ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 25, 2026. Commissioners present: Keith Sellars (5A01); Timothy Thomas (5A02); Jack Hermes (5A04) – Vice Chair; Dyanna Weston (5A05); Derrick Holloway (5A06); Valeria Sosa Garnia (5A07) – Chair; Elaine Alston (5A08) – Secretary; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer.

Commission Business

The motion regarding electric vehicle charging stations at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE was removed from the agenda. Apparently, Commissioner Elaine Alston (5A08) had a super last-minute “emergency” SMD meeting that very few people knew about where this issue was supposed to be discussed. The plan is to discuss the issue at a properly noticed meeting in the future.

The ANC voted to create a DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan committee. Unclear who will chair the committee. Residents interested in participating on the committee should email Commissioner Sosa Garnica at 5A07@anc.dc.gov.

Boys Town Public Space Application (5A02) (Vicki Davis, Urban Atlantic)

The ANC voted to support Urban Atlantic’s public space application associated with their redevelopment of the Boys Town campus located at 4801 Sargent Road NE in North Michigan Park. There will be 166 semi-detached homes, with 10 percent set aside for below market rate purchase.

DDOT asked Urban Atlantic to pay for several traffic pattern changes. There will be a new crosswalk where the bus stop is located, new bus signage and other changes. One big change DDOT wants to do is close off the cut-through on Crittenden between Sargent and South Dakota. Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01) asked if flex posts would be placed around the crosswalk to prevent people from parking too close to the crosswalk. Vicki Davis of Urban Atlantic responded no, right now the plan is just to have “No parking” signs even though we know that if there is a space big enough for a car in front of and behind the crosswalk, someone will park there.

In response to a repeated request from Carmen Williams, the president of North Michigan Park Civic Association, Ms. Davis stated that the developer will leave space near Sargent Road for a second entrance/exit. She explained that DDOT did not determine that a second entrance/exit was necessary but they are leaving that space available just in case. She stated that there way to develop a second egress at the rear of the property.

For details about the proposed public space changes, view Urban Atlantic’s Boys Town campus public space application.

One Hawaii Avenue (5A06)

A ribbon cutting for the One Hawaii Avenue affordable housing project is scheduled for April 15. The rebuild will be larger than the previous building. A resident stated that surrounding neighbors are worried about parking. Commissioner Derrick Holloway (5A06) noted that the previous building did not have parking and that it is not expected that many of the returning residents or new residents will have cars. He said he wants to invite DDOT and Department of Buildings (DOB) to the next ANC meeting.

Social Justice School (5A09) (Myron Long, Founder)

See Social Justice School Presentation to ANC 5A (March 2026).

The ANC voted to approve Social Justice School Public Charter School’s request for holiday construction work and to support the school’s facility request before the DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB). Commissioner Sellars (5A01) abstained. The DCPCSB hearing is in April and a vote will be held in May. The goal is to be completely open in time for the 2026-2027 school year at 5455 3rd Street NE. This is the last remaining warehouse owned by the Cafritz Foundation that is being renovated for the school’s new long-term home. A resident and Commissioner Sellars (5A01) asked about the need to work on the Juneteenth holiday. School founder Myron Long stated there might not need to be construction on that holiday, but they would like to have the approval in case.

The school is currently occupying temporary facilities at 333 Kennedy Street NE and at Impact DMV Church. They previously subleased from Rocketship Public Charter School.

The school is a standalone middle school. Current enrollment is 99 students. At capacity, the school will have 210 students. Mr. Long stated that the school is currently meeting all of the conditions for its conditional charter approval.

DC Water Lead Pipe Replacement Program (Sean Moore, Communications Manager, DC Water)

See DC Water Lead Free DC Presentation to ANC 5A (March 2026)

DC Water has a program to replace lead service lines called Lead Free DC. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Residents should have received door hangers and information in the mail about the Lead Free DC program to provide DC Water with consent to dig a test pit to determine if the home has lead service pipes. There are several blocks in ANC 5A with a less than 30 percent response rate, so DC Water is asking the ANC to help with sharing information about this program and getting people to sign up. For more information, visit DC Water’s Lead Pipe Replacement Program webpage.

UDC Community College Relocation Feasibility Study (5A01)

Unclear why this topic was on the agenda. UDC Community Engagement Director Juanita Gray did not have a presentation about the topic, had no information to share, and incorrectly stated that a consultant had not been hired yet to assess the feasibility of moving the community college program from the Lamond-Riggs campus to the Van Ness campus. (The day after the ANC meeting, she acknowledged in an email that a consultant had been hired already and a report is expected in May, stating that she referenced “outdated” information during the meeting). UDC President Maurice Edington will attend an ANC meeting at some point to discuss the campus.

Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Ward 5 MOCR Lacy Davis)

Mayor Bowser has introduced a hospitality bill.

Citywide spring clean events are scheduled for April 25. The Ward 5 location is Crummell School. Ward 5 Rolloff Day for bulk disposal is scheduled for July 25 at North Michigan Park Recreation Center.

The DC childcare subsidy program will have a waitlist after April.

Metro is seeking feedback on bus improvements and its revised FY2027 budget proposal. Survey opens March 27 and closes April 6. Visit www.wmata.com/budget.

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

Councilmember Parker sent his FY27 budget request letter to Mayor Bowser. The DC Office of Attorney General is seeking trustee nominations for the healthcare fund that will be established in association with the Providence Hospital sale. An info session was held on April 2 at Lamond-Riggs Library. Submit nominations by April 8: DC Healthcare Access Trust Nomination Form.

The Ward 5 awards ceremony was held on April 1 at Ivy City Smokehouse.

DDOT held an open house for the Taylor Street NE bike lane project.

Materials from the February 2026 Riggs and South Dakota Park pre-construction meeting are on the Riggs & South Dakota Park project website. Construction kicks off this spring.

Reminder about Metro’s revised FY2027 budget survey.

Commissioner Updates & Community Concerns

Commissioner Sellars (5A01) held a clean up with Commissioner Danielle Geong (4B09) on March 28. Also, Commissioner Sellars noted the challenges with getting a commitment from District officials to install a water source for the new Riggs & South Dakota Park. Commissioner Sellars also shared shared that Councilmember Parker and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George are scheduled to attend LRCA’s meeting on April 6.

Commissioner Holloway (5A06) stated that he and Commissioner Dyanna Weston (5A05) plan to have a meet-and-greet SMD meeting on April 22.

Rhonda Hamilton of The Dap Project shared information about a new project called Dementia Stories. A session was held at Michigan Park Church on March 28. The last one will be held on April 4 at Chevy Chase Library. Sign up on eventbrite.

I asked the ANC commissioners to share public space applications on the ANC’s website. The commissioners have access to the applications but the public does not. There have been multiple significant Public Space Committee hearings that residents did not know about because the ANC did not inform residents.

The next ANC 5A meeting will be on April 22.