has a campus across the street from Providence (called the Ocho Verde campus), will use part of the Providence campus for a planned school expansion. A development team consisting of EYA and Mentiki will develop housing on the site.

EYA is no stranger to this neck of the woods. EYA recently developed a townhome community across the street from Providence called The Townhomes at Michigan Park. Not too far away, EYA is also making steady progress on Riggs Park Place, a townhome and senior housing multifamily/retail project in Riggs Park. (Disclosure: When I served as president of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, I worked with EYA on a community benefits agreement related to Riggs Park Place). I think it is safe to say that EYA has a good reputation as a developer, though I certainly know there are those who have their own opinion about that.

This is not unexpected news. In 2018, Ascension (the owner of Providence) notified residents of plans to “reimagine” the Providence Hospital campus, which essentially translated to shutting down the hospital. (Actually closing the hospital turned into a bit of a saga). Ascension held “focus groups” and community meetings about what people wanted to see on the campus that would be consistent with the health mission of Providence. The meetings were honestly a little strange. At an ANC 5A meeting in 2019, Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) indicated that Mundo Verde and EYA were interested in the Providence campus. Now we have confirmation of the plan.

EYA has created a website for the Providence development at https://www.providencereimagined.com/. You can sign up to receive email updates and sign up for one of the few in-person and virtual meetings already scheduled. In addition, Commissioner Lucio plans to discuss this development at her single member district meeting on May 4.

May 3: North Michigan Park Civic Association Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

North Michigan Park Civic Association
Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting

Meeting ID 882 7345 2110

Passcode 930240

Call In 1-301-715-8592

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88273452110?pwd=dmZ3R1liOTRKY1FyS3hlYlBqWnBWUT09

Face to face meetings will commence with the June 2023 meeting

·         Call to Order

·         Opening Prayer – Silent

·         Roll Call of Officers

Meeting Protocol

  • Phone call should remain on mute unless asked to unmute. 
  • Respect others when speaking
  • Respect our guest.
  • Raise your hand if you have a question and wait to be acknowledged.

President’s Update

  • Scholarship Applications due by May 15th  
  • NMPCA meeting face to face  June
  • Bulk trash for NMP residents – push back date to July
  • COmmunity Development Committee will meet Monday, May 8, 2023 @ 7:00 pm 

Community Leader Reports

  • Mayor’s Office – MOCR – Christian Starghill / Christopher Ingram
  • Ward 5 Council member’s Office –  Carlos McKnight

Guest Speaker

Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Inspector Darlett Cromer (Ms. Sallie)
Q&A

Guest Speaker

Lamond Riggs- Lillian Huff Library – David Gaston, Branch Manager
Q&A

Community Leader Reports

  • Faith United Church
  • North Michigan Park Recreation Center – Joe Clark, Manager

ANC Commissioners that represent NMP

  •     5A02 – Karlus Cozart
  •     5A03 – Emily Lucio – SMD meeting May 4
  •     5A08 – Gordon Andrew Fletcher – SMD meeting May 25
  •     5A09 – Zachary Ammerman

 Coming Events in 2023

  • February – Scholarship application begins (2 @ $1,000.00 scholarships) applications available at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center email to individuals on NMPCA registered listserve
  • May 20 -Community Clean Up 
  • June – Scholarship Night
  • June – Community Yard Sale **
  • July – Bulk Trash pick up
  • Community Day Saturday, August 12, 2023
  • August – School Supplies and Backpack event
  • October – Community Clean Up with Bulk Trash pick up
  • November – Toy Drive
  • December – Holiday Party

Adjourn

DC Council FY2024 Budget Draft Committee Reports

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

A neighbor passed along some items from Council committee fiscal year 2024 budget draft reports specific to the neighborhood. (This post covered the mayor’s proposed FY24 budget). See all of the draft committee reports at https://www.dccouncilbudget.com/fy-2024-budget.

Committee on Facilities & Family Services Report

  • $75,000 to install a swing set with appropriate ground cover at Lamond Recreation Center
  • $25,000 to install a shade structure at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
  • $20,000 to install vertical netting to enhance the functionality of a fence at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center

Committee on Transportation & the Environment Report

  • Adds $1 million for the installation of tactical road diets along South Dakota Avenue NE to help slow down cars down the residential corridor

South Dakota Avenue NE Tactical Road Diet
The Committee is also establishing a new sub-project within DDOT’s Safety & Mobility master project to fund tactical safety improvements on South Dakota Avenue NE. South Dakota Avenue is one of the most dangerous corridors in Ward 5. However, due to the presence of even more dangerous arterial corridors in Ward 5, South Dakota Avenue NE was not designated a high-injury network corridor in DDOT’s 2022 Vision Zero Report. The Committee is placing $1M in the new sub-project to fund efforts to improve safety on the corridor in the short term, preferably by constructing a road diet on a segment of the corridor to calm traffic, reduce injuries, and improve connectivity along the corridor. DDOT shall determine which segment of the corridor would be a suitable starting point for safety improvements; however, the Committee recommends that DDOT consider either the segment between Bladensburg Road and Monroe Street NE or the segment between Sargent Street NE and Riggs Road NE.

Committee of the Whole Report

Looks like the committee is keeping the mayor’s proposed $20 million for UDC’s Bertie Backus campus. The committee report has some interesting commentary regarding UDC (pp. 70-74 in the report).

Art Place at Fort Totten Modification of Consequence

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Updated with links to filed documents

On April 28, 2023, the Cafritz Foundation filed a “modification of consequence” for the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten to make sure they are able to get certificates of occupancy turn over the space for buildout of the grocery store and children’s museum before construction of the entire second phase is complete. (ZC case no. 06-10H)

My understanding is that representatives for the Cafritz Foundation will share a quick update about this at tonight’s Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association meeting. Getting the gym open in the first phase was a big deal. Getting spaces turned over to Aldi and the children’s museum for the second phases will be an even bigger deal. As these key tenants come online, the viability of this project remains intact.

The filing states:

This proposed application does not propose any changes to the size, height, uses, or appearance of the Block B PUD Project which was last approved by the Zoning Commission in ZC Order No. 06-1 0G. The modification that the Applicant is requesting in this application is solely related to construction and occupancy sequencing so that the Applicant can deliver the Aldi Grocery Store and the Children’s Museum space by February 28, 2024 (as required by the leases for these spaces), and then continue with construction of the other elements of the Block B PUD Project without decommissioning of construction activity on the site.

There are currently no conditions in ZC Order Nos. 06-l0D, 06-l0E, or 06-l0G that address the ability of the Applicant to open portions of the building as they are ready for occupancy. The purpose of this Modification of Consequence application is to create a specific condition of the Zoning Commission’s approval of the Block B PUD Project that the Applicant can refer to as it processes certificate of occupancy applications with the Department of Buildings, and specifically the Zoning Administrator’s Office.

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The creation of a condition in the Zoning Commission’s approval of the Block B PUD Project that explicitly allows the identified uses to sequentially and safely occupy each block of space while construction activity continues on remaining portions of the site is essential to the Applicant’s ability to finance and continue the construction of this important project.

Construction & Sequencing from Filing

1st Construction & Occupancy Sequence

• Build the FEZ north block, which includes the ALDI grocery store and Children’s Museum core and shell. The core and shell will be complete, including rooftop green roof areas. The Applicant intends to allow the ALDI grocery store to occupy their space first, with parking provided on B1 level of garage.
• In support of the occupancy of the ALDI grocery store and Children’s Museum space within the commercial north block, construction of the below-grade garage, the north parking ramp to Kennedy Street, and the commercial loading docks will occur.
• The extent of site development includes construction of the ALDI facades to the curb along South Dakota A venue, with attendant civil improvements. In addition, the sidewalks up Kennedy Street and along South Dakota will be installed for pedestrian access to the ALDI and Children’s Museum entrances/exits. The internal private road connection from Kennedy Street to the commercial loading dock will be built in order to provide access to dock.

2nd Construction & Occupancy Sequence

• Construction of the balance of the FEZ central block, and the Residential East, North, and South buildings. The residential buildings will include at-grade, retail core and shell space.
• The extent of site development includes construction of the approved site features to access the residential and retail entrances and exits. The alley will be constructed in order to provide access to the residential loading dock, rear entrance, and connection to the private street.

3rd Construction & Occupancy Sequence

• Construction of the balance of the FEZ building, primarily southern block, including the rotunda.
• The extent of site development will include the remaining approved site features along the pedestrian sections of the private street and the perimeter of the FEZ building along Ingraham Street and South Dakota A venue.

View renderings of phased construction.