ANC 5A held its public meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Diego Rojas (5A04); Tyeron Boston (5A05); Kweku Toure (5A06) – Vice Chair; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09). ANC 5A07 is vacant.

This was the ANC’s first hybrid meeting. It was held in person at Yu Ying Public Charter School and available for viewing on zoom. Commissioner Fletcher said that the ANC plans to rotate the in-person meeting sites around ANC 5A.

[Aside: I think the hybrid format worked okay for the ANC’s first attempt. I viewed online. It would be helpful for speakers in the room to use a microphone when speaking so that the sound can be picked up online. There are some gaps in the recap because I could not always hear what speakers in the room were saying.]

The presenter for the mediation organization on the agenda did not attend.

ANC Business

The ANC voted for new ANC 5A09 commissioner Shelagh Bocoum to serve as treasurer.

The ANC voted to approve a budget. It was unclear what budget was being approved. They mentioned the proposed FY2023 budget, but October 1 was the beginning of FY2024.

The ANC also voted to approve an annual report. It was unclear if the annual report is done.

If anyone is interested in serving on the ANC’s public safety committee, contact ANC Commissioner Karlus Cozart (5A02) at 5A02@anc.dc.gov.

UDC Proposed Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan (5A01) (Javier Dusan, VP Facilities & Real Estate Development, UDC)

UDC gave a presentation on their proposed Lamond-Riggs campus plan. The Lamond-Riggs campus is located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. It houses the college’s community college programs as well as one of UDC CAUSES urban food hubs. UDC submitted the campus plan application to the DC Zoning Commission on June 21, 2023. A public hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2023 (ZC case no. 23-16).

View UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan presentation to ANC 5A (September 2023)

The university is proposing a two-phase campus development plan. Phase 1 will involve renovation of the existing buildings. Phase 2 will involve construction of a new wing on the campus. The campus plan site is https://www.udc.edu/campus-master-plan.

UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus Proposed Phase 1 renderings

UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus Proposed Phase 2 renderings

Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement Presentation (Julia Irving, Deputy Director Community & Government Affairs, ONSE)

View ONSE presentation to ANC 5A (September 2023)

Julia Irving, who used to be the MOCR director, is now with ONSE. She presented on various ONSE community safety and violence prevention efforts, such as the Pathways Program, Violence Intervention Initiative, and People of Promise Initiative.

Armed Forces Retirement Home Development (5A05)

The Armed Forces Retirement Home project was on the agenda, but representatives asked to be moved to a future meeting date when they will be ready to present to the ANC. (A map amendment request for the site is before the DC Zoning Commission (ZC case no. 23-21)).

Miscellaneous

I could not hear much of what those in the audience said during the community concerns portion of the meeting, but I do know that there was at least one long comment about the Providence campus. Commissioner Fletcher said that there will be more conversations about that project. The project website is https://www.providencereimagined.com.

The Ward 5 Mutual Aid group is looking for a permanent space in the ward. The organization is currently housed in ANC 5A’s office at The Modern on Galloway Street NE. The mutual aid group wants to find a space near their current location. Commissioner Fletcher said he will work with the group to find a space.

The next ANC 5A public meeting is scheduled for October 25, 2023.