Early voting for the Ward 4 council special election will be available April 13 – April 25 at One Judiciary Square (441 4th Street NW). Early voting hours are 8:30 am – 7:00 pm. The site will be closed on April 16 and April 19.
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Fort Totten Square Construction Update
From JBG:
The Fort Totten Square project is 95 % complete. Completion inspections are well underway on all of the apartments. The main residential entry arrival court off of 3rd Street will be finished up in April. Streetscape and site work activity will continue for the next two or three months around the perimeter of the entire site. Punch list in the amenity areas of the building is underway as well as final installations in the courtyards. The retail at the corner of Riggs Road and Chillum Place is in the final stages and interior retail construction of these spaces will start next month. The build out of the Walmart space has started with completion expected in the Fall of 2015.
Art Place Construction Notice 4/13/2015 & 4/20/2015
Highlights from fire safety meeting
ANC 4B09 Commissioner Doug Sloan held a fire safety meeting last night. He will update the community about any requests for assistance from the family affected by Sunday’s fire. The fire department is still investigating, but they believe the fire was accidental and that there was no foul play.
The interim fire chief and other fire department officials did a wonderful job of providing very useful information on topics such as proper use of extension cords and fire extinguishers and creating a family evacuation plan.
Residents can contact 311 (either online or by phone) to request smoke alarms and fire department personnel will install them free of charge. The great thing is that the free alarms are 10-year lithium battery alarms, so people do not have to worry about changing the battery every six months. Fire officials also recommended having at least one working carbon monoxide alarm in the home.
DC’s Adult Protective Services will assist residents who have a dangerous accumulation of items in their home (known as hoarding) with house cleaning. This service is also offered free of charge. Fire department officials noted that hoarding is dangerous because it increases the number of items that can burn, increasing the severity of the fire and the danger of smoke inhalation. Accumulated items can also impede an individual’s exit out of danger and make it more difficult for rescue personnel to conduct their activities.
Fire department personnel mentioned they are really trying to get the word out about these services, particularly to seniors. Let your neighbors know.
Fourth District Police Neighborhood Clean-up & Litter Enforcement Effort
Fourth District police will be out on Galloway Street NE today between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm to host a neighborhood clean-up as part of their enforcement effort for the month of April.
Fourth District police shared the following message:
Hello Fourth District Family,
For the month of April, the Fourth District is focusing efforts on littering to include illegal dumping. The Fourth District will be concentrating on and enforcing non-traffic littering which entails citing pedestrian violators for littering. We will also be hosting several “clean-ups” in our Fourth District Community and we are asking for your assistance, by volunteering to assist with the clean-ups, and as Lt. Ridlehoover previously stated “to raise awareness of littering, illegal dumping, and related crimes; the laws associated with them, and their social and environmental effects on our communities, economy, and the Potomac River”.
Clean-up Schedule
- 2nd & Webster AVE NE
April 1st, 2015 3:00pm to 4:00pm
- 550 Galloway Street NE
April 2nd, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- 3800 Block of Kansas Ave
April 7th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- 7000 to the 7800 Block of Eastern Ave NW
April 14th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- Randolph St and Quincy Street between Georgia Ave and 14th
April 15th, 2015 4:00 to 6:00pm
- Puerto Rico Ave NE (From Buchanan to Taylor St NE)
April 22nd, 2015 4:00pm to 6:00pm
- 333 Hawaii Avenue N.E.
April 29th, 2015 3:00pm to 5:00pm
- 4900 Block of South Dakota Ave N.E.
April 29th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Fourth District Outreach will also revisit previous clean-up locations from our April 2014 clean-up schedule to determine if sanitation has been maintained and will notify the appropriate DC government agencies of any violations:
PSA 402 – Rock Creek Ford Rd
5900 block of Georgia Ave NW.
PSA 403 – The triangle and bus depot at 14th/Colorado/Kennedy
PSA 404 – 3700 9th & 3 blocks out
6000 Block of Kansas Street, NE
PSA 406 – Unit to 100 block Kennedy, Longfellow, Madison, Street NW, Chillum Place NE
PSA 407 – Rear of 5000 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
PSA 408 – 3100 block Mount Pleasant Street, Northwest
PSA 409 – 600 Newton St. NW.
In addition, there will be a Fourth District officer present at each clean-up to write citations to any litter law violators.
Results of Ward 4 Straw Poll
Brandon Todd emerged the runaway winner of last night’s straw poll for the Ward 4 council special election and received the endorsement of the Ward 4 Democrats. Several of the candidates boycotted the forum at which the straw poll was held, but all of the candidates were listed on the ballot. The Ward 4 Democrats tweeted the results.
Ward 4 Dems of DC (@Ward4DemsDC) tweeted at 10:05pm – 1 Apr 15:
@Ward4DemsDC Straw Poll~310 @brandonttodd 58 @Renee4Ward4 15 @toliverforward4 2 @DougSloan4Ward4 @brandonttodd wins 60% votes =endorsement (https://twitter.com/Ward4DemsDC/status/583450249383010304?s=17)
Ward 4 Dems of DC (@Ward4DemsDC) tweeted at 10:20 PM on Wed, Apr 01, 2015:
2/2 @Ward4DemsDC Straw Poll
1 Andrews ~ 1 Estelle Lloyd (write in) ~1 ballot=out (over-vote)~ @brandonttodd wins 60%=endorsement
(https://twitter.com/Ward4DemsDC/status/583453846917226496?s=03)
April 2: Fire safety meeting at LaSalle Backus
Sadly, over the weekend a house fire claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors in the 5800 block of Eastern Avenue NE. ANC 4B09 commissioner Doug Sloan has arranged a fire safety meeting with DC fire department officials tomorrow at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Fire officials will be handing out smoke detectors. Information will also be shared about how to make donations for the surviving family members.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B
202-291-6282 (Office)
FIRE SAFETY MEETING
Commissioner DOUG SLOAN, ANC 4B09
invites you to attend
A FIRE SAFETY MEETING For RIGGS PARK
Thursday, APRIL 2, 2015
7:00 Pm-9:00 PM
AT
Lasalle Backus Education Campus
501 Riggs Road NE
Come discuss fire safety with the DC Fire Dept. and ANC Doug Sloan in the aftermath of Sunday’s tragic fire that claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors. Free smoke detectors!
We will discuss ways to help the family.
Contact ANC 4B for details
Commissioner Doug Sloan, ANC 4B09
Ward 4 councilmember forum and straw poll tonight at Lamond Recreation Center
The Ward 4 Democrats are hosting a Ward 4 councilmember forum tonight at Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE). Doors open at 6:00 pm. The forum will begin at 6:30 pm.
A straw poll will also take place during the forum. From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, anyone registered to vote in ward 4 may cast a vote for the preferred candidate. The poll will be administered by the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC).
Misgivings about the straw poll have been reported, so we do not know how many of the candidates will actually appear at the forum. As far as we know, the forum and straw poll will still be taking place tonight.
Mayor Bowser’s State of the District Remarks
Yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser gave her “State of the District” address. Below are her prepared remarks, copied from the mayor’s website.
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Good evening, fellow Washingtonians. I’m here tonight, humble and proud to be your Mayor.
It is an honor to have the opportunity to deliver the 2015 State of the District Address.
Today, I am pleased to report, that the District is strong… and growing stronger.
We are one of the strongest economies in the country. We are the economic engine of the region accounting for one quarter of the job market, and in the last year, over two-thirds of its private sector job growth;
We are the number one tech hot spot and among the top ten cities for venture capital investment. Forbes Magazine even says we’re the coolest;
Wall Street knows our city finances are strong, and this year, increased our bond rating;
We are a Top 5 U.S. Cities for New Construction; Top 10 Most Walkable City in the U.S.; #2 Fittest City (we’ll catch you, Minneapolis/St-Paul!); #1 in U.S. for attracting entrepreneurial founders of companies; and the #2 Best paying U.S. City for Women;
We are home to the best new restaurant in America, and we are a Top 5 Best U.S. City for a Vacation;
No wonder we’re also one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Big cities – like the District of Columbia – have world-class schools, parks, and libraries. They are home to vibrant cultural institutions that highlight the arts and entertainment. We are making strides in these areas too.
But we all know that there is room to improve.
March 25 ANC 5A Meeting Wrapup
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 25, 2015. Below are highlights.
Education
At-large Councilmember David Grosso spoke about his work chairing the council’s education committee. A few priorities for him are providing wraparound services in schools, examining disciplinary practices, and making sure students get mental health services more quickly. He mentioned a bill that will require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to annually gather data on suspensions and expulsions.
He also highlighted a bill to seal the record of nonviolent marijuana offenders. The benefit of having a record sealed is that it will not have to be disclosed on employment applications asking about criminal history.
In response to a question, Grosso spoke about his support to build a new all-boys public school to be located east of the Anacostia River as part of the District’s Empowering Men of Color initiative. (An aside: DC Attorney General Karl Racine reportedly weighed in recently with no legal objection to a public all-boys school).
MBT
Jim Sebastian of DDOT provided a look at the preliminary design for extenstion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) between Brookland and Takoma. The commissioners raised concerns about public safety, particularly with respect to the narrow off-road section planned next to the trash transfer station. Sebastian noted DDOT welcomes comments about all aspects of the trail, including suggestions for lighting, security cameras, and a call box. More information about the trail is available on the project website. Comments may be sent to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.
Brookland/Edgewood livability study
DDOT is undertaking a six-month livability study for Brookland and Edgewood to increase safety and improve transportation connectivity and accessibility in the area. A tiny part of ANC 5A is in the study area. Those in ANC 5A who live close to the study area, but not within the boundaries of the study area, are still able to be part of the conversation to address concerns that any recommendations for the study area may have. There will be a public meeting on April 9, 2015, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at Trinity Washington University Main Hall-O’Connor Auditorium (125 Michigan Avenue NE). For more information about the study and public meetings, visit the project website.
Totten Mews townhomes
Comstock Development and their counsel gave a brief presentation on Totten Mews, the planned townhome subdivision to be located near the Capital Area Food Bank and Emerson Park. They submitted a planned unit development (PUD) application and are in discussion with neighboring residents about community benefits. There was some back-and-forth about whether 6th Street will be opened up (as approved in the now expired PUD submitted by the previous landowner) and the perceived safety issue with having only one way in and one way out of the proposed development. Emerson Park and some nearby residents do not want the street opened because they do not want to deal with car traffic, while other nearby residents believe opening up the street will relieve traffic on other streets and allow a more direct route for people to reach their homes. The compromise included in the new PUD application is to open the street for bike and pedestrian access, but not vehicle access. For more information about the development, contact ANC 5A08 commissioner Angel Alston.
Miscellaneous items
The commissioners accepted the new grant procedures introduced by Commissioner Alston.
Councilmember McDuffie’s deputy chief of staff announced that arrests have been made for the recent robberies that took place on or near the MBT in Edgewood. He also mentioned that DC Water is hosting its annual ward town hall meetings during the month of April. The Ward 5 meeting will be April 9 at 6:30 pm at Noyes Education Campus (2725 10th Street NE).
Art Place Construction Notice 3/30/2015 & 4/6/2015
Tax assessment tips
Assessment change map
On March 24, 2015, DC’s Office of Tax and Revenue and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson hosted a real property tax town hall meeting. The meeting was scheduled because Riggs Park is one of the neighborhoods that has seen a large increase in assessed values. Both DC OTR and Mendelson handed out documents (DC OTR Real Property Taxes Fact Sheet (pdf); DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson Tax Assessment Town Hall (pdf)). Below are some tips pulled from Mendelson’s handout.
- To dispute the assessment of your real property you must file a first level administrative appeal.
- April 1st is the absolute deadline for filing first level administrative appeals. Hand deliver to be sure it is received on time, or by certified mail to have proof of the postmark, or fax it and follow-up with a phone call to the assessor (whose number is on your assessment notice).
- For best results, conduct your first level administrative appeal in person. Telephone is next best. You will better understand how to challenge the assessment by talking to the assessor.
- Verify your property data (e.g. use code, number of bedrooms, type of structure, billing data, and property class, etc). If possible get this information from your assessor before filing your appeal.
- Most appeals are based on “equalization”- that comparable properties are assessed equally. Look for three properties similar to yours- and near yours- that are assessed lower than you.
- Take advantage of tax relief programs: Homestead deduction, senior citizen property tax relief, historic properties program, lower income homeownership tax abatement, first-time homebuyer individual income tax credit, senior citizen property tax deferral, schedule H/individual income property tax credit, etc.
- The tax rate for homeowners remains 85¢ and the homestead deduction is $71,400 this year. Taxes did not increase more than 10%.
Neighborhood development roundup: We still have questions
With the announcement of WMATA’s selection of a joint developer for the park-and-ride lot at Fort Totten metro station, now is a good time to look at the state of development in the neighborhood. Even as the first major development nears completion, questions remain about how retail will ultimately shape up for the neighborhood.
1. Fort Totten Square
Fort Totten Square Phase I with potential Phase II rendering
Developer: JBG & Lowe Enterprises
Location: Riggs Road between 3rd Street and Chillum Place NE
Expected delivery: Mid- to late-2015
- Mixed use development anchored by 117,000 square foot Walmart
- 10,000 square feet of ancillary ground floor retail
- 345 rental apartments
Fort Totten Square emerged the winner to be the first major development in the neighborhood. The Walmart anchor will be joined by Subway and Five Guys. There are two other retail spaces that have not been leased. Residential leasing personnel are being hired for the luxury apartments, so this development will be ready to accept residents without all of the pieces to the retail puzzle in place. Early in the development process, the developers indicated they were hoping to sign a coffee shop or a sit-down restaurant to the development. We cannot give the odds on either of those happening at this point.
In addition, talks are said to have begun again between District officials and the developers for sale of District owned land across the street from Fort Totten Square in order to build a second phase to the development. The developers provided an initial concept plan for the mixed use development for the second phase with less housing and more retail. We cannot say with any certainty though what will happen with the negotiations or the concept plan.
First to deliver, Fort Totten Square still leaves questions about what type of retail and amenities we can expect for the neighborhood in the near future.
2. Art Place at Fort Totten (Building A)
Art Place at Fort Totten Building A
Developer: Cafritz Enterprises
Location: South Dakota Avenue between Galloway Street and Kennedy Street NE
Expected delivery: 2017 (though construction is undoubtedly behind schedule)
- Mixed use development
- Over 100,000 square feet of retail
- 520 rental apartments
Art Place at Fort Totten is a multi-phase planned unit development (PUD). The only tenant we know about for the first phase (Building A) is X-Sport Fitness. We are pumped about potentially having a gym in the neighborhood, but we are really interested in knowing what other anchor retailers are being targeted for Building A. The development team indicated early on that Building A would be constructed with the potential to locate three restaurants there. We also know the building will also have space for an ANC office and a daycare center.
At the ANC 5A08 SMD meeting on March 18, we learned that negotiations are taking place to have the children’s museum occupy the warehouses located at 5458-5462 3rd Street NE, rather than in Building B of Art Place as originally envisioned by the development team.
We will have to wait and see what happens with this development. The development team has long said they will be looking at the effect of Walmart’s opening on the retail landscape for the neighborhood, so they cannot provide any updates on future phases of the development. We still have questions about Building A though that also cannot be answered at this time.
3. WMATA/Donatelli Fort Totten Joint Development
Developer: Donatelli Development
Location: Existing park-and-ride lot on 1st Place NE
Expected construction start date: 2017
- Mixed use development
- 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail
- 345 rental apartments
Donatelli bid
WMATA is up to its usual MO with the joint development of the park-and-ride lot at Fort Totten metro station. There were two proposals for the joint development. WMATA initially indicated they would make both proposals public. They presented the two concepts to ANC 5A’s commissioners (Fort Totten – Presentation to ANC 5A (Feb 11-2015)), but did not present at an ANC meeting. WMATA ultimately selected Donatelli.
We know the other bid was submitted by Jair Lynch. That proposal was more arts-focused to piggyback on the concept of the Arts Place development. However, that bid proposed fewer apartments than the Donatelli bid (302 versus 345).
Jair Lynch bid
We have long had the sense that WMATA is not too concerned about placemaking in its development projects, despite the inclusion of a placemaking element in the RFP.
Given that there has always had long been vacant ground floor retail space at Aventine Fort Totten (another WMATA joint development project at Fort Totten), we definitely have questions about the type of retail Donatelli anticipates bringing to this project.
Residential Development
The uneven retail landscape is interesting give the huge interest from homebuyers in the neighborhood. Median home sale prices have increased and homes have sold more quickly. The Hampshires, a subdivision of detached single family homes and townhomes by Comstock Homes, has attracted a lot of interest. A PUD application was recently submitted for the Totten Mews, another project of Comstock Homes, in nearby North Michigan Park. Several newly constructed homes by independent developers have also popped up in the neighborhood.
It is clear that many people love what the neighborhood has to offer: large open park space, relatively affordable homes with outdoor space, close proximity to a major metro line and downtown, low crime, civic-minded neighbors. Newer homebuyers are certainly attracted to the potential development coming to this established neighborhood. The small area plan identifies even more potential development sites. As we can see from development in the pipeline though, the state of retail for the neighborhood remains a big question mark.
More on MBT extension (on tonight’s ANC 5A meeting agenda)
MBT proposed extension map
If you did not make it to the open house for the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) extension, there will be another chance to learn about the proposed design from DDOT at ANC 5A’s public meeting on March 25. Information about the trail is available on the project website. The WashCycle also has a nice post about the extension.
The new section will run from Brookland to Takoma, so that means that our neighborhood will finally be connected to the existing off-street trail. The new section will run along the railroad tracks from Bates Road to Fort Totten metro station, then along First Place NE, Riggs Road NE, First Street NE, and Blair Road NW. There will also be a new sidewalk on 1st Place NE by the metro station, which is a nice bonus.
The trail experience for the new section will be a bit different from the existing off-street trail because the new section will traverse three major intersections (Riggs Road, New Hampshire Avenue, and Kansas Avenue) and will not run completely alongside the train tracks as the existing off-street trail mostly does. But, we love that progress is happening to finish the trail.
The proposed design is just a preliminary design. The final design is anticipated to be complete in 2016 and optimistically construction will begin in 2017. Comments may be sent to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.
If you support the trail or have questions, please consider coming out to ANC 5A’s meeting tonight (March 25) at 6:45 pm at UDC-CC’s Backus campus.
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- John McCormack Drive NE to Fort Totten
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- 1st Place and Riggs Road NE
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- Oglethorpe Community Garden
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- Blair Road NW
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- Van Buren to Aspen Street NW
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- Sandy Spring Road NW
The Hampshires Project Update
March 24: Property tax town hall meeting 6:00 pm tonight at Lamond Riggs Library
Tonight at 6:00 pm at Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE), DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson and DC’s Office of Tax and Revenue are hosting the final meeting in a series of town hall meetings on property tax assessments.
From the press release:
Chairman Mendelson will hold four Tax Town Hall Meetings that will focus on the District’s recently announced real property tax assessments. Chairman Mendelson will be joined at each of the workshops by representatives from the District’s Office of Tax and Revenue. “We are focusing our attention in the neighborhoods that have seen significant changes in their assessments over the previous year” said Chairman Mendelson. This year’s workshops will mark the eleventh consecutive year that Mendelson has held such meetings for the benefit of residents.
March 21 & 23: Learn about the proposed Fort Totten extension to the MBT
Two opportunities are coming up to learn about the Fort Totten extension to the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) and give feedback. Design is underway to extend the MBT from Brookland to Takoma. The new section will run along the railroad tracks from Bates Road to Fort Totten metro station, then along First Place NE, Riggs Road NE, First Street NE, and Blair Road NW.
1. March 21, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DDOT and ANC 4B are hosting a public open house on the extension.
Location: MPD 4th District Headquarters (6001 Georgia Ave NW)
2. March 23, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm DDOT and ANC 4B team up again before ANC 4B’s regular public meeting to give the public a chance to view the plans.
Location: MPD 4th District Headquarters (6001 Georgia Ave NW)
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is also hosting an informal happy hour on March 19 at Simple Bar & Grill in Brightwood to build community support for the extension. RSVP here.
More information about the MBT and the proposed design is available on the MBT website. Comments and requests for information may be directed to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.
Art Place Construction Notice 3/16/15 & 3/23/15
Donatelli selected for Fort Totten joint development
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- Courtesy Donatelli Development
Update 3/13/2015: Post updated with photos
Update 3/11/2015: The Washington Business Journal published an article with renderings.
Original post
WMATA (Metro) announced yesterday afternoon that Donatelli Development has been selected to develop the park-and-ride lot at Fort Totten metro station. The proposed development will have 345 residential units and 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail and will be designed to achieve at least LEED Silver certification. The existing 422 parking spaces will be replaced in the new development. If the project receives final approval from Metro’s Board of Directors, construction is anticipated to begin in 2017.
We have not seen any renderings of the proposed development (see update at top of post). At ANC 5A’s February meeting, commissioners reported that they received an update from Metro that a selection was pending and that Metro would encourage the selected developer to present its plan to residents and solicit feedback. One commissioner stated her top concern is retail. We too are interested in potential retail, but we are really interested in the design as well. As we can see from the still vacant ground floor retail space at Aventine at Fort Totten (also a Metro joint development), design and retail success go hand in hand.
This proposed development follows large-scale neighborhood developments in progress, Fort Totten Square (scheduled for completion this year) and the first phase of Art Place at Fort Totten (anticipated 2017 completion).
More townhomes planned near Fort Totten
DC Urbanturf has the story on Totten Mews, new townhomes proposed for North Michigan Park near Fort Totten metro station. Comstock Homes filed a planned unit development (PUD) application earlier this week for 40 new townhomes, each with three bedrooms and one garage. An additional 17 surface parking spaces and a playground area are planned for the development, which will sit next to the Emerson Park development and the Capital Area Food Bank. Part of the site is zoned for industrial use and was previously used for long-term outdoor storage. Comstock is seeking approval for the PUD as well as a zoning map amendment to R-4 for residential use.
We took a look at the PUD application (case # 15-04) for a few more details. The land was purchased from the previous owner who had received PUD approval to build in 2007. That approval lapsed in 2009. Comstock’s plans are similar, but the developer says this proposed development has a better layout and better treatments.
Comstock plans to set aside four homes as inclusionary homes, two for low-income households (up to 50% of the AMI) and two for moderate-income households (up to 80% of the AMI). They are proffering an additional home for eligible moderate income household.
All PUDs must contain a community benefits component. According to the PUD application, the major benefit of this development is turning historically unused land into attractive residential use near a major metro station. The developer plans to use masonry and cementitious siding treatment for the homes, sustainable features, and carriage style garage doors. Extensive landscaping is planned for the site as well as certain improvements to aid walkability. The PUD application states the developer is also working with ANC 5A and property owners on a package of “in-kind and financial contributions to benefit the immediate neighborhood and surrounding residents of ward 5.”
Comstock is not new to building near Fort Totten. The company developed The Hampshires, an attractive subdivision of detached single family homes and townhomes, located near 3rd Street and New Hampshire Avenue NE.
