Updated to correct last date of enrollment to March 7.
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and Davis Construction (the team behind Riggs Crossing Senior Residences) are offering paid apprenticeship training for up to 20 DC residents through a partnership with the local Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapter. They plan to enroll interested potential workers in the ABC CORE program for a 10-week training program. The final opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity is Thursday, March 7, 2024.
APAH and Davis will help graduates find job offers with trade partners within the industry. Costs for candidates to enroll will be covered by DAVIS and APAH.
If interested in the apprenticeship opportunity, complete the contact form on the “Career” page on the project website or simply stop by the construction trailer (located in the green space in front of Food & Friends) to provide your contact information and let the team know of your interest in enrolling.
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on February 28, 2024. Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Vice Chair; Diego Rojas (5A04); Tyeron Boston (5A05); Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 and 5A07 are vacant.
Commission Business
Commissioner Diego Rojas resigned as the ANC’s secretary. Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio was sworn in as secretary. She will hold two positions, vice chair and secretary.
The ANC approved minutes for the November 2023 regular meeting (Commissioner Lucio abstained), the November 2023 special meeting, and the January 2024 meeting.
The ANC approved the annual report for 2023. It will be on the ANC’s website.
Public safety report
No real updates from Commissioner Karlus Cozart about the public safety committee. Commissioner Lucio suggested that the ANC reach out to MPD’s 4th District Citizens Advisory Council to foster more engagement with this part of 4D.
Faith United Church Hypothermia Site (5A08)
The temporary hypothermia shelter at Faith United Church will officially close on March 8, 2024. ANC Chair Gordon Fletcher (5A08) stated that the site was little used and that it is unclear if the contract will be renewed. He said that he has stressed to the DC Department of Human Services that if the city wants to renew the contract or provide a similar service within the boundaries of the ANC, then the ANC wants to be notified in advance and be part of the process.
243 Hawaii Avenue NE (5A06) – BZA case no. 21070
The ANC voted to support the conversion of the existing duplex at 243 Hawaii Avenue NE to a two-family flat. The owner presented at the last ANC meeting and came back after doing more outreach to her neighbors.
Catholic University Temporary Modular Housing (5A04) -ZC case no. 12-01G
The ANC voted to support Catholic University’s plan to build temporary modular housing to provide more student housing. Catholic is requesting an amendment and further processing of the university’s 2012 campus plan. The approved campus plan calls for permanent student housing, but because of financial conditions, the university wants to build temporary housing to house up to 125 students.
University representatives stated the housing plan was reviewed by a traffic consultant and by DDOT and that the university expects little impact to traffic and parking. The university expects to begin underground utility work in spring (around May). The units will be constructed off site and brought to campus as they are constructed, likely starting in the fall. The representatives stated that it takes about two weeks to put each unit onto its foundation. The university expects to have the units ready for occupancy in spring semester 2025.
The Zoning Commission hearing is scheduled for March 7, 2024.
Ward 5 Council Report (Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator for Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker)
Councilmember Parker held his monthly public safety call. Materials from meeting:
Councilmember Parker prepared a year-end review of his first year in office.
Boys Town (5A02)
Chair Fletcher said that Boys Town, located at 4801 Sargent Road NE, is closing. This item was listed on the agenda, but a representative from Boys Town did not attend the meeting. The ANC will aim to have a representative at the March meeting. Commissioner Lucio stated she is concerned because the campus is a large property, so she wants the ANC to be involved in any development plan from the beginning. She wondered aloud whether St. Anselm’s Abbey School might be interested in expanding to part of the property.
Proposed Gas Station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE (5A08) – BZA case no. 17963A
The hearing for the proposed gas station at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE has been postponed to April. Chair Fletcher stated he has reached out to the applicant about coming to an ANC meeting but has not heard back yet. (Aside: At the February meeting of the North Michigan Park Civic Association, a representative for the applicant stated that the applicant is not planning to install an electric vehicle charging station instead of a gas station. The hearing has been postponed multiple times at this point, but the representative said he could not say if the applicant will withdraw the application at some point).
Art Place at Fort Totten (5A09)
The development team for Art Place at Fort Totten provided an update on sequencing for the second phase of the project.
The space for Aldi will be turned over to the grocery store for buildout around April 1, 2024. This is the building under construction on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Kennedy Street NE. Aldi is looking to open around October 1, 2024. This may be a soft opening for certain days/hours. The store will hold hiring fairs this spring/summer either within the store, at The Modern, or at Lamond-Riggs Library. Stay tuned for information about that.
The space for the children’s museum will be turned over for buildout in late summer/early fall 2024. The museum is looking to open late 2025.
The development team is still seeking financing for the second sequence of Phase 2. This is the housing piece (294 housing units, of which 33 are income-restricted, affordable units).
The last sequence will be construction of the rotunda. They are in early negotiations with potential users.
As for Building A (also known as The Modern or Phase 1), the team is still looking to sign a restaurant and an ice cream shop. There was a brewery under lease that had trouble securing financing, so the development team has reached back out with revised leasing terms.
A resident asked about having a police substation in Building A. The team said they are always open to discussions with the city about that and that maybe it could go in the space that was built out for temporary use by the library.
University of the District of Columbia(UDC President Dr. Maurice Edington)
UDC president Dr. Maurice Edington informed the ANC and residents about the university’s new strategic plan. It will be open for public comment for 60 days. View the plan at https://www.udc.edu/strategic-plan. Send feedback to udcstrategicplanning@udc.edu.
Miscellaneous
In response to a question, Commissioner Lucio stated that the Providence Hospital campus deal is still being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for DC.
The next ANC 5A public meeting will be March 27, 2024.
[Ed. Note: The LRCA’s March meeting will include an update about Riggs Crossing Senior Residences under construction on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. In addition, the newsletter contains information about an air tag raffle.]
From Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA)
The March 2024 LRCA Community meeting will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM EST. Doors open at 5:45 PM.
This IN-PERSON meeting is scheduled to take place at the Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room 1, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20011.
Additionally, the meeting will be live-streamed via the Zoom webinar platform:
Yesterday, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker sent his FY2025 budget request letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. The mayor is expected to send her budget proposal to the DC Council on March 20, 2024.
Councilmember Parker’s letter addresses schools, libraries, rec centers, and youth programs around the ward around the ward; public safety; supports for LGBTQIA+ residents, seniors, and tenants; road safety and trail networks; and ways to offset increased spending.
Specific items of interest to the Riggs Park neighborhood and nearby areas copied from letter:
Address deficiencies at Ward 5 DPR facilities. Maintenance and upkeep of Ward 5’s recreation centers are paramount. My office regularly fields complaints about the condition of Turkey Thicket Recreation and North Michigan Park Recreation Center, especially. I recommend that DGS expand its preventative maintenance campaign to DPR facilities and play spaces for children. Additionally, neighbors in Edgewood continue to express concern over the availability of the Edgewood Recreation Center for neighborhood youth. Routinely, citywide sports teams and groups monopolize recreation space that could otherwise provide Ward 5 youth positive recreational outlets. What’s more, I recommend you expand community-facing programming at Edgewood Recreation Center and New York Avenue Recreation Center. Finally, I recommend you use DPR’s Ready2Play Equity Framework to address funding needs at Ward 5 facilities, such as Bunker Hill Park, Dunbar Aquatic Center, Joe Cole Recreation Center, Keene Field, New York Avenue Recreation Center, and Noyes Park.
Expand and improve the efficacy of the District’s Safe Passage program. The number of juveniles who are at risk of committing or being victimized by crime requires us to expand coverage of the Safe Passage Program, a critical tool to prevent violence involving students as they travel to and from school. Currently, much of Ward 5 does not have coverage under the Safe Passage Program despite longstanding issues at chronic hotspots—including the Fort Totten Metro Station. Therefore, I recommend a gradual expansion of the Safe Passage program, targeting Ward 5, 7, and 8, by increasing funding by $1 million/year. I also recommend improving the value of this program through more frequent school leader convenings and data and information sharing at the school level. This is a key recommendation I expect will soon receive the formal endorsement of the School Safety Enhancement Committee that with the help of my council colleagues I established last budget cycle.
Expand bikeshare options near UDC’s Lamond-Riggs Campus. In 2021, DDOT announced that the agency planned to install a bikeshare station on the northwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. My understanding is that the agency has been having issues coming to an agreement with the property owner on that side of the street regarding placement of the station. With UDC’s plan to grow campus enrollment to 3,000 students with over 100 faculty, I stand ready to help get this station installed as soon as possible.
Design a trail connection between the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) at Fort Totten and the future Prince George’s County Connector. In 2023, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission secured funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a shared-use path between the Northwest Branch Trail of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in Chillum to Avondale Community Park, which borders Eastern Avenue in the District. To complement this project, DDOT should begin planning its own trail connection to the Metropolitan Branch Trail along Eastern Avenue and Gallatin Street N.E.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites residents to join his next Monthly Public Safety Call on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will be the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and leadership from MPD’s Third District (Bloomingdale and Truxton Circle) and Fifth District (all Ward 5 neighborhoods east of North Capitol St and south of Michigan Ave NE).
Register to receive the meeting link at ward5.us/monthlycall. The meeting will be livestreamed on CM Parker’s YouTube channel. It will be recorded, and slides will be shared afterwards.
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), in collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and EYA (developer of Riggs Park Place), is excited to announce the launch of the Traffic Control Box Community Art Project.
This art installation project will create decorative vinyl wraps featuring local artwork on six traffic control boxes in public spaces along the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE corridor. All art designs will reflect community input. The art will be suitable for family-friendly viewing. Artists of community-selected designs will receive $500 for each design.
Your input is needed to select the “Themes” for this community art project. Choose up to 3 of the suggested themes or include others you would like to see.
Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
Commissioners will be let into the meeting room first. Once they are all present, the residents will be let in.
AGENDA
I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm
II. Quorum
III. Agenda Review/Acceptance
IV. Commission Business A. Minutes (November 2023- Regular and Special Meeting, January 2024) B. Treasurer Report C. Annual Report D. Public Safety Committee E. Faith United Church Community Agreement Update
V. Commission Action Items/Updates A. 243 Hawaii Ave BZA (5A07) B. Catholic University of America- Letter of Support (5A04)
VI. Community Updates A. MPD B. Mayor’s Office C. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations A. 4975 South Dakota Ave NE Gas Station E Charging Station (5A08) B. Art Place at Fort Totten Update (5A09) C. UDC Presentation-President Edington (5A01) D. Boys Town Closure (5A02)
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 82101129078. Passcode: 531002.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A.Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
B.Consideration and Approval of February 2024 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
C. Approval of January 2024 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report and Quarterly Financial Report for First Quarter FY2024
3. Commissioner Updates
4. Community Concerns
*Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting. This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.*
5. Reports:
A.Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
B.Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
7. Presentation: Dr. Linda McKay, Executive Director, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School, Petition to Public Charter School Board to Amend Charter Agreement to Relocate from Sixth Presbyterian Church at 5413 16th Street, NW, to Takoma Park Baptist Church at 635 Aspen Street, NW (10-minute presentation; 15-minute discussion)
8. Consent Calendar:
Resolution 4B-24-0201: Authorizing Translation of the Commission’s Website and Related Expenditures (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Smith, and Commissioner Yeats)
Letter: Providing Feedback on the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions’ Strategic Plan (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Smith, and Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-24-0202: Establishing Community Safety and Support Committee (Commissioner Johnson)
10. Resolution 4B-24-0203: Calling on DMOI to Provide Coordinated Response to Pervasive Nuisance Issues on 6500 Block of Sandy Spring Road, NW (Commissioner Cohen)
11. Adjournment
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for March 12 at 6:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for March 25 at 7:00 p.m.
There are a few upcoming opportunities to share budget priorities with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. If you want something for your neighborhood, now is the time to ask for it. Complete the form at budget.dc.gov or leave a voicemail at 202-442-4755. Attend an upcoming budget engagement forum.
Metro is seeking input on its proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. Potential service cuts/reductions would impact several neighborhood bus routes and rail service. See details of the revised FY2025 budget (with jurisdictional funding) at wmata.com/budget. Submit survey responses and comment letters by 5:00 pm on March 5, 2024.
Metro has released a revised FY25 proposed Budget based on public funding commitments that keeps operating spending flat with Fiscal Year 2024 and minimizes service changes. Pending this funding, the FY25 Budget proposal would severely limit service and increase costs for customers. These include:
Fares
Up to 25 percent fare increase
20 percent parking rate increase
Metrobus
Eliminate service on 83 of 184 routes
Reduce service on 51 of 184 routes
Shorten routes with rail service
Metrorail
Close 10 lower ridership stations
Turn back every other Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring
Turn back Silver Line trains at Stadium-Armory
Decrease service on all lines – weekdays every 15 minutes, weekends every 20 minutes
Decrease Hours of operation: Close the rail system at 10pm; or
Keep existing rail system hours and open earlier and close later weekends: open at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays, close at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays
MetroAccess
Reduced service area due to a reduction in fixed route bus service
Approximately 20 percent of MetroAccess trips would no longer be served
How to provide feedback
Take the Survey
Take the survey and upload documents, letters, and written comments
Public Hearings
Metro will host three in-person and one virtual public hearing. Information about the FY25 Proposed Budget will be available during a “Your Metro” Open House along with staff to answer your questions. The Open House will begin one hour prior to the start of the hearing.
If you’re interested in providing in-person testimony at a hearing, pre-registration is strongly encouraged, but not required. Email speak@wmata.com or call 202-962-2511 by 12 p.m. the day of the hearing.
Monday, Feb. 26 Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans’ Plaza 1 Veterans Pl Silver Spring, MD
Nearest rail station: Red Line Silver Spring Station
Bus routes: Metrobus Z6, Z8; Ride On 9, 12, 15, and Flash
Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Metro L’Enfant Plaza HQ 300 7th Street SW Washington, DC
Virtual only (via telephone or video) on Microsoft Teams*.
To provide video testimony, pre-register by emailing your name and organizational affiliation, if any, to speak@wmata.com or calling 202-962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.
To take part by phone, call 206-899-2028 during the hearing and enter meeting code 164 729 013. No advance registration available.
*You do not need to download Teams or have a Microsoft account to join the meetings.
Watch the Public Hearings Live
You can watch the Public Hearings live on our YouTube channel.
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), in collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and EYA (developer of Riggs Park Place), is excited to announce the launch of the Traffic Control Box Community Art Project.
This art installation project will create decorative vinyl wraps featuring local artwork on six traffic control boxes in public spaces along the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE corridor. All art designs will reflect community input. The art will be suitable for family-friendly viewing. Artists of community-selected designs will receive $500 for each design.
Your input is needed to select the “Themes” for this community art project. Choose up to 3 of the suggested themes or include others you would like to see.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 