Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and her team put together a great list of DC programs that more DC residents should know about or take advantage of. Her team states that many of the ideas came directly from neighbors who shared how these programs impact their lives for the better.
And in case you missed it, back in January, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parkers’s weekly newsletter included a link to DC Health’s LinkU, which provides a list of health, food, housing, and community assistance resources.
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), developer of Riggs Crossing Senior Residences, is seeking interested local and unique retail tenants for under-market lease opportunity. The project is currently under construction at 307 Riggs Road NE on the southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE in Riggs Park. Project delivery expected first quarter 2025.
A couple of updates on National Park Service (NPS) issues in the neighborhood.
North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro Pedestrian Path
Neighbor Gavin noted the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) will consider approval of preliminary and final site development plans for the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro pedestrian path at a meeting on April 4, 2024 (titled Fort Totten Trail Realignment on the agenda).
This formal path between Gallatin and Galloway streets NE in parkland near Fort Totten Metro station has been delayed for years, first due to the discovery of an unexploded WWI ordnance during construction and then when workers encountered the high point of Metro’s tunnel. NPS had to determine a more suitable location for the path.
In January of this year, NPS stated that they were at about 70% design on the new realignment and expected the design to be completed this spring.
According to an NCPC February 2024 project report prepared by NPS, the path will be shifted about 20 feet to the east of the original location to avoid interference with Metro infrastructure. The path will be 10 feet wide. Eleven trees will have to be removed.
The report states:
A preferred alternative was selected in December 2022 from this study to realign the trail and the south entrance approximately 20 feet to the east, to redesign the entry at the south end of the trail and redesign the trail centerline profile to maximize tunnel coverage. A drainage ditch for the proposed new trail will drain to the DDOT catch basin and trench. Bollards will be employed at both sides of the tunnel to restrict the entry of heavy vehicles over the tunnel area. The trail profile will provide allowable steep grades with landings to meet accessibility criteria according to the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards with a goal of increasing the cover over the tunnel.
The realigned trail will meet WMATA’s max loading requirements. Part of the trail from Galloway Street to just before the tunnel will utilize permeable pavement. The remaining part of the trail that goes over the tunnel and down to Gallatin Street NE will utilize concrete which meets WMATA’s requirement for 30 inch frost depth above the tunnel.
The construction document phase will be completed Spring/Summer 2024. The construction solicitation phase is expected to occur in late 2024, pending the availability of funding, which has not been identified at this time.
The anticipated construction cost is approximately $650,000.
The project is listed under the “Proposed Exceptions” section on the agenda. Proposed exceptions are “types of projects where NCPC staff determines that a project is exempt from Commission review, based on certain criteria.”
NPS stated earlier this week that they are actively seeking construction funding and that discussions continue within NPS and with the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding investigations and potential site remediation in the areas where the unexploded ordnances were found.
Fort Totten Park Soil Testing
With respect to the request for more comprehensive soil testing in Fort Totten Park, NPS states that they continue to work with the Army Corps to identify funding to investigate unexploded ordnance and any site contamination issues in Fort Totten Park.
Due to the Easter holiday, the public meeting for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association will be held on April 8, 2024, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, at the Lamond-Riggs Library. An agenda will be provided next week.
Join the Office of Planning and DC Public Library for an Urban Design Walking Tour on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library (5401 South Dakota Ave NE). Urban Designers from the Office of Planning will help demystify urban planning through the exploration of design terminology with practical examples and visuals. Following the session, take a short walk around the neighborhood to apply this newfound knowledge on our city’s streets. Learn how planners and designers think about public space and how we can all work together to improve it. RSVPs are requested for planning purposes but not required. Learn more about the walking tour and register.
From the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker:
After advocating directly to Chief Smith on behalf of Ward 5 neighbors, Councilmember Parker is glad to share that MPD has agreed to hold an AirTag/Tile Giveaway for neighbors residing in the Fourth District (neighborhoods north of Michigan Ave NE). MPD just announced today that they will hold the giveaway tomorrow, March 22, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Fort Circle Park (800-1100 Galloway St NE). Please see the attached graphic for additional details. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions! Ward5contact@dccouncil.gov, 202-724-8028.
Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair. Commissioners will be let into the meeting room first. Once they are all present, the residents will be let in.
AGENDA
I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm
II. Quorum
III. Agenda Review/Acceptance
IV. Commission Business A. Minutes (February 2024) B. Public Safety Committee Update
V. Commission Action Items/Updates
VI. Community Updates A. MPD B. Mayor’s Office C. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations A. 4975 South Dakota Ave NE Gas Station E Charging Station (5A08) B. Boys Town Closure (5A02) C. DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), with funding from EYA (developers of Riggs Park Place) and the support of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA), seeks artist proposals for designs to wrap traffic control boxes in Riggs Park featuring artwork by local artists of all ages.
The community selected artwork will be professionally printed on vinyl wrapping and installed by local printers. The expected lifespan for the vinyl wraps is about six years but may be removed early. TPMS and its vendors will be responsible for managing maintenance of wraps.
Application due by Monday April 15, 2024.
The selected artwork will be announced on or around May 10, 2024.
Final selected artwork design on or around May 25, 2024.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites residents to join his next Monthly Public Safety Call on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will be representatives from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (Kandis M. Catalan and MeghanMarie Fowler-Finn), MPD Fourth District Commander Nikki Lavenhouse, and MPD Fifth District Commander Sylvan Altieri.
Register to receive the meeting link at ward5.us/monthlycall. The meeting will be livestreamed on CM Parker’s YouTube channel. It will be recorded, and slides will be shared afterwards.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 821 1728 1005. Passcode: 875689.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of March 2024 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
C. Approval of February 2024 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
3. Commissioner Updates
4. 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.*
5. Reports:
A. Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (5 minutes)
B. Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (5 minutes)
C. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education (5 minutes)
D. Kornelius Anderson, Community Engagement Specialist, District Department of Transportation (10 minutes)
E. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)
F. Vision Zero Committee (2 minutes)
G. Youth Advisory Committee (2 minutes)
H. Community Safety & Support Committee (2 minutes)
7. Presentation: Marty Sullivan, Sullivan & Barros, LLP, Application for Zoning Modification at 5924 9th Street, NW for Five Additional Dwelling Units (BZA Case #21106) (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
Resolution 4B-24-0301: Supporting Special Exceptions for Five Additional Dwelling Units at 5924 9th Street, NW (BZA Case #21106) (Commissioner Gilligan)
8. Resolution 4B-24-0302: Calling for Greater Transparency and Coordination in Permitting Neighborhood Utility Work and Improvements to DC Transportation Online Permitting System (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Brooks, and Commissioner Smith)
9. Adjournment
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for April 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting is scheduled for April 3 at 7:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Vision Zero Committee Meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Last week, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George submitted her fiscal year 2025 budget request letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. The mayor was expected to submit her proposed budget to the council on March 20, but there may be a delay in the mayor’s submission.
Councilmember Lewis George notes that her requests are informed in part by her neighborhood listening sessions and CARE day events. The requests address “housing and health, investing in our educators and our youth, and investing in public safety and community needs.”
Items of note regarding the neighborhood copied from the letter and pasted below.
Add Capacity Near Whittier Elementary School for Swing Space and Relieve Nearby Crowding. Whittier Elementary School’s overdue modernization will begin in school year 2025-26, meaning students and staff will be learning in temporary swing space for two years. DCPS’ current plan is for Whittier to occupy the former Sharpe Health Campus on 13th Street, over two miles away from Whittier. That distance is likely to cause enrollment declines and staff turnover as families depart what would otherwise be a neighborhood school. Simultaneously, students at Ida B. Wells Middle School and Coolidge High School, who share a building across the street from Whittier, are experiencing severe overcrowding. Last year Ida B. Wells was at 119% utilization and Coolidge was at 125% utilization – two of the top five most crowded schools in the city. We can solve both problems by either constructing a temporary modular campus on District-owned land near Whittier, Wells, and Coolidge, or leasing/purchasing another building nearby. This additional capacity can be used first as proximate swing space for Whittier and then space to relieve overcrowding at Wells and Coolidge – supporting our Ward 4 neighborhood schools and community.
Retain the School Connect program at LaSalle-Backus Elementary School and Ida B. Wells Middle School. The fiscal year 2024 budget included funding for a Department of For Hire Vehicles School Connect route between LaSalle-Backus Elementary School and Ida B. Wells Middle School. Students living in the Lamond-Riggs community of Wards 4 and 5 do not have a direct or safe route from home to their neighborhood middle school, Ida B. Wells. This program is particularly important for students who are often late or even absent because they must accompany their younger siblings to school before their own classes start. The recently opened School Connect program helps eliminate this gap for a select number of students and families identified by each school’s administrators most in need of support. We must continue this Safe Passage investment.
Invest in our DPR recreation centers and programming. Parks and recreational activities are important for our communities. I had the opportunity to tour many DPR recreation centers and there are improvements needed throughout the District. However, there are numerous facilities in Ward 4 that are seriously overdue for modernization and need to be upgraded. Our families and seniors deserve clean and well-maintained parks. Ward 4 centers that need upgrading include:
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center: a new environmentally friendly turf field; repair or replace the gymnasium roof
Fund Broad Branch Road, Eastern Avenue, and Grant Circle Rehabilitation Projects. DDOT has announced plans to rehabilitate Broad Branch Road between Linnean Avenue and Beach Drive; Eastern Avenue between New Hampshire and Whittier; and Grant Circle. Each project will bring critical infrastructure upgrades and traffic safety improvements to key transit corridors. I am asking for these important projects to be fully funded.
Metropolitan Branch Trail. Design a trail connection between the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) at Fort Totten and the future Prince George’s County Connector. In 2023, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission secured funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a shared-use path between the Northwest Branch Trail of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in Chillum to Avondale Community Park, which borders Eastern Avenue in the District. To complement this project, DDOT should begin planning its own trail connection to the Metropolitan Branch Trail along Eastern Avenue and Gallatin Street N.E.
Keep modernizations on time and maintain their funding. A number of projects in Ward 4 are scheduled for upcoming modernizations. It is important for all of the projects to remain on schedule and that the community is updated. The Ward 4 community is excited for these projects and it’s important that we continue to invest in our neighborhoods with modernized facilities.
Yesterday, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that applications for the e-bike voucher program will be accepted from eligible “Preferred Applicants” from April 1 to April 15, 2024.
A Preferred Applicant is “a District resident enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance.” Proof of District residency and proof of enrollment in one of these programs will be required if applying as a Preferred Applicant. Residents must apply for and receive a voucher before purchasing an e-bike.
If funds remain, a second application window will open for Standard Applicants.
E-bikes are a great way to travel around the city, especially with the completed Metropolitan Branch Trail extension to Fort Totten station and the gradual progress the city is making to construct more protected bike infrastructure.
For more information about the e-bike voucher program, visit ddot.dc.gov/ebikes.
UDC will kick off a few days of activities for the inauguration of UDC’s 10th president Dr. Maurice Edington the week of March 11, 2024. There will be an academic symposium at the Lamond-Riggs campus on March 13, 2024. View the full list of inauguration activities at https://www.udc.edu/inauguration.
Academic Symposium
Wednesday, March 13 Advancing the Mission of the Urban HBCU: Showcasing Excellence, Elevating Possibility 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus Auditorium 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE Washington, DC 20017
Updated to correct last date of enrollment to March 7.
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and Davis Construction (the team behind Riggs Crossing Senior Residences) are offering paid apprenticeship training for up to 20 DC residents through a partnership with the local Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapter. They plan to enroll interested potential workers in the ABC CORE program for a 10-week training program. The final opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity is Thursday, March 7, 2024.
APAH and Davis will help graduates find job offers with trade partners within the industry. Costs for candidates to enroll will be covered by DAVIS and APAH.
If interested in the apprenticeship opportunity, complete the contact form on the “Career” page on the project website or simply stop by the construction trailer (located in the green space in front of Food & Friends) to provide your contact information and let the team know of your interest in enrolling.
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on February 28, 2024. Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Vice Chair; Diego Rojas (5A04); Tyeron Boston (5A05); Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 and 5A07 are vacant.
Commission Business
Commissioner Diego Rojas resigned as the ANC’s secretary. Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio was sworn in as secretary. She will hold two positions, vice chair and secretary.
The ANC approved minutes for the November 2023 regular meeting (Commissioner Lucio abstained), the November 2023 special meeting, and the January 2024 meeting.
The ANC approved the annual report for 2023. It will be on the ANC’s website.
Public safety report
No real updates from Commissioner Karlus Cozart about the public safety committee. Commissioner Lucio suggested that the ANC reach out to MPD’s 4th District Citizens Advisory Council to foster more engagement with this part of 4D.
Faith United Church Hypothermia Site (5A08)
The temporary hypothermia shelter at Faith United Church will officially close on March 8, 2024. ANC Chair Gordon Fletcher (5A08) stated that the site was little used and that it is unclear if the contract will be renewed. He said that he has stressed to the DC Department of Human Services that if the city wants to renew the contract or provide a similar service within the boundaries of the ANC, then the ANC wants to be notified in advance and be part of the process.
243 Hawaii Avenue NE (5A06) – BZA case no. 21070
The ANC voted to support the conversion of the existing duplex at 243 Hawaii Avenue NE to a two-family flat. The owner presented at the last ANC meeting and came back after doing more outreach to her neighbors.
Catholic University Temporary Modular Housing (5A04) -ZC case no. 12-01G
The ANC voted to support Catholic University’s plan to build temporary modular housing to provide more student housing. Catholic is requesting an amendment and further processing of the university’s 2012 campus plan. The approved campus plan calls for permanent student housing, but because of financial conditions, the university wants to build temporary housing to house up to 125 students.
University representatives stated the housing plan was reviewed by a traffic consultant and by DDOT and that the university expects little impact to traffic and parking. The university expects to begin underground utility work in spring (around May). The units will be constructed off site and brought to campus as they are constructed, likely starting in the fall. The representatives stated that it takes about two weeks to put each unit onto its foundation. The university expects to have the units ready for occupancy in spring semester 2025.
The Zoning Commission hearing is scheduled for March 7, 2024.
Ward 5 Council Report (Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator for Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker)
Councilmember Parker held his monthly public safety call. Materials from meeting:
Councilmember Parker prepared a year-end review of his first year in office.
Boys Town (5A02)
Chair Fletcher said that Boys Town, located at 4801 Sargent Road NE, is closing. This item was listed on the agenda, but a representative from Boys Town did not attend the meeting. The ANC will aim to have a representative at the March meeting. Commissioner Lucio stated she is concerned because the campus is a large property, so she wants the ANC to be involved in any development plan from the beginning. She wondered aloud whether St. Anselm’s Abbey School might be interested in expanding to part of the property.
Proposed Gas Station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE (5A08) – BZA case no. 17963A
The hearing for the proposed gas station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE has been postponed to April. Chair Fletcher stated he has reached out to the applicant about coming to an ANC meeting but has not heard back yet. (Aside: At the February meeting of the North Michigan Park Civic Association, a representative for the applicant stated that the applicant is not planning to install an electric vehicle charging station instead of a gas station. The hearing has been postponed multiple times at this point, but the representative said he could not say if the applicant will withdraw the application at some point).
Art Place at Fort Totten (5A09)
The development team for Art Place at Fort Totten provided an update on sequencing for the second phase of the project.
The space for Aldi will be turned over to the grocery store for buildout around April 1, 2024. This is the building under construction on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Kennedy Street NE. Aldi is looking to open around October 1, 2024. This may be a soft opening for certain days/hours. The store will hold hiring fairs this spring/summer either within the store, at The Modern, or at Lamond-Riggs Library. Stay tuned for information about that.
The space for the children’s museum will be turned over for buildout in late summer/early fall 2024. The museum is looking to open late 2025.
The development team is still seeking financing for the second sequence of Phase 2. This is the housing piece (294 housing units, of which 33 are income-restricted, affordable units).
The last sequence will be construction of the rotunda. They are in early negotiations with potential users.
As for Building A (also known as The Modern or Phase 1), the team is still looking to sign a restaurant and an ice cream shop. There was a brewery under lease that had trouble securing financing, so the development team has reached back out with revised leasing terms.
A resident asked about having a police substation in Building A. The team said they are always open to discussions with the city about that and that maybe it could go in the space that was built out for temporary use by the library.
University of the District of Columbia(UDC President Dr. Maurice Edington)
UDC president Dr. Maurice Edington informed the ANC and residents about the university’s new strategic plan. It will be open for public comment for 60 days. View the plan at https://www.udc.edu/strategic-plan. Send feedback to udcstrategicplanning@udc.edu.
Miscellaneous
In response to a question, Commissioner Lucio stated that the Providence Hospital campus deal is still being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for DC.
The next ANC 5A public meeting will be March 27, 2024.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 