ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on October 22, 2025. Commissioners present: Timothy Thomas (5A02) – Vice Chair; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Chair; Jack Hermes (5A04) – Parliamentarian; Derrick Holloway (5A06); Valeria Sosa Garnica (5A07) – Secretary; Elaine Alston (5A08); Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A05 is vacant.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Eastern Avenue NE (5A02)

A resident is seeking to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at his home at 4826 Eastern Avenue NE. The resident said the ADU will be used for a family member. The resident needs setback relief from the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA case no. 21364). Commissioner Thomas held an SMD meeting to hear from residents. The ANC voted to support the application for BZA relief. A hearing is scheduled for November 5, 2025.

ANC Resolution Requesting Guidance on MPD Cooperation with Federal Immigration Agents

The ANC voted to support a resolution drafted by Commissioner Sosa Garnica (5A07) in response to disturbing incidents involving federal immigration agents and MPD near DC Bilingual Public Charter School. The school sits in ANC 5A07.

The letter requests clarification on guidance given to MPD around cooperation with federal immigration agents; reaffirmation of individuals’ right to peacefully protest; training for MPD on First Amendment activity; reaffirmation of community policing practices; clear, consistent communication to schools and MPD; and funding, resources, and guidance for schools as they navigate all of this. (I will update the post with a copy of the resolution once it is available).

Daniela Anello, CEO of DC Bilingual, thanked the ANC for taking a public stand and drafting this resolution that will be sent to Mayor Bowser, DCPS, the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice, and MPD. A week before the ANC meeting, Ms. Anello addressed Mayor Bowser at a community meeting noting how traumatizing and disturbing it was and continues to be for 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds to witness the violent detainment of individuals outside of the school.

The pastor of Faith United Church noted that the church was holding a community event on October 25 that included a “Know Your Rights” training.

Clinical Health & Wellness Medical Cannabis Shop Update (5A08)

On October 9, 2025, six ANC 5A commissioners filed a lawsuit in the DC Court of Appeals against the ABC Board for the board’s dismissal and handling of ANC 5A’s protest against Clinical Health & Wellness, a medical cannabis retail license applicant seeking to open at 4942 South Dakota Avenue in North Michigan Park. The property sits in ANC 5A08. The case is Hermes, et al. v. D.C. Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Board, No. 25-AA-0927.

The ABC Board originally dismissed the ANC’s protest due to the ANC’s failure to specify statutory grounds for the protest. The ANC requested reconsideration twice. The board denied reconsideration both times. (See background here).

Commissioner Hermes (5A04), who has been helping Commissioner Alston (5A08) with the protest, explained that the lawsuit argues in part that the Home Rule Act requires that District agencies give great weight to ANCs, and that by dismissing ANC 5A’s protest before a hearing, the board violated the Home Rule Act. (The DC Council passed legislation that permits only abutting property owners/tenants, daycares within 400 feet, and ANCs to protest medical cannabis retail applications, unlike alcohol license applications where a party of 5 or more can file a protest.) They again spell out the notice deficiencies by ABCA. They also requested a stay of the ABCA application proceedings so that ABCA will not be able to approve a license before the lawsuit is resolved.

The ANC also sent a letter to the DC Council about the issue.

Commissioner Alston requested $500 for another protest in front of the shop. An ANC 5A08 resident objected. The ANC supported the request.

DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan Presentation (Nick Kushner, Senior Citywide Planner, DC Office of Planning)

See OP DC 2050 Comp Plan Presentation to ANC 5A (October 2025).

The DC Office of Planning continues to hold community meetings and workshops to gather input for the District’s next Comprehensive Plan, called DC 2050. The Comprehensive Plan guides how the city will grow. There are two upcoming workshops at OP’s offices at 899 North Capitol Street NE:

• November 6 at 6:00 pm
• November 15 at 11:00 am

Providence Campus Redevelopment (5A03) (EYA Executive Vice President Evan Goldman)

See Providence Campus Redevelopment Website

See EYA ANC 5A Providence Presentation (October 2025)

To recap, EYA and Menkiti have teamed up to redevelop the Providence campus. There will be townhomes and apartments. A portion of the homes and apartments will be set aside for income-restricted affordable housing. The existing medical office buildings, parking garage, Carroll Manor nursing home, and the Police & Fire Clinic will remain on the campus.

The development team reached an agreement on the value of the land with the Office of Attorney General for DC (OAG), and $5 million will be held in trust for healthcare services. The team is working with the OAG to set up the trust agreement. The OAG will appoint community members to a board to oversee disposition of the funds. An urgent care facility is proposed to be part of the project.

The team expects to submit planned unit development (PUD) documents to the DC Zoning Commission in early 2026.

The team has not made many design refinements since the spring/summer. They are waiting for lease negotiations between Ventas and Ascension (owner of Providence Hospital) to conclude. Ascension owns the ground lease under the existing medical office buildings owned by Ventas. Part of the reason demolition will be complicated is that the medical buildings and old hospital buildings share utilities, so the team will have to build new utility infrastructure for the existing medical buildings that will remain before tearing down the old hospital buildings.

A resident noted that he and his neighbors near 12th & Buchanan Street NE are paying careful attention to the redevelopment. He told the ANC that residents want to have a transparent process for neighbors to weigh in on the project before the ANC takes any action before the Zoning Commission. He raised a few issues that neighbors are concerned about, such as the existing traffic during morning rush hour that makes it hard for residents on Buchanan to turn onto 12th.

An older resident asked if there would be single level condos available. Mr. Goldman stated that the apartments will be single level and that it is possible that some townhomes may have elevators, but they have not gotten that far in the design process to decide either way.

Chair Lucio noted that developers for the Kennedy School redevelopment at 8th & Buchanan Street NE, expect to finish the renovations for what is called the Conway Education Center by the end of this year. Once the renovations are done, the existing school will be torn down to build townhomes. The property borders the Providence campus so Chair Lucio has been working with the different development teams to collaborate on the green spaces between the two properties.

Office of Campaign Finance Presentation (Kalvanetta Peete, OCF)

The DC Office of Campaign Finance gave a presentation on campaign finance rules and the Fair Election Program (public campaign finance program). Criteria and reporting requirements for the FEP are on OCF’s website.

Ms. Peete also noted that ANC candidates have to file a summary financial statement within 60 days of election certification regardless of whether they have any campaign expenses.

Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Christian Starghill, Ward 5 MOCR)

Former Ward 5 MOCR Manager Anthony Black was recently promoted and is serving in a new role with the mayor’s office.

The mayor’s office has brought on new liaisons for faith institutions and the business community. Mariah Coilton, the faith institution liaison, can be reached at mariah.coilton@dc.gov.

Ward 5 rolloff day was October 25 at Trinidad Rec.

Leaf collection will begin November 3, 2025, and end February 7, 2026.

There are changes coming up to Medicaid. For questions, contact the public benefit call center at (202) 727-7355.

Federal workers impacted by furloughs/layoffs can find resources at fedsupport.dc.gov.

Ward 5 Council Report (Andrianna Lovelace, Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Zachary Parker)

The next Ward 5 public safety call is on October 29, 2025, at 3:00 pm. Register for zoom info at ward5.us/publicsafety.

The Ward 5 DC Department of Housing & Community Development listening session has been rescheduled for November 3 at 6:00pm.

Councilmember Parker has introduced a 16-bill policy package to foster youth wellbeing in DC.

CM Parker is working on a letter to ABCA regarding ABCA’s handling of ANC 5A’s protest against Clinical Health & Wellness.

Miscellaneous

A resident asked if the ANC could inquire with DPW about the reason for delays with trash/recycling pickup. DPW notified ANC commissioners that there would be delays the past couple of weeks, but the ANC did not share that information with residents.

Irene Stephens is the Ward 5 representative to the WMATA (Metro) Advisory Council. She can be reached at irenestephens2011@gmail.com.