[Updated 4/3/2024 to correct date of DPW Community Conversation. It will be on April 24, 2024.]

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 27, 2024. Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Diego Rojas (5A04); Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 and 5A07 are vacant.

DC Commission on Arts & Humanities was on the agenda, but they did not show up.

ANC Public Safety Update

(I missed the first few minutes of the meeting so I missed a portion of the public safety update).

MPD’s 4th District held an Air Tag giveaway on March 22, 2024. ANC 5A discussed with the North Michigan Park Civic Association splitting the cost of 500 Air Tags for another giveaway. The ANC voted (2-1) to support spending up to $300 to purchase Air Tags in conjunctions with the civic association. Commissioner Cozart voted against because he wanted to make sure it is an allowable expense before supporting it. Commissioners Rojas and Bocoum voted to support. (Commissioner Malone joined the meeting after the vote).

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

Mayor Bowser announced that the Wizards and Capitals will stay in DC to 2050.

The Cherry Blossom parade was on March 30.

With spring here, community clean-ups are starting. Anyone can organize a clean-up. The Mayor’s Office of the Clean City provides support for clean-ups by providing bags, pickers, gloves, and rakes. See Mayor Bowser’s Spring Clean Up.

Street sweeping is in effect. DPW issued warnings and will now start issuing fines. For alley cleanings, submit a service request to 311.

Free tax preparation service is provided at Turkey Thicket Rec Center every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am-2:00 pm through April 11, 2024.

There will be a community conversation with DPW Director Timothy Spriggs on April 24. Residents can submit questions in advance through April 2.

DDOT is collaborating with ANC Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) and Commissioner Colleen Costello (5B05) to install alley restriction signs in alleys along Varnum, Taylor, Taussig, and Urell streets NE for the spring season.

Mr. Black said he is happy to assist the ANC and North Michigan Park with planning another Air Tag giveaway.

Mr. Black’s Ward days are Tuesday and Friday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm, when he can meet residents and commissioners around the ward for any issues.

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

Councilmember Parker introduced a bill to address truancy. (Read press release).

On March 29, 2024, CM Parker held his monthly Ward 5 public safety call with guests from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) and MPD 5D Commander Sylvan Altieri. Access slides and view a recording of the meeting. Learn more about the OGVP at https://www.buildingblocks.dc.gov. The public safety calls are held the last Wednesday of each month. The next one will be on April 24, 2024.

The city is still in the middle of Fiscal Year 2025 budget delays. Mayor Bowser will submit her proposed budget to the Council on April 3, 2024. The Council will take a first vote on May 29, 2024, and a second vote on June 12, 2024.

On April 4, 2024, at 11:00 am there will be a street designation naming ceremony for Edna Brown Coleman by Delta Towers on the 1400 block of Morse Street NE. Coleman was one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which started at Howard University.

CM Parker had a meeting with DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum and discussed the $1 million for FY 2024 improvements on South Dakota Avenue NE. DDOT is still working out final details. The street lighting team will brighten lights on the 5000 and 5100 blocks of South Dakota Avenue.

CM Parker’s office launched a Ward 5 Wave podcast.

Chair Fletcher asked again for the councilmember’s help with getting MPD to the ANC meeting. Ward 5 MOCR Anthony Black stated he will help the ANC with this.

Boys Town Closure (5A02) (Kichelle Coleman, Executive Director)

Boys Town will close its physical location at 4801 Sargent Road NE. Executive Director Kichelle Coleman stated that the residential program ended in 2022 and the organization had hoped to continue having more impact in DC with community-based services working with children and families. She said the closure has to do with the regulatory environment and reimbursement rates.

The organization announced in December 2023 that they were looking to wind down around July 1, 2024.

The organization currently has a commitment to 10 public schools regarding truancy reduction so they will continue to serve those schools through that commitment.

The behavioral clinic will continue to operate as an outpatient clinic through April 2024.

Ms. Coleman said Boys Town will continue providing virtual parenting classes; the national hotline will continue to operate; and the national program will still offer training to schools across DC.

They will discuss the sale of the property at a future ANC meeting.

Gas Station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE (5A08) (BZA case no. 17963A)

The applicant seeking to have a gas station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE has requested another hearing postponement. The hearing was scheduled for April 3, 2024.

Affordable Housing Development, First Place & Riggs Road NE (5A07) (Felipe Serpa, developer)

View presentation given to DC Council Committee of the Whole

View sightlines schematic design provided by developer

A 100% income-restricted affordable housing development is planned for the southwest corner of First Place & Riggs Road NE in ANC 5A07 (across from Impact DMV Church). The ANC seat for this area is currently vacant so Chair Fletcher is handling communication with the developer, Valor Development.

There is a parking lot on the southwest corner owned by Impact DMV church and a lot next to that with the brick structure that is owned by Local Union 11. The developer plans to purchase and combine the two lots in order to build the project. They need to close a paper alley that sits between the two lots to do so. The Council has to approve alley closures. The developer is working with CM Parker’s office on this (see bill no. B25-0636). The developer came before the ANC to request support for closure of the paper alley. The developer shared the presentation given to the DC Council Committee of the Whole.

(Aside: Local Union 11 ran into financial issues several years ago).

The project is in the beginning stages, starting with the alley closure. The developer stated they will likely apply for tax credits and bonds from the city to help finance the project in mid-2024.

The plan is to have around 104 two-bedroom and three-bedroom units with the express goal of supporting housing for families. Currently, the developer does not have plans for retail in the project.

The developer stated that the project will be a matter-of-right project, meaning they will not be seeking any zoning relief. The maximum allowable height for the building is 65 feet. Part of the deal with the church is to provide church parking in the development because the church currently uses the parking lot for overflow parking. The plan is to have underground parking for the church as well as the residential units.

The presentation given to the Council (and ANC) includes preliminary comments from District agencies about the alley closure. DDOT and the Office of Planning both commented about impact/access to the Met Branch Trail. The Fort Totten to Takoma section of the MBT currently under construction runs along First Place near the Metro station and west from First along Riggs Road. The developer stated they are working with DDOT on public space design and access to the MBT. (Aside: I looked up the public hearing for the bill. Here is DDOT’s testimony with objections).

A resident noted there used to be a gas station where the parking lot sits. The developer stated they are aware and will be working with DOEE on any necessary environmental mitigation.

The next ANC meeting will be April 24, 2024.