On May 27, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted her FY2026 budget proposal to the DC Council. The mayor’s budget overview presentation to the council as well as budget highlights for each ward are available at budget.dc.gov.
For months, public officials have been warning that “tough choices” would need to be made in the budget. There will be a lot more discussion over the coming weeks. This is your chance to let the Council know what you support and would like to see funded in the budget. Even if it does not get funding this time, it is important to have a record of the ask, so ask!
Updated 5/28/20205 with some key sign up deadlines shared by neighbor Gavin
The UDC hearing is Friday, so the deadline to sign up is 5 pm today.
DDOT is Monday, so sign up by Thursday (tomorrow) 5 pm.
The DC Office of Planning is holding two community workshops to discuss the next update to the District’s Comprehensive Plan called DC 2050. The Comp Plan guides how the city will grow and identifies needs and priorities for neighborhoods and also citywide. These community workshops are an opportunity to learn more about the process and give input early in the process. Visit DC2050.com for more information.
The Fridays at Fort Totten summer concert series kicks off Friday, May 30, 2025. The series, sponsored by The Modern at Art Place & DC Fray, features a different artist 6pm to 8pm every Friday through August.
Bring a chair, hang out with neighbors, and enjoy live music, a food truck, and games.
IV. Commission Business a. Minutes (April 2025) b. Meeting Protocol Reminder c. Treasurer Report
V. Commission Action Items/Updates a. 5A02 Grant application b. 5A03- Mundo Verde Request for Holiday Work c. 5A05- Washington Latin Request for Holiday Work d. 5A08- Clinical Health and Wellness 4942 South Dakota Ave NE
VI. Community Updates a. Mayor’s Office b. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations ( Non-Action Items) a. WMATA Bus Route Changes b. 5A02 Boys Town Redevelopment c. River Smart Homes- Skye Webster
VIII. Community Comment Period
IX. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
X. Adjourn
Meeting Expectations Goal: To be helpful to the community and standards for accountability. As the elected officials for this community, we set these expectations of all of the ANC 5A Commissioners.
• ANC Commissioners are encouraged to be on camera. • ANC Commissioners names and SMD are encouraged to be identified on their screen • ANC Commissioners are encouraged to put their contact information in the chat • Meeting Protocol is Robert’s Rules of Order • Respect others when speaking • Respect our guest. • In order to ask a question or make a comment all in attendance must either use the raise hand feature or raise their hand on screen if there is a question and then wait to be acknowledged. • ANC Commissioners will be called on first before the public during a discussion. • ANC Commissioners will be responsible for presenting Single Member District Items • Members of the community should remain on mute until called upon • Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed appropriately by the Chair.
ANC Commissioner Elaine Alston (5A08) is hosting an ANC Single Member District meeting at 7:00 pm on May 27, 2025, at UDC Community College (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE) to discuss the following:
Potential opening of the Medical Cannabis outlet on South Dakota Ave
Neighbor Gavin shared that Metro has a survey out about walking and biking to Metro. Please take a few minutes to recommend improvements for the area around Fort Totten station in the comment box in the survey.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial +13017158592, 81406325863#
Meeting ID: 814 0632 5863
Call to Order & Roll Call
Administrative Items
Instructions for participation in virtual and in-person meetings
Consideration and approval of May 2025 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
Approval of April 2025 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Updates
Community Concerns
Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak.
The Commission will provide details regarding how to present community concerns at the start of the virtual 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 contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
Reports
Leticia Acosta, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
Darrell Whitmyer, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
T. Michelle Colson, Ward 4 State Board of Education (3 minutes)
4B Community Safety & Support Committee (3 minutes)
Presentations
Skye Webster, RiverSmart Homes Environmental Protection Specialist – DC RiverSmart Program
RESOLUTION #4B-25-0501: Calling For the Enhancement of Security, Staffing, and Programming at the Lamond Recreation Center
RESOLUTION #4B-25-0502: Grant Award for Lamond Community Action Group
RESOLUTION #4B-25-0503: In Support of a 2-Year Time Extension for BZA Order No. 20915(1)
Please check the Commission’s website for additional information: anc4b.com
Roadway Project on South Dakota Avenue NE from Galloway Street NE to Ingraham Street NE Begins May 16
(WASHINGTON, DC) —
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to begin roadway work that includes concrete work on South Dakota Avenue NE from Galloway Street NE to Ingraham Street NE starting on or about Friday, May 16, 2025, weather permitting. The roadway project is anticipated to be completed by Friday, June 20, 2025. Temporary lane closures are to be expected with one travel lane remaining open.
Work will take place from Monday through Friday, (daytime) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The contractor may work Saturdays (daytime) with prior DDOT approval.
Adjacent curbside parking may be restricted during the repair work. If so, parking signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance at locations where parking will be restricted. The emergency “NO PARKING” signs will provide details of the hours of construction operations, dates, duration of the work, and information on the engineer in charge.
Traffic control devices will be in place to warn pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers approaching the work zone(s). Drivers are advised to stay alert while traveling near the work locations, be prepared for possible detours and to be observant of the work zone.
Cyclists should be prepared to adjust their route accordingly. Metro bus will continue their routes. Flaggers will be available to manage traffic and arrow boards will be utilized, as necessary
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss the purposed improvements to the triangle park located at the intersection of Riggs Road NE & South Dakota Avenue NE.
Your attendance is greatly appreciated!
Meeting details:
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lamond Riggs Neighborhood Library- 5401 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20011
Additional websites for the Riggs and South Dakota Triangle Park project.
A reader wrote in to ask for assistance about an attempted house break-in that occurred near 6th Place and Gallatin Street NE on Friday, May 9 around 10:00 pm.
An individual is recorded rifling through a mailbox and bicycle basket. The individual allegedly then returned several minutes later masked with a baseball bat and allegedly attempted to smash the doorbell camera before smashing a window.
Anyone with information to share is asked to contact Officer Trevon King at trevon.king@dc.gov and reference police report CCN# 25068824.
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is proud to offer Academic Excellence Scholarships to support the educational goals of our community’s youth. Scholarships totaling up to $2,000 will be awarded to:
Graduating high school seniors who reside within the LRCA boundaries and will attend an accredited college, university, or career technical (trade) school, and
Students currently enrolled in a college, university, or career technical program seeking financial support.
Application Requirements:
Completed scholarship application
Copy of official transcript
One letter of recommendation on official letterhead from an administrator, counselor, or teacher
A current resume (optional)
A 400-word, typed and double-spaced essay addressing:
Why you are applying for the scholarship
Why you should be selected as a recipient
How you plan to use your education to positively impact the community
DC’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) issued a new placard providing notice of a public hearing for Clinical Health and Wellness, a medical marijuana retailer seeking to open at 4942 South Dakota Avenue NE in North Michigan Park (the strip mall next to the McDonald’s). The property sits in ANC 5A08. ABCA rescinded the old placard. The new protest petition deadline is June 23, 2025.
Riggs Crossing Senior Residences ribbon cutting, April 30, 2025.
Time to welcome more senior residents into the neighborhood!
On April 30, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of Riggs Crossing Senior Residences, a new 100% affordable, income-restricted community for seniors 55 years and older, developed by True Ground Housing Partners (formerly known as Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing). Besides Mayor Bowser, speakers included Mary Worsley, one of the building’s first residents; Steven Smith, Senior Vice President at Truist; Carmen Romero, CEO of True Ground Housing Partners; Rich Jordan, chair of the board of True Ground Housing Partners; and Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning (DMPED).
One-bedroom and two-bedroom units are still available. Interested individuals may visit the Riggs Crossing website to learn more.
Located on the southeast corner of Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE, Riggs Crossing features 93 apartments, consisting of studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units, with approximately 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail. Jaydot will provide case management services to residents in the permanent supportive housing units. The building is access controlled. Each floor is color coded to help with memory care. At move-in, residents can request that grab bars be installed in the unit. Residents may also request either a small or large personal foldable shopping cart
Each unit is spacious featuring either an extra large window or a balcony. Free wi-fi is available throughout the building and in each individual unit. DC SEU provided discounts on new appliances. Each unit comes with a full size washer/dryer.
Building amenities include a community room, fitness room, wellness room with yoga mats, and a library. Common areas feature artwork by local artists, and an outdoor mural brightens one side of the building. No pets are allowed, but service animals are permitted. There is a parking garage with 49 spaces.
Retail
Forthcoming retail tenants include Happy Violet DC, owned by local resident Renee Blair, and Rose’s Beauty Supply. There is still vacant retail space. Interested retailers should contact Joanna Shin at jshin@truegroundhousing.org.
DC’s Affordable Housing Efforts
The ribbon cutting served as the culmination of Mayor Bowser’s work on neighborhood development in Riggs Park, starting as a founding member of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Development Task Force when she lived in the neighborhood, ANC commissioner, Ward 4 councilmember, and finally mayor. She shared a thank you letter with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association.
Almost every speaker noted how developing affordable housing projects like this one takes a lot of commitment, resources, and effort from the public and private sectors. The city provided financing to help develop the senior building, and officials from the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning & Economic Development were heavily involved.
The first phase of this project, Riggs Park Place, delivered in 2022, consisting of 90 townhomes (five below market-rate) developed by EYA. JBG Smith, former owner of Fort Totten Square, selected EYA to build Riggs Park Place after deciding to forego building more apartments as the second phase to Fort Totten Square. EYA then selected True Ground Housing as a partner to develop the senior building.
The mayor used the ribbon cutting as an opportunity to highlight her commitment to contributing $100 million to the Housing Production Trust Fund every year. She also advocated for the DC Council to pass the RENTAL Act, which she said aims to amend the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), reform the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and make the housing board permanent. (Discussion and questions about the mayor’s recently announced proposed deal with the Washington Commanders also came up).
Ribbon cutting pictures below
View entrance on Riggs RoadView looking west to South Dakota Avenue NEView from South Dakota Avenue looking northMayor Muriel Bowser. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield.Carmen Romero, CEO, True Ground Housing Partners. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield.Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield. Photo courtesy Gwen Cofield.Outdoor muralArt by local artists throughout buildingActivity boardLibraryWellness roomFitness roomLiving room in one-bedroom unitFull size bathroom in one-bedroom unitFull size washer/dryerBalcony
Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15, 2025. There will be a pit stop at Fort Totten Metro Station from 6-9am!
The first 18,000 who register and attend at a pit stop receive a FREE T-shirt. Free giveaways, food, and beverages at participating locations, while supplies last.
Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for a Community Listening Session about the future of the RFK Stadium Site.
The conversation will center on the perspectives and experience of Carver-Langston and Trinidad neighbors who stand to be most impacted by development at the site.
The meeting will take place on May 14, 2025 at Two Rivers PCS (830 26th St NE) from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Register at ward5.us/rfk.
Questions? Email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov or call 202-724-8028.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
