Monthly Archives: May 2024

Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Art Project Design – Vote by May 24, 2024

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

From The Parks Main Street

The Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Art Project is now open for Community Voting!

16 local artists have submitted designs. The top 6 vote getters, by star rating, will be selected based on all participant votes.

Voting Instructions

1. Access the Voting Page.  After reading all of the instructions, click on the “Community Voting” link at the end of the instructions to access the voting page. All votes are anonymous.

2. View 16 Eligible Designs.

3. Information About Each Design. Click the lowercase “i” in the lower right-hand corner to see additional information about the design.

  • Artist Name
  • Title of the Design, if included by artist
  • Description of Design

4. Star Voting. Rate each design by clicking the stars from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) stars based on how you feel the design fits one or more of the community selected Themes.

  • DC Proud
  • Community
  • Nature/The Environment

5. Vote for All Designs. Vote for all 16 designs as each artist put their heart into each creation. This helps ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation of all design submissions.

6. Submit Your Vote. After you have rated all designs, click “Save & Finish”.  

7. Cast your vote by Friday May 24, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

Community Voting Link: Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Art – Community Voting

Voting can also be accessed at www.theparksmainstreet.org.

Remember, your votes help recognize and celebrate the best designs submitted by local artists to beautify our Riggs Park community.

If you have any questions, submit by email to info@theparksmainstreet.org.

May 17: LRCA Scholarship Application Deadline

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Please let your neighbors know about LRCA’s scholarship opportunity.

Apply for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Scholarship

Applications for the 2024 Scholarship Award Period are Due by Friday, May 17, 2024.

  • Are you a graduating High School Senior?
  • Will you be attending college this coming Fall, 2024?
  • Are you a resident of the Lamond-Riggs community?
  • Do you attend a DC public school (traditional or charter)? 

If you meet the requirements listed above, then consider applying for this great scholarship opportunity!

Go to lrcadc.org/scholarships for application details.

Map of LRCA boundaries

Art Place at Fort Totten Updates

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

A few updates about Art Place at Fort Totten.

Phase 1 – The Modern (Building A along South Dakota Avenue between Galloway and Ingraham streets NE)

  • Urban Garden Brewing has signed a lease for space along South Dakota Avenue.
  • An Italian restaurant is looking at space next to the brewery.
  • One Life Fitness is expanding with construction anticipated to finish up by end of this year.
  • A dentist office is looking at space.
  • One other sit-down restaurant has looked at space, but it is not at letter of intent stage just yet.

Phase 2 – The FEZ (Block B under construction along South Dakota Avenue between Ingraham and Kennedy streets NE)

  • Aldi plans to open on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Kennedy Street NE around October 1, 2024. The store plans to hold three job fairs over the summer.
  • Kids Museum is looking at opening along South Dakota between Ingraham and Kennedy in 3rd or 4th quarter 2025. They are finishing up a feasibility study.
  • There is interest from a couple of retailers, but the development team is not ready to share details yet.
  • The development team is still looking at financing for the residential portion of this phase (294 rental units).
  • The team is sequencing construction and occupancy for the second phase.

Social Justice School Relocation

Social Justice School, a public charter middle school, is currently subleasing space from Rocketship Public Charter School at 5450 3rd Street NE. Recall that Rocketship signed a 35-year lease with the Cafritz Foundation for the 3rd Street property. After renovating and combining a couple of the older warehouses on the site, Rocketship opened its Infinity Prep preK/elementary school campus in August 2020. Rocketship decided to sublease to Social Justice School for a few years while Rocketship gradually expanded its grade offerings. Now it is time for Social Justice to vacate the space for Rocketship’s use.

Social Justice School wants to stay in the neighborhood and worked with the Cafritz team to find space nearby. They recently filed an application to amend their charter to relocate to 333 Kennedy Street NE, which is across the street from their current location.

The DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) hearing on Social Justice School’s proposed relocation will be on May 20, 2024, at 6:15 pm. Instructions on how to submit testimony are in the hearing notice. The school’s application notes that they want to relocate in time for the 2024-2025 school year. The application states that the school will use prefabricated modular classrooms, which will be delivered and installed in the new location.

The application notes that the school contacted ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08), who is the chair of ANC 5A, as well as Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker. The school sits in ANC 5A09. ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) is the commissioner for that area.

The DCPCSB plans to vote on the planned relocation on June 24, 2024. If the request is approved at the time, I imagine we will start to see movement around the site pretty quickly so that the school can open in time for fall.

I am sure I am forgetting some updates, but more to come.

May 14: Info Session on Retail Opportunity – Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

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.

There will be a virtual information session on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10:00 am.

Submit initial inquiries by May 23, 2024.

Click here for the Retail Brochure.
Click here for the Microsoft Teams invite to join during the scheduled informational session.

Send questions/inquiries to Joanna Ha Yean Shin at jshin@apah.org.

APAH is very interested in assistance from residents who have connections to unique, local retailers. Help APAH make this a great project.

April 24, 2024 ANC 5A Meeting Recap

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 24, 2024. Commissioners present: Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Vice Chair & Secretary; Diego Rojas (5A04); Tyeron Boston; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 & 5A07 are vacant.

This meeting was focused on public safety so there is not much to recap.

No public safety updates from Commissioner Cozart, who heads up the ANC’s public safety committee.

Former ANC Commissioner Sandi Washington noted there was a shooting on North Capitol Street NE. A five-year-old was shot. Former Commissioner Washington asked the ANC for attention on that area of the ANC given that both ANC 5A06 and 5A07 have been vacant for several months now.

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

Ward 5 MOCR Anthony Black addressed individual questions raised by residents, including mowing/tree care/dumping mitigation needed along public land near Puerto Rico Avenue & Taylor streets NE. As a reminder, Mr. Black is able to meet with residents and commissioners on Tuesdays and Fridays in person to address any issues. Contact Mr. Black at anthony.black@dc.gov.

MPD 4D Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) (Neena Murphy Martin)

Each police district has a citizens advisory council (CAC). Neena Murphy Martin chairs MPD 4th District’s CAC. Commissioner Lucio and Ms. Murphy Martin discussed ways to get more outreach in the Ward 5 part of MPD’s 4th District. For example, they might have punch with a cop. For more info on the CAC, visit https://4dcac.org or contact Ms. Murphy Martin at 4dcacdc@gmail.com.

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

Councilmember Zachary Parker held his monthly Ward 5 public safety call on April 24. Neighbors were encouraged to testify during budget oversight hearings.  

The next ANC 5A meeting will be on May 22, 2024.

May 17: LRCA Scholarship Application Deadline

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Apply for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Scholarship

Applications for the 2024 Scholarship Award Period are Due by Friday, May 17, 2024.

  • Are you a graduating High School Senior?
  • Will you be attending college this coming Fall, 2024?
  • Are you a resident of the Lamond-Riggs community?
  • Do you attend a DC public school (traditional or charter)? 

If you meet the requirements listed above, then consider applying for this great scholarship opportunity!

Go to lrcadc.org/scholarships for application details.

Map of LRCA boundaries

May 6: LRCA Public Meeting (Hybrid)

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Uncategorized

From Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association

The May 2024 LRCA Community meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM EST. Doors open at 5:45 PM.

This IN-PERSON meeting is scheduled to take place at the Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room 1, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20011.

Additionally, the meeting will be live-streamed via the Zoom webinar platform:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88351773574?pwd=NkNwOHpvVzhxNERjclJSamFucklkUT09

Webinar ID: 883 5177 3574
Passcode: 324968
Or dial in by phone: 301-715-8592

Agenda Items include:

  • Welcome/Invocation
  • Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
  • Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
  • Sean Cahill, Cafritz Enterprises (Art Place at Fort Totten)
  • 2024 Fiscal Budget
  • 2024 LRCA Scholarship Competition
  • Community Concerns/Closing

DDOT Advisory: Traffic Pattern Change on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW Beginning May 6, 2024

Posted by nextstoprp in Met Branch Trail, Transportation

From DDOT

Traffic Pattern Change on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW Beginning May 6, 2024

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising all stakeholders to continue to expect intermittent lane closures and traffic pattern changes on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW in the Northbound Direction. Please see the following information for updated lane closures and traffic pattern changes:

Utility Upgrade Construction

As part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Fort Totten to Takoma Project, this area’s utility upgrades will begin on Monday, May 6, 2024. These utility upgrades will improve drainage and pedestrian safety along the new MBT trail section. Vehicle traffic flow of two travel lanes, one in each direction, will be maintained during peak hours (before 9:30 AM and after 3:30 PM). A two-way traffic pattern on Blair Road NW will be maintained during off-peak hours (between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM). Coordination with the impacted individual locations will be performed by the project public outreach team to accommodate access to these facilities.

These lane closures and traffic pattern changes are necessary to complete utility upgrade work efficiently as part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project.

Sidewalk and Trail Construction

As part of the planned Metropolitan Branch Trail work in the abovementioned area, intermittent temporary sidewalk closures will be taking place to replace curb/gutter sections at driveway entrances, replace ADA access ramps, upgrade utilities, and place additional traffic signal poles for various locations at the intersections. Due to safety concerns and spacing limitations, pedestrian detours will be put in place, where possible, to move pedestrians to the opposite side of the roadway at the closest accessible crosswalk. Each impacted location will be contacted directly to coordinate a location-specific pedestrian egress plan through that specific section of the sidewalk.

Traffic controls, including signage, will be in place to guide motorists and pedestrians safely through the work zone. All roadway users are advised to stay alert and be observant of signage and work zones while traveling in this area.

Once complete, the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project will include improvements such as a new multi-use trail section, sidewalks, streetlights, green area revitalization, and other streetscape elements.

For more information about this project and to stay up to date on traffic-related impacts and construction progress, please visit mbt-forttotten-takoma.ddot.dc.gov.