Monthly Archives: May 2025

Repost: NPS Proposed General Management Plan Changes for Fort Totten & Fort Totten Corridor – Comments Due May 9, 2025

Posted by nextstoprp in National Park Service

Neighbor Gavin shared that the National Park Service (NPS) has started the process to update its General Management Plan (GMP) for the Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW), formerly known as Fort Circle Parks. There was a public meeting on March 26, 2025. NPS has posted the video recording and slides from the meeting. NPS is soliciting public comment. Comments are due by May 9, 2025.

Project website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CWDWplan.

Objective of Plan Update

The CWDW GMP was last updated in 2004. Recreational opportunities and facilities in the current plan include developing a new trail to connect the historic earthworks and link most of the fort sites; interpretive signs to guide visitors; limited bike use; building a visitor center near Fort Stevens; and building an education center at Fort Dupont.

NPS describes the purpose of the plan update as follows.

  • Review existing resource management zones to ensure that allowed uses are compatible with the protection of historic and natural resources. 
  • In areas where appropriate, carefully consider changes in the plan’s zoning to allow for additional, compatible visitor use. 
  • Enable consistent application across the CWDW of appropriate visitor use based on each area’s zoning. 
  • Define visitor capacity for the CWDW, based on the protection of historic and natural resources.

NPS describes the need for the plan update as follows.

  • The CWDW GMP Amendment is needed to address the following concerns: 
  • The CWDW protects important natural and historic resources throughout its range. 
  • The city’s recreational needs are growing with an increasing population, and often the only land available for recreational use is within the CWDW. 
  • The existing GMP maintains open spaces throughout the CWDW. Organizations and individuals propose uses and improvements for these areas that are inconsistent with the CWDW’s significance, frequently because the CWDW’s importance and value are not readily apparent to the public. 
  • Many of the open spaces within the CWDW sites are isolated and lack connectivity with other CWDW areas and to community facilities and resources outside of the CWDW. 
  • Significant archeological and natural resources have been identified since the adoption of the existing GMP/ EA. As a result, some archeological resources are located outside of cultural and natural resource zoning designations. 
  • The existing GMP/EA does not adequately accommodate future planning, changes that have occurred since its adoption, or outline expectations for potential administrative tools to enhance park management, such as partnerships with civic associations, transfers of jurisdictions, or other mechanisms. 
  • The GMP/EA does not adequately address current activities that occur within the cultural resources of the site and do not diminish their value.

NPS explained how the GMP fits into the NPS project development process. The GMP identifies appropriate activities and applicable general locations. Then comes the Development Concept Plan leading to Project Design and finally Implementation.

NPS notes that the CWDW face a number of issues including waste management, visibility, vegetation management, desire for more community use and recreation, poor access, and zoning and management concerns.

Current CWDW GMP Management Zones

It is useful to know the zones in the current GMP.

  • Cultural Resource Zone (Cultural and natural resource preservation)
  • Connecting Corridor Zone (Parkways connecting fort resources)
  • Recreation Zone (Small nodes of intense activity)
  • Natural Resource Zone (Areas for natural scenery and forest preservation)
  • Special Use Zone (Areas not fully within NPS jurisdiction)
  • Visitor Services Zone (Visitor services outside park boundaries)
  • Administrative Zone (Not normally seen by visitors)

New Proposed CWDW GMP Management Zones

NPS is proposing to add a couple of new zones.

  • Community garden zone
  • Site sensitive recreation zone: NPS describes this zone as supporting activities like picnic spaces, low intensity uses.

Existing Managment Zones for Neighborhood Parkland

NPS existing zones for Rock Creek Park East parkland.

Fort Totten and the Fort Totten Corridor are part of Rock Creek Park East. Historically, Fort Totten and Fort Totten Corridor were categorized primarily as natural and cultural resource and connecting corridor zones with a focus on conservation and preservation. Anytime we asked for anything at all, NPS officials would say no and say that they wanted the parkland to look the way it did during Civil War times (minus the baseball cage of course).

(Aside: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton recently introduced a bill (H.R. 1429) to expand the mission of NPS to include active use of NPS parks in urban areas in addition to preservation. Unclear how this potential legislation might impact the management plan update for the CWDW, which arguably enjoy a different level of significance than other NPS parks.)

Proposed Zone Changes for Neighborhood Parkland

NPS Alternative Concept Plans for Fort Totten and Fort Totten Corridor.

In the proposed GMP amendment, NPS wants to maintain much of the existing zoning, but they are proposing slight changes to Fort Totten and the Fort Totten corridor. The neighborhood’s area development plan, which was approved by the DC Council in 2009, calls for trails and active recreation at the edges of the parkland near residential areas. The proposed GMP amendments are consistent with this plan.

Fort Totten proposed changes:

  • Adds Community Garden Zone in areas with former Recreational Zone designation
  • Adds Site Sensitive Recreation Zone along South Dakota Ave NE (near New Hampshire Ave NE intersection) and in southwest portion of Fort Totten park
  • Adds Cultural Zone within Site Sensitive Recreation Zone in southwest portion of park
  • Changes edges along Gallatin St NE and Metropolitan Branch Trail to Connecting Corridor Zone

Fort Totten Corridor proposed changes:

  • Adds Community Garden, Site Sensitive Recreation, and Cultural Zones
  • Adds Natural and Recreational Zones along the corridors

Public Input

A lot of people have thoughts about the NPS parkland in our neighborhood. This is an opportunity to let the people with the power to do something know what you think. Please take some time to at least look at all of the slides to get an idea of the scope of changes NPS is proposing across the city as well as the neighborhood. I have always found it interesting just how differently NPS treats the fort sites across the city with no discernible rationale.

If you support what NPS is proposing for our area, let them know. If there are certain uses that you think should be allowable for our area, let them know where and why. For example, specifically note where along Galloway or Gallatin you would recommend a certain zone or use. Let them know about issues along the corridor that they might be overlooking.

How to Submit Comments

Online: Submit written comments by May 9, 2025 at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CWDWplan.

▪ Written comments can be mailed to: Superintendent Attn: CWDW GMP/EA Civil War Defenses of Washington National Park Service 3545 Williamsburg Lane N.W. Washington, DC 20008

▪ Mailed comments must be postmarked by May 9, 2025 to receive consideration

(Edited 4/17/2025 to add: Please also share your comments with ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars at anc5A01@anc.dc.gov.)

NPS warning about personally identifiable information: 

Please Note: Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

May 8: Main Street Jazz hosted by The Parks Main Street with – Herb Scott Quartet

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

From The Parks Main Street

The Main Street Jazz Series is a collection of live jazz performances hosted by The Parks Main Street and presented by the Greater Washington Urban League. Held in the neighborhood corridors of Riggs Park and Manor Park, this series showcases the creative energy of local jazz talent. It provides a dynamic cultural platform where art, commerce, and community innovation converge, offering each performance as a unique experience that brings the neighborhood’s heartbeat to life. The Main Street Jazz Series serves as a gathering point for celebrating local talent and reinforcing the cultural and economic vitality of Riggs Park and Manor Park.

  • Date: May 8, 2025
  • Time: 6:30 pm
  • Location: Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library
  • Address: 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE | Washington, DC 20011
  • Neighborhood: Riggs Park

Kicking off the Main Street Jazz Series is Herb Scott

D.C. Native and saxophonist Herb Scott is a star on the Washington, D.C. Jazz scene. While studying at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts under the award-winning educator Davey Yarborough, he performed with renowned trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. Herb studied Jazz Studies at Michigan State University under Jazz legend Rodney Whitaker and Professor Diego Rivera, and toured with the MSU Jazz Band. His career includes performances at the White House, Dizzy’s Coca Cola-Club in New York, the Lincoln Center, the world famous Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Universal Studios Orlando, Constitution Hall, the Library of Congress, the Detroit Jazz Fest, the East Lansing Jazz Fest, the DC Jazz Fest.

In 2017 Herb formed a non-profit, The Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation which provides critical resources, including advocacy, to DC-based Jazz musicians, venues, and music education programs.

Today May 3: LaSalle-Backus PTO Fundraiser at &Pizza Brookland

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

LaSalle-Backus PTO Fundraiser

&pizza Brookland Location (666 Monroe Street NE)

May 3, 2025

11:00 am-9:00 pm

Eat out at &pizza and support a good cause! Place an order in the shop (show flyer) or order online and use code LSBPTO. Up to 30 percent of sales goes to support our neighborhood public school, LaSalle-Backus Elementary.

Can’t make it but still want to support the PTO? Donate via Venmo (@LaSalleBackusPTO) or Cashapp ($LaSalleBackusPTO)

May 5: LRCA Public Meeting – LRCA Election

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

The May 2025 LRCA Community meeting will be held Monday, May 5, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

This in-person meeting will be held at the Lamond-Riggs Library, Meeting Room 1, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20011.

Agenda

  • Welcome/Invocation
  • 2025 Member Voting
  • Closing

This year is an election year for LRCA. The election will be held at the May meeting. The entire meeting will be dedicated to paid members to come sit down and vote. If you are a paid member, please come out to vote in person from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm.

Read the LRCA May 2025 Newsletter. This month’s newsletter contains information on the candidates.

Reminder: LRCA is awarding scholarships to neighborhood youth. The application deadline is May 16, 2025. Link: 2025 Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, Inc. Scholarship Application.

For questions email scholarship@lrcadc.org.

April 23, 2025 ANC 5A Meeting Recap: Mundo Verde & Providence Updates; Potential Medical Marijuana Retailer

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 23, 2025. Commissioners present: Keith Sellars (5A01); Timothy Thomas (5A02) – Vice Chair; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Chair & Secretary; Jack Hermes (5A04); Derrick Holloway (5A06); Elaine Alston (5A08); Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer.

ANC 5A05 is vacant. The commissioner for ANC 5A07 needs to be installed.

Commission Business

Commissioner Hermes was sworn in as parliamentarian for the ANC.

Meeting Expectations

Screenshot of ANC 5A Meeting Expectations presented for vote at public meeting, April 23, 2025.

Chair Lucio introduced meeting expectations for discussion. She said the goal is to be helpful and accountable to the community. A few commissioners were adamant that it was not necessary to adopt these expectations. The ANC voted to support (Commissioners Bocoum, Hermes, Sellars, and Lucio voted in favor; Commissioners Alston, Thomas, and Holloway opposed).

Spending Requests

Screenshot of ANC 5A Spending Requests presented for vote at public meeting, April 23, 2025.

The ANC has over $100,000 in the bank. The ANC voted to allocate $5,000 for office furniture for the ANC office located at The Modern at Art Place on Galloway Street NE. The ANC voted to spend up to $1,200 for a laptop for Commissioner Alston. The ANC voted to spend up to $1,200 for an iPhone for Commissioner Alston. There was discussion of other spending requests that I could not quite follow; sounded like the ANC decided to table discussion of spending for those items.

Conway Education Center (5A03)

Conway Education Center withdrew its request for holiday work because residents of ANC 5A03 objected to holiday work.

Washington Latin Public Charter School (5A05)

At an ANC 5A05 single member district (SMD) meeting, residents supported holiday work by Washington Latin. Representatives of the school did not appear at the full ANC meeting though, so the ANC could not vote on the issue.

No Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report

No one from the mayor’s office appeared at the meeting.

Ward 5 Council Report (Andriana Lovelace, Constituent Services Coordinator for CM Zachary Parker)

The city is still in a holding pattern on the budget. The mayor has proposed using a 2009 law to reduce the FY2025 budget gap created by the House.

CM Parker’s office held a spring cleaning event on April 26.

ABCA is working with MPD to close down illegal cannabis shops.

After the council office report was given, the ANC discussed some issues caused by known residents of North Michigan Park on Emerson Street NE and the potential return of these individuals to the community as their cases work their way through the legal system. Anyone interested in what is happening can reach out to Carmen Williams, president of the North Michigan Park Civic Association and Commissioner Alston.

Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School Calle Ocho Campus Building Expansion (5A03) (Kristin Scotchmer, Strategic Adviser & Owner Representative, Mundo Verde)

Mundo Verde Presentation to ANC 5A (April 2025)

Project website: https://www.mundoverdepcs.org/calle-ocho-growth

Shalini Shybut is the new executive director of Mundo Verde. She can be reached at sshybut@mundoverdepcs.org.

Mundo Verde’s Calle Ocho Campus is located at 4401 8th Street NE. The school plans to build an expansion on part of the Providence campus at 817 Varnum Street NE, across the street from the existing school campus. This building expansion has been discussed a bunch over the years at the ANC.

Kristin Scotchmer, strategic adviser and owner representative for the school, stated that the school received its raze permits and now has all of the proper permits in place, so residents will start to see construction ramp up pretty quickly.

Construction points of contact:

  • Call – Calle Ocho campus front office 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. (202) 803-8967
  • Call or text – Construction Project Manager John Breyer – (202) 352-0214
  • Other points of contact – EMERGENCY

Providence Campus (5A03) (Evan Goldman, Executive Vice President, Acquisition & Development, EYA)

EYA Providence Presentation to ANC 5A (April 2025)

Project website: https://www.providencereimagined.com

EYA and Menkiti are teaming up to redevelop the Providence campus. TCurrent plan is for roughly 120 affordable rental units (half reserved for senior apartments) and 250-280 townhomes. EYA will build another playground as the existing Michigan Park Community Playground gets heavy use. There is also a plan for a dog park. Lots of green space planned, including possibly open field space closer to the Buchanan side of the campus, and a walking loop around the campus.

The existing medical office buildings, parking garage, Police/Fire Clinic, and Carroll Manor Nursing Home will remain on the grounds. They are not part of the redevelopment project.

The Office of the Attorney General for DC had to assess the value of the transaction and the charitable assets that had to remain the city. The demolition of the old hospital building will cost roughly $30 million. The remainder of the property/assets is valued at $5 million. That money will be set aside in a trust for healthcare uses in DC, one of which will be to help subsidize an urgent care facility on the property. Providence is working with the DC OAG to transfer medical equipment to nonprofits in the city.

Now that OAG’s review is done, the development team is waiting for the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) to complete its review in order to extinguish the existing certificate of need for the hospital. That is expected shortly. Once all of that is done, things will ramp up pretty quickly.

There will be a community benefits agreement as part of the development process. Commissioner Hermes (5A04) represents much of the Catholic University area and he stated that some of his constituents would like the campus to retain some Christian identity in the project beyond just the name. (Note: It was parent company Ascension’s decision to close the hospital). EYA responded that this was the first time this has been brought up, but they stated that they would be happy to talk more about what that could look like, for example, maybe a quiet contemplative or meditation space outdoors.

EYA plans to return to the ANC in June to provide another update.

Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education (Bri Sullivan, Assistant Ombudsman)

The Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education is housed within the State Board of Education, but it is independent from the State Board. Assistant Ombudsman Bri Sullivan gave a short presentation on the office’s services. Services are confidential. The office serves as an information hub for families and maintains a neutral role in the school system. The office investigates patterns for elevation to senior leadership. The office sees a lot of cases in Ward 5, lots of concerns about safety (safe passage, bullying, violence in schools). The office offers mediation and conflict resolution assistance.

Community Concerns

A resident noted again that the slide at the North Michigan Park Rec Center has been broken for well over a year and is dangerous. The playground generally is in poor condition. Commissioner Thomas (5A02) stated he would reach out to the site manager for a visit.

A resident inquired about the new minimart at the strip mall next to the McDonald’s. The ANC did not have much information about it, but Commissioner Alston (5A08) stated that she was told it will be open 24/7. She also said that a cannabis retailer is no longer looking to locate in the strip mall. (Note: I do not know how accurate this is. The space at 4942 South Dakota has a placard providing notice of a public hearing for a medical marijuana retailer named Clinical Health and Wellness. The protest petition deadline is June 2. Unclear if the ANC received notice.).