Aldi is now hiring for full-time and part-time positions at the new store that will be opening at 5300 South Dakota Avenue NE (at Kennedy Street NE) in fall 2024.
Individuals must apply online. Current opportunities posted on Aldi’s career site:
Applicants who are selected for an interview will likely be asked to interview at an existing Aldi location. Two interview days have already been set up at Aldi in Takoma Park.
Aldi’s website offers the following tips for potential candidates:
Do your research – Make sure you understand ALDI and the job requirements.
Arrive early – Try to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled interview to allow yourself time to get settled.
Come prepared – Research common interview questions and brainstorm your answers. Prepare questions for your interviewer, to show you are interested in the position. Also, be sure to bring extra copies of your resume, and a pen and paper to take notes.
Follow Up – Kindly follow up with your interviewer(s) by sending a thank you email or handwritten note, thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in the position.
Please let your neighbors who are looking for part-time or full-time work know about these employment opportunities right here in the neighborhood and encourage them to apply online.
The store is several weeks behind in construction due to delay in getting an interior buildout permit. Previously they were anticipating opening around October 1, 2024. They are still anticipating a fall opening.
North Michigan Park residents are invited to place their bulk trash, e-cycle and paper shred items in the trash roll off located in front of the North Michigan Park Recreation Center located at 1333 Emerson St NE between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 27, 2024
If you are a senior resident, age 50+ or a disabled resident, and would like the bulk trash and e-cyle picked up from your residence, you must register. A volunteer will pick the items up from your residence during the event hours. The volunteer will not be allowed inside the residence, so the trash must be moved outside. Because of the privacy laws the senior pick up DOES NOT include the items for paper shredding.
SENIOR/DISABLED REGISTRATION:
You must register by contacting one of the individuals below by Friday, July 19, 2024.
Contact: Carmen Roberts-Williams, President NMPCA – 202-841-5256
Debra Whitford, Treasurer – 202-744-9082
The following information is needed for registration:
· Name
· Address
· Age
· Phone Number
· List of items you would like to be picked up (Limit 10 items)
Acceptable Bulk Items • Air conditioners (drain water and fluids) • Hot water heaters • Household furniture • Large toys (kiddie pools, playhouses, disassembled swing sets) • Major appliances, e.g., refrigerators (doors removed) • Mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic), bed frames • Rugs (MUST be rolled and tied)
Unacceptable Bulk Items • Books • Bricks* • Ceiling tile* • Construction Materials* • Demolition materials* • Dirt* • Drywall* • Hazardous and/or liquid waste • Household trash or garbage – • Small tree limbs • Tree stumps • Tires
6:30 Planned one-block bike lane at Riggs and South Dakota
7:00 Possible future bike lane on South Dakota Ave
Anyone who lives in 5A09 or near Fort Totten Metro Station, please attend the meeting to discuss these issues.
You can also email bike.lanes@dc.gov(please provide your address / distance from Fort Totten) so your opinions will be given more weight) and [copy Commissioner Bocoum at 5A09@anc.dc.gov].
— [Ed. note: I am not sure why Commissioner Bocoum is having another SMD meeting about the alcohol license issue when the protest deadline is July 22. (The hearing was pushed back because Aldi did not post the placard until June 7). It seems Commissioners Fletcher and Lucio are telling her what to do, but neither of them is giving good advice. One or both told her that the license had been approved already, which was obviously not correct, and residents told her that was not correct. Then one or both told her she should have another SMD meeting, which does not make any sense and residents told her that does not make any sense. The full ANC should be having a special meeting to vote on a resolution. So, I am not sure what the ANC is doing and why other commissioners are telling Commissioner Bocoum things that do not make any sense.]
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on June 26, 2024. Commissioners present: Karlus Cozart (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Vice Chair, Secretary; Tyeron Boston (5A05); Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 & 5A07 are vacant.
This meeting was super long. Chair Fletcher left about halfway through, but there was still a quorum of commissioners present.
Commission Business
Commissioner Lucio was elected secretary, retroactive to February 2024. An official from the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions conducted the installation.
The ANC apparently previously approved drafting a job description for an assistant to the ANC. That was tasked to Commissioner Bocoum to complete by the ANC’s September 2024 meeting.
Public Safety Update
The ANC held a public safety summit on June 20. Commissioner Cozart, who is heading up the ANC’s public safety committee, stated the ANC had presentations by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Catholic University’s public safety office, and Carlos McKnight representing Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker’s office. Commissioner Cozart will submit a report on the summit at the ANC’s September 2024 public meeting. The ANC also wants to have a public safety summit in the fall.
Owners of Sahara Market & Cafe presented on their alcohol license application. They have vague plans to open some type of eatery in the Avondale Shops strip mall at 1901 Michigan Avenue NE (near Eastern Avenue NE) in ANC 5B. The property sits across the street from ANC 5A02, so Commissioner Cozart has been communicating with commissioners in ANC 5B. The owners also have a restaurant in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Commissioner Cozart held a single member district (SMD) meeting prior to the full ANC meeting. At his SMD meeting, residents expressed concerns about hours of operation, proximity to the childcare center at YMCA, proximity to the church across the street from the proposed eatery, and about the patrons that a restaurant with late night hours serving alcohol in a residential neighborhood would attract.
In response, representatives of Sahara stated that they have changed hours to shut down at midnight, though that apparently had not been reflected in their actual application just yet.
Sahara reps said they want to work with residents to provide amenities that neighbors would support. They said they have heard from Queens Chapel residents that they do not want a liquor store and that they want a bakery or coffee shop. So the owners are bouncing around ideas for a space that will have a coffee component, provide a lunchtime option, and possibly sell fresh produce. They said they are not trying to bring a liquor store to the community.
The ANC voted to oppose Sahara’s applications for a Class B and Class C alcohol license.
Ward 5 Council Report (Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator for Ward 5 CM Zachary Parker)
Carlos McKnight, constituent services coordinated for CM Parker, noted that residents shared concerns about buses idling on Galloway Street NE for Metro’s bus bridge. The buses will be in the neighborhood until the end of August 2024 to support Metro’s red line construction.
CM Parker reached out to Metro. Metro stated that they will send personnel to monitor idling and will provide a cooling bus for bus operators. Metro sent a letter to ANC 5A Chair Fletcher. Residents asked if someone could share the letter with residents. (Note: CM Parker’s office shared the letter in the Ward 5 newsletter). A resident asked if Metro could stage buses in the parking lots on Eastern Avenue by the Giant instead of on Galloway because of the poor sightlines created by having buses parked on both sides of the street. In addition, the resident expressed concern about the annual practice of people coming to the field to shoot fireworks.
The Takoma station has reopened. Red line closure from Takoma to Glenmont continues until the end of August. Sign up for red line construction alerts. For more information, visit wmata.com/majorconstruction.
The comment period for Metro’s proposed bus redesign network closes July 15, 2024. Give input at https://betterbus.wmata.com/share. CM Parker’s office produced a scorecard of the proposal.
The Council approved the FY2025 budget. Some Ward 5 wins include funding for improvements to the playground at the North Michigan Park Rec Center.
The comment period for the South Dakota Avenue NE corridor safety study project is open until mid-August. Give input: DDOT Questionnaire and at DDOT Public Input Map.
Councilmember Parker attended a public safety meeting at Social Justice School. Metro Transit Police Department representatives attended as well. CM Parker has reached out to Ramdass Pharmacy, which was robbed in mid-June.
(Aside: This was the last ANC meeting for Carlos. In the Ward 5 newsletter, CM Parker’s office notified residents Carlos is no longer with the Ward 5 office. ANC 5A residents should contact Oliver Stoute at ostoute@dccouncil.gov for constituent services requests. Carlos is a wonderful person & we wish him the very best.)
Safety improvements on Fort Drive NE & Taylor Street NE (Anne Welch, DDOT)
DDOT is studying bike lanes along Taylor Street NE and along Harewood Road NW. Construction on bike lanes on Taylor Street is anticipated in Fiscal Year 2025. Construction on bike lanes on Rock Creek Church Road/Harewood Road NE corridor is expected in Fiscal Year 2026
Currently, DDOT is in Phase 1, looking at needs assessment and interagency coordination
Commissioner Boston (5A05) asked if DDOT has taken into consideration that Washington Yu Ying and Washington Latin will be opening campuses on Taylor pretty soon. He asked if DDOT has decided which side of the road the bike lanes will be go on. DDOT responded that they are aware of the schools’ plans and that they are still assessing where the bike lanes will go.
A resident noted that ANC 5A06 is an impacted SMD and that they are without representation.
South Dakota Avenue Corridor Safety Study (Sayra Molina, DDOT)
DDOT is conducting a safety study of the South Dakota Avenue NE corridor between Bladensburg Road NE and Riggs Road NE with the goal of implementing a road diet. DDOT is conducting the first round of public meetings, gathering input, and developing concepts. Give input by mid-August, 2024: DDOT Questionnaire and at DDOT Public Input Map.
St. Anselm’s Abbey School is looking to expand on its existing campus. The plan is to build a new wing to house a new library, office space, a student chapel, and admissions office. The expansion will be served by the existing parking and existing driveway. The school needs BZA relief for the expansion. They are requesting a modification to their private school plan. They do not plan to increase enrollment.
Commissioner Lucio asked if the school could reconfigure the driveway. A representative stated that is currently not included in the scope of work.
Commissioner Lucio asked if St. Anselm had any interest in buying any property from Boys Town, which is being sold. A school rep stated that he did not see any current program needs for additional property and that the sale price will probably be too high, but he stated he will alert his board of the opportunity.
The ANC voted to support St. Anselm’s BZA application.
Community Concerns
I noted that the deadline for protesting Aldi’s beer/wine license application was approaching and that at Commissioner Bocoum’s SMD meeting, residents noted that this would be a good opportunity to pursue a friendly settlement agreement with Aldi. Commissioner Bocoum was misinformed that their beer/wine license application had been approved already, which created some confusion. The ANC agreed to have Commissioner Bocoum pursue a friendly settlement agreement. Commissioner Boston opposed. (Aside: The protest deadline for the application was pushed back to July 22).
UPDATE: DC Water Lifts Boil Water Advisory For All Affected Customers – Effective 7:30 AM July 4, 2024
July 04, 2024
All DC Water customers under the precautionary boil water advisory can use tap water for all purposes after it was confirmed that drinking water provided by the Washington Aqueduct never deviated from U.S. EPA established water quality standards as had been anticipated.
Under advice from the Washington Aqueduct, DC Water issued the precautionary boil water advisory as a conservative measure to protect public health, and we sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience while we took necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the tap water we deliver.
The advisory affected all customers in the District of Columbia, as well as the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport. Arlington County customers were also impacted.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
DC Water will work with customers to answer questions and respond to additional issues following the Boil Water Advisory. Questions can be directed to DC Water Customer Service at 202-354-3600 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400. Information is also available at dcwater.com and Bilingual FAQs are provided at http://www.dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ.
DRINKING WATER ADVISORY: DC Water Issues Boil Water Advisory For All Customers In The District Of Columbia, The Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery And Reagan National Airport
July 3, 2024
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) issued a Boil Water Advisory today for all customers in the District of Columbia, as well as the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport, due to a drop in water supply from the Washington Aqueduct. This is a precautionary notice to all customers to boil water that may be ingested due to water of unknown quality. Customer should not drink the water without boiling it first. This advisory will remain in place until follow-up testing confirms the water is safe to drink.
Customers should:
• Discard any beverages and ice made after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. • Run cold water prior to boiling. • Run cold water for 2 minutes if known sources of lead are present prior to boiling. • Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool. • Store cooled water in a clean, covered container.
Cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for:
• Drinking • Brushing teeth • Preparing and cooking food • Washing fruits and vegetables • Preparing infant formula • Making ice • Washing dishes by hand • Giving water to pets
*Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiled or bottled water.
What happened (Background) On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, DC Water was notified by the Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct that due to turbidity the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant reduced production and all water treatment operations were being conducted at the McMillan Treatment Plant. The current water treatment must be adjusted to meet current water demand for all our customers. To ensure there is enough water for firefighting activities, the Aqueduct resumed pumping water from the Dalecarlia Treatment Plant Wednesday evening. We anticipate the water could have increased turbidity and therefore providing this cautionary boil water advisory.
Turbidity as a measure of the cloudiness of water as described by the EPA. It is used to indicate water quality and filtration effectiveness (such as whether disease-causing organisms are present).
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The symptoms above are not only caused by microbes in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
We have no information that the water was contaminated by this incident, but we issue this advisory as a precaution while we test the water. We will update you when the water supply has returned to normal production and meets water quality standards.
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Customers with questions can contact DC Water Customer Service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400.
Ward 4 ANC map from DC Office of PlanningWard 5 ANC map from DC Office of Planning
If you call yourself a reasonable, respectful person interested in improving where you live, consider running for a seat on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC).
Starting today July 1, nominating petitions to run for ANC in the November general election are available from the DC Board of Elections. Petitions are due at 5:00 pm on August 7, 2024. Information about how to run for the ANC is available on the Board of Election website at https://www.dcboe.org/candidates/anc-advisory-neighborhood-commissioners.
Greater Greater Washington is hosting a virtual training on how to run for ANC tonight, July 1 at 6:00 pm. Register at the link.
Each ANC commissioner represents approximately 2,000 residents who make up a single member district (SMD). Find your ANC/SMD.
Maybe you like researching, have ideas about DC’s budget or how to improve the neighborhood, or want to advocate for the community before DC agencies. Maybe you have asked yourself, “Did anyone think of this or that?” when it comes to development. Maybe you have a list of things you wish DDOT were doing in the neighborhood. Well, serving as an ANC commissioner is a chance to serve in a position that matters because views of the commission are given great weight.
ANCs can weigh in on all sorts of matters that affect residents (planning and development projects, services by District agencies, etc.) so it really can make a difference to have proactive, reasonable people in these positions. If you are a reasonable, respectful person who would not mind doing some unpaid community work and would enjoy interacting with residents, District agencies, and neighborhood businesses to make our neighborhood a bit better, go ahead and run. We all thank you in advance.
Neighborhood boundaries and corresponding ANCs
The boundaries of Riggs Park generally are New Hampshire Avenue NE to the north, Eastern Avenue/MD-DC border to the east, Galloway Street to the south, & the Metro red line tracks to the west. (I don’t make the rules). Riggs Park is represented in part by commissioners in ANC 4B08, 4B09, 4B10, 5A01, 5A02, and 5A09.
Lamond is north of New Hampshire Avenue to about Underwood Place NE/NW. Lamond is represented is represented by commissioners in ANC 4B07 and 4B10.
I always like to put in a little plug for my SMD, which is ANC 5A01. It is a nice manageable area with the Lamond-Riggs Library and UDC Lamond-Riggs campus. I think the residents in this pocket of the neighborhood are pretty low-key, nice folks.
Celebrate Land Conservation Day at Hellbender Brewing Company with:
Tree Tours
Live Music
Raffles & Games
BBQ Food Truck
Casey Trees Merch
And try the exclusive Casey Trees Serviceberry seasonal beer!
Tickets not required. Registration encouraged to help predict attendance. Also, there is a donation link in the event checkout to support Casey Trees.
Schedule
Event runs 2:00 pm-7:00pm.
Hellbender Beer Hall and outside patio open for the duration of the event, as well as BBQ food truck, raffles, partner tables, and several games all open 2-7pm. Exclusive seasonal Serviceberry beer brewed with berries picked from local Serviceberry trees. Proceeds from this beer support Casey Trees’ efforts to restore, enhance, and protect DC’s tree canopy.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites residents to join his next Monthly Public Safety Call on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will be representatives from Ward 5’s three Police Districts (3D, 4D, and 5D).
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.
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. Election and Swearing in of the Secretary B. Secretary i. Minutes (May 2024) C. Treasurer i. 3rd Quarter Financial Report ii. Job Description D. Public Safety Committee Update from June 20th (Commissioner Cozart)
V. Commission Action Items/Updates A. Sahara Market (Ret B and CR) (5A02)
VI. Community Updates A. MPD B. Mayor’s Office C. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations A. Dalando Baker (DDOT) South Dakota Ave Traffic Study- DDOT B. St. Anslam’s Abby School Development (5A02) C. Anne Welch (DDOT) Safety improvements on Fort Drive NE and Taylor Street NE from North Capitol Street NW to South Dakota Avenue NE.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 860 2004 6493. Passcode: 780988.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of June 2024 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
C. Approval of May 2024 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report
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. Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
B. Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
C. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education (3 minutes)
D. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)
E. Vision Zero Committee (2 minutes)
F. Youth Advisory Committee (2 minutes)
G. Community Safety & Support Committee (2 minutes)
6. Presentation: Japer Bowles, Director, Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs, Mission and Work of the Office (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
7. Presentation: Clover Barnes, Senior Deputy Director, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTA), District Department of Health, Mission of the Administration and Available Resources (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
8. Presentation: Sayra Molina, Transportation Specialist, Corridor Safety Projects Team, Traffic Engineering & Safety Division, District Department of Transportation, South Dakota Avenue Corridor Safety Project from Riggs Road, NE, to Bladensburg Road, NE
Christopher Berg, Bicycle/Pedestrian Program Specialist, Active Transportation Branch, Planning and Sustainability Division, District Department of Transportation, Riggs Road, NE, Protected Bike Lanes (NOI 24-150 PSD) (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
9. Consent Calendar:
Resolution 4B-24-0601: Authorizing Commission Community Support and Outreach Expenditures (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Yeats, and Commissioner Palmer)
Resolution 4B-24-0602: Supporting Application for Special Exceptions at 6629 Piney Branch Road, NW, for Rear Addition (BZA 21176) (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Yeats, and Commissioner Smith)
Resolution 4B-24-0603: Noting History of Requests and Calling for Installation of Speed Humps for East-West Roads (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Palmer, and Commissioner Smith)
Resolution 4B-24-0604: Noting Lengthy History of Requests and Calling for Additional Traffic Calming and Safety Infrastructure at the Intersection of Piney Branch Road, NW, and Dahlia Street, NW, and Around Takoma Elementary School (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Palmer, and Commissioner Smith)
10. Adjournment
ANC 4B is on recess and will not hold Regular Public Meetings in July and August.
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for September 10 at 6:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting is scheduled for July 3 at 7:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Youth Advisory Committee Meeting has not yet been scheduled.
The next ANC 4B Vision Zero Committee Meeting has not yet been scheduled.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is soliciting public comment on the 90% design of the Riggs Road NE two-way cycletrack (NOI #24-150 PSD; 90% 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. DDOT is reissuing the NOI for this project after it stalled last year. The project sits in ANC 5A09. Send comments to bike.lanes@dc.gov by July 23, 2024.
DDOT states:
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 as shown in the attached plans.
The purpose of this change is to assist cyclists in crossing under the railroad tracks to reach the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
We are re-issuing this NOI at the 90% design stage to solicit public feedback through the ongoing development stages of this project.
Rendering of proposed cycletrack from NOI
It is worth looking at the 90% design plan for details. For example, DDOT expects that people on bikes will follow the pedestrian signal rather than having a separate bike signal. It looks like DDOT plans to install a yellow flex post in the cycletrack at the corner of 1st Pl & Riggs that will hopefully stop cars from entering the cyletrack. Plenty of other details to comment on.
Send comments to bike.lanes@dc.gov by July 23, 2024.
DDOT and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker recently held two kickoff meetings for the South Dakota Avenue NE Corridor Safety Study. DDOT is looking at ways to address issues on South Dakota from Bladensburg Road NE to Riggs Road NE.
Let DDOT know what you think about what is needed along the corridor by completing this questionnaire and providing information on this public input map (where you can identify important changes you’d like to see at specific intersections like more visible crosswalks, better pedestrian accommodations, etc).
Councilmember Parker earmarked funds in the FY2024 budget for a road diet on the corridor:
“fund efforts to improve safety on the corridor in the short term, preferably by constructing a road diet on a segment of the corridor […] the Committee recommends that DDOT consider either the segment between Bladensburg Road and Monroe Street NE or the segment between Sargent Road NE and RiggsRoad NE.”
Most agree speeding is a problem on South Dakota. There is a relatively low volume of vehicles during off-peak hours, which makes the wide road ripe for speeding. There are too many crashes and near misses. People feel unsafe crossing the street. Too many pedestrians have been injured or killed walking along the corridor. People want to be able to safely walk and bike to points along the corridor. Everyone wants the situation to be addressed. The question is how to get there.
Project Scope
DDOT is going to study the entire corridor, examine three concepts for a road diet, select one concept, and design and build the concept on one portion of the corridor. DDOT plans to start construction on the southern end (near Bladensburg) because they state that is where there is highest need.
DDOT is looking at three options for the corridor.
Option One: 3 lanes with full-time parking
Option one would have three lanes with parking on each side of the street.
Maintains one lane in each direction
Uses curbside space for full-time parking
Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on needs
(Currently, no parking is allowed on South Dakota except for limited parking on the west side of South Dakota between Galloway and Ingraham (soon extending to Kennedy). A couple of churches closer to the southern end of the corridor use a lane for parking on Sundays.)
Option Two: 3 lanes with parking and two-way protected bike lanes
Option two would have three lanes with parking and a two-way protected bike lane:
Maintains one travel lane in each direction
Uses curbside on one curb face for protected bike lanes
Uses opposite curb for parking
Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on need
Option Three: 3 lanes with protected bike lanes in each direction
Option three would have three lanes with protected bike lanes in each direction.
Maintains one lane in each direction
Uses curbside space for protected bike lanes
Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on needs
Project Timeline
DDOT plans to gather data, explore concepts, and gather input before holding a second round of public meetings in fall 2024, having a third round of public meetings in winter 2024/2025, beginning work on design plans in spring 2025, and finally starting construction just on the southern end in summer 2025.
Ways to Give Input
Let DDOT know what you think about what is needed along the corridor by completing this questionnaire and providing information on this public input map (where you can identify important changes you’d like to see at specific intersections like more visible crosswalks, better pedestrian accommodations, etc).
Though DDOT is going to focus the limited construction money on the southern end of the corridor, please take the time provide input to DDOT about neighborhood issues through this public engagement effort.
(I am going to exercise restraint from getting too soapboxy about how it would have been amazing if our city agencies would have required safe street design while the streets have been torn up for all of the development plus the city’s own street reconfiguration on the northern end of the corridor the past several years. Would have been amazing if our planning agency did not greenlight a new drive-thru on South Dakota on the northern end. Please complete the surveys & advocate for funding to complete the entire corridor.)
Aldi is anticipating opening at 5300 South Dakota Avenue NE (at Kennedy Street) around October 2024. They have applied for a new class B Full-Service Grocery store license with a Tasting Permit Endorsement to sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption. Hours of beer/wine sales would be Sunday through Saturday 9am – 8pm.
The ABCA protest petition deadline is July 8, 2024. The roll call hearing date is July 29, 2024. The protest hearing date is September 18, 2024, at 1:30 pm.
The store sits in ANC 5A09. ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) will discuss the application at her single member district meeting on June 17, 2024.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 