On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at UDC-CC’s Backus Campus, the National Park Service is holding a public meeting about the path between Gallatin Street and Galloway Street NE that is used as a shortcut to access Fort Totten metro station.  Residents have expressed concern about the safety and condition of the path for several years.  The NPS has stated it needs to do an environmental assessment before making any long-term improvements to the path.  The public meeting will provide a chance to share concerns and ideas about improving the path.  For special assistance to attend the meeting or for additional information about the project, contact NPS at (202) 895-6004 or rocr_superintendent@nps.gov.

Comments about the path will be accepted through April, 7, 2014 (mailed comments must be postmarked by April 7, 2014).   Be aware that your comment including personal identifying information (such as name, email address, mailing address, phone number) may be made publicly available at any time.  Comments may be submitted:

• Electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov  (the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public comment website)
• Written comments by fax at (202) 895-6015
• Written comments by mail to:

Superintendent

Rock Creek Park

North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements Environmental Assessment 

3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW

Washington, DC 20008-1207

Edit:  The forum was scheduled for tomorrow.

The Lamond Riggs Citizens Association’s mayor forum originally scheduled for tomorrow, March 11, 2014, at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ is cancelled and will be rescheduled due to the mayor’s “State of the District” address.  Go to lrca.info for notice of the new forum date.

Now that we know construction will start on the first stage (Building A) of Art Place at Fort Totten, we can turn to the second stage (Building B).  We have always been told that Building B is on the backburner until construction of Building A is underway. 

A quick refresher:  The Cafritz team received approval to move the grocery store from Building A to Building B.  They then asked for flexibility on including a grocery store in Building B at all because Walmart is opening down the street with a grocery component.  They also submitted a plan for Building B that included some recreational components (e.g., ice rinks).  The Zoning Commission held a public meeting in 2012, at which time the commission expressed a number of concerns regarding the design of, uses, and community amenities in Building B.  The commission asked the Cafritz team to come back with a plan that addressed their concerns. 

The update:  The Zoning Commission included an agenda item on Art Place in its January 2014 meeting because of the delay in setting a hearing for Building B.  On January 8, 2014, the Cafritz team submitted a letter to the commission ostensibly to provide a status update on Building B.  That letter requests more time (specifically one year) to provide a more detailed update on Building B.  They say they are continuing to pursue the children’s museum and the recreational component of Building B.  However, they state it is difficult to assess what large-scale retail component they can attract for Building B due to Walmart’s pending opening in Fort Totten Square.  They say they have been told that retailers are waiting to see Walmart’s effect on retail potential in the area before committing to Building B.  To support their letter, they provided a letter by HR Retail, which is responsible for marketing the project.  Both letters mention the demographic changes taking place in the neighborhood, which they say are leading retailers to want to wait to assess what uses would appeal to not just existing residents but future residents as well.  Therefore, the Cafritz team says they believe it is best to focus on their top priority–relocating the Riggs Park Plaza resident–and get Building A completed.  They requested to return to the commission with a status report once they determine what modifications to the design and uses of Building B would be most appropriate for “this fast-changing community.” 

At the January meeting, commission members expressed concern about how open-ended the project seems to be.  They stated they would give the Cafritz team until July 15, 2014, to come back with an end date for the first phase as well as a phasing plan for the rest of the project.   

Click on the thumbnails to read the letter (all of these documents are publicly available on the DC Office of Zoning website by searching case number 06-10B)

Representatives from WMATA will be on hand at ANC 5A’s public meeting on January 29, 2014, to discuss the solicitation for proposed development for the long-term parking lot at Fort Totten metro station.  We discussed that solicitation for proposals in this post.  WMATA officials previously mentioned on the Fort Totten walking tour and detailed in the proposal that they envision primarily housing on the site, with possibly a minor retail component.  Submissions are not due until March 2014, so we will see if we learn anything new at the meeting tomorrow.  This is one of several items on the agenda for tomorrow.  The meeting will start at 6:45 pm in Room 125 at UDC-CC’s Backus campus.

Councilmember McDuffie and the District’s Office of Planning are co-hosting an open house for the Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation Task Force on Monday, September 30, 2013 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Trinity Washington University, O’Connor Auditorium (125 Michigan Avenue NE).  They will discuss task force goals; existing conditions; market analysis; best practices and case studies from other jurisdictions; stakeholder feedback; and solicit new ideas.  The councilmember will offer remarks at 7:00 pm.

Task Force Open House