Author Archives: nextstoprp

DC Office of Planning Extends Comp Plan Comment Period

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development

Yesterday, DC’s Office of Planning extended the comment period for the Comprehensive Plan proposed amendments. See press release below.

DC Office of Planning

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 16, 2019

CONTACT: Jessica Carroll (OP) – (202) 550-6845; jessica.carroll@dc.gov

Bowser Administration Extends Public Review Period for Comprehensive Plan 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the DC Office of Planning (OP) announced that the public will now have until Friday, January 10, 2020 to review the Comprehensive Plan Draft Update (Comp Plan). In addition to extending the 60-day public review period, OP will now accept feedback from ANCs through February 14, 2020. Public review is critical for ensuring District residents get the updated plan that they deserve, and OP has adjusted its schedule to ensure sufficient time for review while also allowing adequate time for adoption of the Comp Plan by DC Council in 2020. In its current form, which was approved in 2006, the Comp Plan does not sufficiently address the District’s long-term needs around housing, equity, resilience, and public resources.

“The Bowser Administration is committed to ensuring the public’s voices and views are reflected in the update of the Comprehensive Plan,” said OP Director Andrew Trueblood. “Since 2016, the Office of Planning has heard from tens of thousands of residents to help shape the draft amendment and is extending the deadline to ensure this process remains inclusive.”

Public engagement for this update began with events in 2016 and continued with an official open call for amendments in 2017. OP received over 3,000 proposals through that public comment period. While these were the primary opportunities to weigh in on major substance and updates, OP also incorporated public input from other venues, including feedback provided through the DC Council’s review of the Framework Element in 2018 and 2019, OP’s DC Values Campaign, the numerous housing engagements in 2019, and the hundreds public engagements associated with the 40+ plans produced by District agencies that are a part of the Comp Plan update.

Since the draft Comp Plan was released on October 15, 2019, OP has provided numerous documents, summaries, and analysis of the proposed update; attended over 60 meetings with stakeholders; engaged in individual conversations with hundreds of residents; and hosted community meetings in every Ward. In total, through these various conversations, thousands of District residents have weighed in and continue to share their feedback prior. Feedback will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate into the Mayor’s submission to DC Council in the spring. DC Council will provide final opportunities for public input prior to adopting the approved Comp Plan.

More information about the Comp Plan substance, process and opportunities for input can be found at plandc.dc.gov.

  ###

December 11, 2019 ANC 5A Special Meeting Recap: Lamond-Riggs Library; Comp Plan; Walmart Beer/Wine License

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A held a special meeting on December 11, 2019. All commissioners were present: Frank Wilds (5A01), Grace Lewis (5A02), Emily Singer Lucio (5A03), Ronnie Edwards (5A05), Sandi Washington (5A07), Gordon Fletcher (5A08)

ANC Vacancies

One candidate, Claudia Barragan, applied to fill the vacancy for ANC 5A06. Barring any challenges, she should be sworn in in time for the next ANC meeting.

No candidates have come forward for ANC 5A04. This SMD covers Catholic University, so the seat is often vacant. A Catholic University student did fill the seat the previous two terms. Commissioner Fletcher (5A08) stated to Catholic’s general counsel Nancy Morrison O’Connor that he would be interested in hosting an info session with students to see if anyone might be interested in serving. Ms. O’Connor also stated new faculty have recently moved into the SMD so one of those faculty members might be interested in serving as well.

Lamond-Riggs Library Design Update

DC Public Library representatives and HGA, the design team for the ne Lamond-Riggs Library, returned to the commission to seek approval for the design to submit with their plans to the Commission on Fine Arts. Not much new was presented from the community design meeting that was held on November 19. They are still deciding between two exterior design options, what they are calling Forest vs. Folds. The interim library will be located in a 2800 square foot space at the Modern at Art Place on Ingraham Street NE. Responses to a few questions from the commission and residents:

  • In response to questions about parking from Commissioners Sandi Washington (5A07), Grace Lewis (5A02), and Ronnie Edwards (5A05), the design team explained that building an underground parking lot would be cost prohibitive given the program desires for the new building. DCPL will maintain the number of parking spaces at 11. DCPL noted Commissioner Edwards’ request that library staff be prohibited from parking in the lot.
  • Wifi will be available in the outdoor spaces (the front porch and balcony), but they are not sure just yet if charging stations will be available. They made a note for the request
  • Commissioner Frank Wilds (5A01) requested a list of CBE contractors, which DCPL stated they will provide when available.
  • Robert Oliver, president of the Lamond-Rigg Library Friends, suggested that DCPL visit the abutting residences to take pictures of their walls to address any concerns about construction impacts. DCPL noted the suggestion.
  • DCPL noted Commissioner Wilds’ request that DCPL hire a neighborhood ombudsman to disperse construction-related information and handle construction issues.
  • The design team noted a request for streetscape improvements of the public right of way when library construction is done.
  • DCPL does not have a specific date for when the current library will close and when the interim library will open next year. They still have to get through all of the regulatory and permitting processes. They noted there is typically a period of about three weeks between closure of the old library and opening of the interim library.

The ANC voted unanimously to support the design.

Comprehensive Plan Update

Update 12/16/2019: On December 16, 2019, after publication of this post, the Office of Planning extended the comment period for the public to January 10, 2020, and for ANCs to February 14, 2020.

The Office of Planning (OP) has proposed amendments to the Citywide and Area Elements of the District’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). The Comp Plan guides how the city should grow and be developed. The general public has until December 20, 2019 January 10, 2020, to submit comments to OP, while ANCs have until January 31, 2020 February 14, 2020, to submit resolutions to OP. Details on the proposed amendments are available at plandc.dc.gov. (Note: I wrote about the proposed amendments in this post).

Chair Edwards stated ANC 5A will request more time to review the proposed amendments. The ANC voted unanimously to support the intent and purpose of a draft resolution that many other ANCs have signed.

At the same time, the ANC will prepare as if no extension of time will be granted. Accordingly, please submit comments that you would like to see incorporated into an ANC 5A resolution to Commissioner Edwards at 5a05@anc.dc.gov by January 10, 2020. The commission plans to have a community meeting on the Comp Plan on January 11, 2020, at 10:00 am. They will circulate a summary of the comments by January 15 and be prepared to vote on a resolution on January 22.

Soldiers’ Home Reservoir Upgrades

Upgrades to the Soldiers’ Home Reservoir, located at the intersection of Arnold Drive and Pershing Drive NW on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home are ongoing until tentatively December 2020. All of the work is being done on the campus so area residents should not see any disruptions except the occasional lane closure. Golf course operations on the two affected fairways will be limited during construction. DC Water will work to minimize disruptions, and the fairways will be resotred after consturction is completed. For information, contact project manager Willis Thomas at (202) 787-7616 or willis.thomas@dcwater.com.

Walmart Beer/Wine License Application

As previously noted, the Walmart located at 310 Riggs Road has applied for a license to sell beer and wine. It is located in ANC 4B. On November 25, 2019, that commission voted in support of a resolution to support Walmart’s application and also to “reaffirm[] its support for the terms of the Settlement Agreement of August 9, 2018[]” between ANC 4B and Walmart. The status of that settlement agreement is unclear. The resolution could not be found on the ANC resolution website, so it is not clear if the commissioner for that area has uploaded the resolution yet. The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) voted at its meeting on December 2, 2019, not to protest Walmart’s application (13 in favor of protesting; 15 opposed to protesting).

Now, a group of 5 or more individuals led in part by Ward 5 resident Bill Smith plans to protest Walmart’s application. Bill Smith was one of the people who led the successful protest against the liquor license application of Pax Liquor, which wanted to open next to the McDonald’s on South Dakota Avenue. The protest against Walmart will focus on the fact that there is a liquor store directly across the street from the Walmart and an elementary school, LaSalle-Backus Education Campus, within two blocks of the Walmart. The principal of that elementary school attended the LRCA meeting and asked Walmart’s manager how he plans to ensure that minors will not be able to abscond with or purchase alcohol. The manager stated that cashiers are given a prompt to ask for identification whenever a customer attempts to buy beer or wine. If you would like to join Mr. Smith in the protest, contact him at smith744@aol.com

Catholic University

Catholic University held a groundbreaking for its new dining hall. There are also new meeting rooms, which Ms. O’Connor stated the ANC is welcome to use. In the next few weeks, the university will hold a groundbreaking for a new nursing school and research labs.

The school recently received a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that someone is flying drones above university property. This is a no-fly zone and there are consequences for flying drones without a proper license, so if you or anyone you know is responsible for the drones, take heed.

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie

Councilmember McDuffie will hold three community conversations on violence around the Rhode Island Avenue and Woodridge/Langdon areas.

Miscellaneous

The commission voted unanimously in support of a petition for traffic calming, specifically speed bumps, in the 700 block of Decatur Street NE.

Commissioner Fletcher will hold an SMD meeting on January 7, 2020.

WaPo Profile on Fort Totten

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Development

The Washington Post is at it again. A profile on the Fort Totten neighborhood was published yesterday, but strangely it features residents who do not live in that neighborhood at all. ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) lives in Riggs Park and Robert Oliver lives in North Michigan Park. The writer could have reached out to the Fort Totten Civic Association to speak with actual residents or the actual commissioner for that neighborhood. Not sure if that happened though.

As indicated in the profile, the borders of the Fort Totten neighborhood are Riggs Road to the north, the metro tracks to the east, Hawaii Avenue to the south, and North Capitol Street to the west. People often confuse the neighborhood with nearby neighborhoods like Riggs Park and North Michigan Park. The development taking place is not in Fort Totten; it’s all in Riggs Park. And as is usually the case with these profile pieces, other information is wrong. I was featured in one such profile on Lamond-Riggs back in 2015, so I know sometimes the writer gets quotes wrong or the conversation will be steered in a certain direction and certain statements end up sounding a little ridiculous out of context. Nonetheless, check out what the Washington Post says about the Fort Totten neighborhood.

REMINDER – December 11: ANC 5A Special Public Meeting on Library & Comp Plan

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Special Meeting
December 11, 2019
6:45 pm
UDC-CC Backus
5171 South Dakota Avenue NE
Agenda: (1) Lamond-Riggs Library Update; (2) Comprehensive Plan Update

ANCs have until January 31 to submit a resolution regarding the Office of Planning’s proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Many ANCs have had working groups or committees to address the proposed changes. Come out to hear how ANC 5A plans to take advantage of the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed changes. Also, if you missed the Lamond-Riggs Library design meeting last month, a member of the design team will be on hand to give an update.

Time to Step Up – How Would You Like to Use Your Neighborhood National Park (Part 2)

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

By David Kosub (Contributor)

In response to my October post, I was pleased to see so much interest related to the Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW) National Park Service (NPS) land in our community. I summarize the comments below and also describe what’s happened since. This is also a call for helping hands. Volunteers welcomed! Please note in the comments and send me an email on how you, your family, and your neighbors can help this project continue to gather steam. 

Dusting Off the Plans

To know where we are going, we must look back to where we have been. The 2009 Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue Area Development Plan generally calls for connections, reactivation, and the creation of open spaces around us (see Implementation Table 4.3). It also calls for establishing additional recreational opportunities in the green spaces. Let’s achieve these goals already!

Funding is referenced coming from the District’s Capital Improvement Budget and Capital Space Plan, such as for “active recreation, such as … trails at the edges of the Fort Circle Park near residential areas.” The Capital Space Plan provides strategies for parks, particularly those in the city’s neighborhoods, to create a beautiful, high-quality, and unified system for the Nation’s Capital. I doubt funding is available anymore, but are there any volunteers out there to look into this possible revenue source?

Trees, Trees, and more Trees

I was glad to see I’m not the only tree hugger in the neighborhood. We can always use more trees. Folks seem to echo the point that, without shade trees at least on the perimeter of the park, the area can get too hot during certain times of the year and thus become unusable for many (see this heat island map published last year noting our community is one of the hottest spots in the city). Moreover, trees help combat the effects of climate change, cool the roads, help with stormwater management, provide new habitats for the other creatures around us, give shade for folks who are taking in a pick-up game, and beautify the surroundings making this a more pleasant and desirable place.

During a recent follow-up conversation, NPS acknowledged the community’s desire to have more trees along the edges to help combat the heat island effects and provide shade for park visitors. They still stressed the point that the large swath of open green space in the middle must be maintained in accordance with the management plan for these parklands. That said, they are going to consider the option to plant trees along the perimeter and step up the effort to replace known dead or dying trees.

As suggested, I also reached out to Casey Trees about this site. They noted not working much with CWDW parks before, but were thrilled we want  to utilize the land more effectively, such as by adding trees. The likely next step is to submit a Community Tree Planting application so their arborists can take a look and see if moving forward is feasible. Any volunteers  to submit the application?

Interestingly enough, roughly 30 new trees were recently planted along the perimeter of the park on the Galloway Street side from South Dakota Avenue to 11th Street NE. Trees were also planted on the perimeter of the park east of Sargent Road NE on Galloway and Gallatin streets. It is unclear to me if these tree plantings were a result of my discussions with NPS, but they are most welcomed nonetheless.

 

  • Newly planted trees on Galloway Street NE
  • Newly planted trees on Gallatin Street NE

To Be Fit or Not to Be Fit

This NPS site is zoned for recreational purposes. And, to many, this means opportunities for exercise. Be it a walking or running path lined with markers, exercise equipment, and a designated field for sports and play for humans and our four-legged friends, we are ready to have fun! Any volunteers to organize a group yoga class or begin an annual Riggs Park v. North Michigan Park pick-up game, perhaps at the next Fort Circle Field Day?

NPS will not approve a designated dog park or install a water fountain (see this 1992 Washington Post story for other wishlist items which would not fly either, but hopefully we will have better neighborhood buy-in today). Other community suggestions are still possible. A walking trail could be installed, as it aligns with earlier NPS plans. But it’ll be costly, and the community would need to find the funding source (I’m looking at you, the District’s Capital Improvement Budget). For such a trail to be installed, environmental and geotechnical studies must be done, ensure it fits the historical and cultural aspects of the park, and professional designs must be obtained. The estimated cost would be around $250,000. The best option here would likely be having the District and local developers pony up the funds. With enough community support, this could be possible. It’s budget planning season after all.

Infrastructure

Perhaps those resources could be used elsewhere though. The pavilion area needs some TLC. Many neighbors noted its lack of accessibility and that it could be spruced up with picnic tables and natural shade. NPS indicated rehabbing the picnic and pavilion area is doable, including adding a grill. Some things could happen quickly, like bringing in some picnic tables, while others may take a couple years, such as renovating the picnic shelters and making them ADA compliant. NPS is currently in the process of requesting funding.

As for other infrastructure needs, such as lighting and sidewalk improvements, we likely need to reach out to the District’s Department of Transportation through 311 requests. Volunteers are welcomed to start submitting these requests today.

Historical markers

Historical markers for CWDW parks are on the way. NPS has submitted designs for approval from the Commission on Fine Arts. The Commission will discuss these interpretative signs at their upcoming spring 2020 meeting (renderings will be shared once available). I hope these markers add a nice piece of visual flair to the neighborhood.

Next steps

I feel like we are making progress. NPS is happy to partner with us, which does achieve one of the goals from the plans referenced earlier. One event NPS mentioned was teaming up with a group on the Maryland side already engaged with them for a spring clean-up event. And, since the community has expressed concerns related to trash in the park, perhaps additional resources could be provided to the South Dakota Ave Clean Team? I also spoke with a representative from the Cafritz Foundation and they expressed interest, general support, and a willingness to partner too. The Parks Main Street has some ideas too, and if they come to fruition, I think the community will enjoy them (yes, that is a teaser). 

To reiterate though, I need your help. If we want resources to flow into this park, we need neighbors to stand up and volunteer their time. Would you consider attending a community meeting in January or February? We could bring NPS in, along with inviting local community groups, developers, and District government representatives. It would be great to hear your ideas in person. Raise your hand if you would attend, and I will put a meeting  on the calendar.

December 7: ANC 4B Comprehensive Plan Working Session

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

From ANC 4B:

Please join Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B for a Comprehensive Plan Working Session on Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Police Department’s 4th District Headquarters, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW.

The Comprehensive Plan is a lengthy, high-level document that sets a long-term vision for the District’s future growth and development. The DC Office of Planning has launched an effort to amend the Comprehensive Plan to ensure that it remains responsive to the needs of the community. (More here: https://planning.dc.gov/page/comprehensive-plan and here: https://plandc.dc.gov/page/overview-and-how-guide).

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B will be discussing proposed changes to the Rock Creek East Area Element (available here: https://plandc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/page_content/attachments/Chapter%2022_Public_Review_Draft_RCE_Oct2019.pdf), which encompasses areas within the Commission’s boundaries, as well as the Citywide Elements (available here: https://plandc.dc.gov/page/draft-comprehensive-plan-update), which impact housing, transportation, and historic preservation, among other issues.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions have until January 31, 2020 to submit community feedback to the DC Office of Planning regarding the proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan.

The December 7th meeting agenda is below.

Comprehensive Plan Working Session
Saturday, December 7, 2019, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Avenue NW

Agenda

  1. Welcome & Comprehensive Plan Overview (Commissioner Parks & Commissioner Palmer)
    2:00 – 2:05 p.m.
  2. Breakout Session I – Rock Creek East Area Element
    2:05 – 2:30 p.m.
  3. Report Back from Breakout Session I
    2:30 – 2:50 p.m.
  4. Breakout Session II – Context & Citywide Elements
    2:50 – 3:15 p.m. 
  5. Report Back from Breakout Session II
    3:15 – 3:35 p.m. 
  6. Future Land Use Map Discussion
    3:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. 
  7. Next Steps (Commissioner Parks)
    3:55 – 4:00 p.m.

    Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, January 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Four Stars for LaSalle-Backus Education Campus

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

Neighborhood school LaSalle-Backus Education Campus received 4 stars on the latest DC School Report Card. The school received 3 stars last year. The improvement in the star rating comes on the heels of the school’s recognition as a leveler elementary school by the DC Policy Center. The Center describes a leveler school as one that meets the high targets for growth for their at-risk students. This is quite the turnaround for the school, which just 10 years ago was under restructuring for failure to make adequate yearly progress.

I remember when former principal Justin Ralston was installed at LaSalle in 2016 and he noted that residents and others thought of LaSalle as a failing school, but he did not view the school that way. The school has made steady improvements every year since. The school cycled through interim principals due to an incident at Roosevelt High School that resulted in Mr. Ralston’s abrupt installation as interim principal at that school in October 2018. Shelly Gray, who served as an assistant principal at LaSalle for several years, became the new permanent principal of LaSalle in June 2019.

Whittier Education Campus, which serves the Lamond community as well, also received 4 stars. The DC Policy Center recognized Whittier as a leveler middle school. Whittier and LaSalle are in the middle of phasing out their middle school grades.

Kudos to both school communities.

Lamond-Riggs Library Design Unveiled

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

By Robert Oliver (Contributor)

On Tuesday, November 19, over 40 community members met at the Lamond-Riggs Library to attend the latest community engagement meeting on the new Lamond-Riggs Library design. DC Public Library Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan hosted the meeting and introduced the HGA architect team led by Peter Cook, Design Principal.

Mr. Reyes-Gavilan gave a brief summary of the project timeline. He stated that the Lamond-Riggs Library project began in fall 2017, has a projected closing of summer 2020, and will reopen by late 2021. He also thanked his team and the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends for the work done so far. Next, Mr. Cook spoke.

Mr. Cook cited that the community emphasized three elements which, in turn, drove the design process: Natural Light, Quiet Spaces, and Local History. Then, he touched upon the site and building considerations faced by his team. Although the current site looks spacious, it contains three setbacks (two at 15’ and one at 20’) that frame the building’s size to 11,800 square feet per floor. Based on these restrictions and a heritage tree on Jefferson Street NE, the current parking lot size and location was deemed optimal. The library entrance will be moved closer to Kennedy Street, shortening the walk to the parking lot. Also, the building contour was modified from a rectangle to a parallelogram, with children’s and adult/teen programming on the first and second floors, respectively. Lastly, the building will feature a ground-level front porch, second floor balcony facing Jefferson Street NE, and a stormwater garden at the rear. 

The interior features a 100-seat, dividable meeting room and a smaller room supporting 12 to 20 occupants. Several study rooms are planned that support between four and six occupants. To address community history, Mr. Cook suggested the concept of a Heritage Wall that the community will develop. Before taking questions, Mr. Cook welcomed community input on the project.

The following are responses to audience questions:

  • The number of parking spaces remains the same, which is estimated at 11.
  • A bus stop at South Dakota Avenue and Kennedy Street NE was requested. WMATA makes the ultimate decision.
  • A bump-out at the intersection of South Dakota Avenue and Jefferson Street NE was requested.  It will be looked into.
  • Food will be allowed in the library per current policy.
  • A room for the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends is allocated.
  • A request for more books in Chinese, Spanish and other languages was made.
  • The new library will meet the LEED Silver standard, but no green roof will be installed.
  • Additional artwork, including sculpture, is under consideration.
  • The interim library will be located at the Modern at Art Place, pending execution of a lease agreement.

View the full presentation at https://www.slideshare.net/DCPublicLibrary/dc-public-library-new-lamondriggs-library.

The project website is https://www.dclibrary.org/newlamondriggs.

November 13, 2019 ANC 5A Meeting Recap

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, ANC 5A held its November meeting on November 13, 2019. Commissioners present: Frank Wilds (5A01); Grace Lewis (5A02); Chair Ronnie Edwards (5A05); Sandi Washington (5A07); Gordon Fletcher (5A08)

The ANC approved its fiscal year 2020 budget.

MPD Report

See resources and MPD stats for November here.

Ramdass Pharmacy was robbed of narcotics on Monday, November 4 around 2:30 am. Other pharmacies across the city were robbed the same week. Ramdass was robbed again at gunpoint on November 11 around 3:30 pm. T-Mobile on South Dakota Avenue has also been robbed a couple of times. Lt. Patrick Schaut said MPD has discussed security issues with both stores. For T-Mobile, Lt. Schaut said MPD has to go through corporate headquarters to obtain video and it is up to corporate headquarters what kind of security they want to have in their store.

There have been a couple of street robberies. As it is getting dark early, be aware of surroundings. Do not walk with phones out or earbuds in.

If you are doing online selling or buying and arranging for pickup of items, arrange to meet up at a police station. As holiday season approaches, have deliveries delivered to safe locations. Try not to have deliveries sitting unattended on the porch.

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie Report

Councilmember McDuffie has two new staff members–Legislative Counsel Sandra Karpinsky and Committee Director Justin Roberts. Senior Advisor Silas Grant will be conducting a walkthrough of Commissioner Gordon Fletcher’s SMD (5A08) with Commissioner Fletcher, a Ward 5 MOCR, and DDOT on November 21 at 4:30 pm. Meet at the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE.

The councilmember’s holiday party/toy drive will be on December 12 at Dock 5 at Union Market.

Rocketship Charter School

On October 28, 2019, the DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) approved the opening of Rocketship’s third campus at 5450 Kennedy Street NE. Rocketship returned to the ANC to explain the kidnapping that occurred at its Rocketship RISE campus in Ward 8 on October 11. The incident was reported by Fox 5 DC.

Joyanna Smith, Rocketship DC Regional Director, stated that on October 11, Rocketship RISE Academy was holding parent-teacher conferences so the school was actually closed. Parents asked if care could be provided all day for parents who needed it, so Rocketship asked its before and aftercare provider Springboard to provide care for the day. Ms. Smith said that the school has two sets of doors, one at the entrance where visitors must be buzzed in. The second set is manned by a paid, off-duty police officer. A mother went to the school for her two sons. The alleged kidnapper walked in behind the mother and at the second set of doors, told the officer that he was with the mother and that she was the mother of his children. The officer believed him, did not ask for identification, and allowed him to enter. Then the alleged perpetrator went to the gym where the boys were playing and after playing with them for about 15 minutes, persuaded them to leave the gym with him. A Rocketship office manager saw the alleged perpetrator with the boys and suspected something was amiss and took the boys away from the man. Police were called and only then did anyone realize that the individual was a registered sex offender and that he should not have been on the property.

Rocketship terminated its relationship with Springboard as of November 8, 2019. Ms. Smith said she was not informed about the incident until several days after it happened and only a few days before DCPCSB’s October 28th meeting. She stated that probably the biggest failure was not alerting parents within 24 hours of the incident, so they are working to regain the trust of parents, which she said is a difficult process for everyone. They are also working on protocols to make sure everyone knows security procedures and each person’s role and responsibility, so that the communication gap between the school’s leadership and Rocketship leadership does not happen again.

There was protracted discussion among the commissioners led by Commissioner Frank Wilds (5A01) about whether the ANC should go on record with a vote on the school. This even though DCPCSB already held its public meeting and approved opening a third campus, and the ANC had several opportunities to take a vote and to submit comments before the new campus was approved and did not do so. Commissioner Wilds accused Commissioner Fletcher of “being on the take,” but offered no details on what that was supposed to mean. Commissioners Wilds, Grace Lewis (5A02), and Sandi Washington (5A07) voted in favor of taking a vote, with Commissioner Fletcher opposed. It was unclear how Chair Ronnie Edwards (5A05) voted. Chair Edwards stated the ANC will not have a December meeting, so it is unclear when exactly they plan to conduct this vote.

Construction on the interior of the new campus will continue throughout the winter months. Rocketship will continue to attend the ANC meetings to provide construction and other updates.

Social Justice Charter School

As previously noted, Social Justice Charter School will operate a middle school at Rocketship’s new Riggs Park campus beginning in school year 2020-2021. Representatives of the Social Justice School returned to talk about their school model. Students have crews and learning is based on a social justice model for each class. Social Justice School representatives hold a community engagement event each month. This month’s event is a design competition at Lamond-Riggs Library on November 23 at 2:00 pm. The school anticipates having a hearing before the DCPCSB in February 2020 about the school’s facilities. A condition of the school’s conditional charter approval is that the school must show that it has a lease or title for a sufficient school facility by February 2020.

Miscellaneous

During the community concerns portion of the meeting, I stated that I believe the ANC should have some sort of code of conduct because Commissioner Wilds continued to behave in a very unprofessional, inappropriate manner. Aside from constantly haranguing Commissioner Fletcher as well as guests to the ANC, he has more than once yelled at me on public streets, making false statements. Even though he would often miss ANC meetings, he would be sure to come to LRCA meetings on a monthly basis when I was president simply to disrupt them by constantly yelling about long-settled issues. During one such meeting, he told the treasurer of LRCA at that time “to go back to Africa.” He told a white resident that she should move out of the neighborhood and that she would never be welcome here. He still refuses to apologize for his very inappropriate behavior. I noted this is the same man who constantly defends Jack Evans amidst Evans’s very clear ethics violations. Commissioner Wilds did not have any comments during the meeting after I made my statement. But right after the meeting, he stormed up to me, got right in my face, wagging his finger in my face, saying that I am “disgusting.” Neighbors, this is a near 80-year-old man who knows better and should be doing better and none of the commissioners remaining in the room stepped in to tell him to chill. The ANC really needs to do a better job of speaking up when commissioners are behaving inappropriately.

November 25: ANC 4B Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B 

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, November 25, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Agenda

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

2.        Old Business (if applicable)

3.        Consideration and Approval of Agenda

4.        Approval of October Regular Public Meeting Minutes

5.        Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report

6.        Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Reimbursement of Expenses to ANC 4A

7.        Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)

B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)
8.        Community Concerns: 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.

9.        Presentation: Tischa Cockrell, 1st Vice President, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association & Terry Goings, Ward 4 Education Alliance, Rocketship PCS Riggs Campus (Commissioner Parks – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

10.     Presentation: Sassan Gharai, SGA Companies, Proposed Development at 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

11.     Presentation: Kevin A. Brown, Montage Development Group, Proposed Development at 225 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

12.     Consent Calendar:

Resolution 4B-19-1101: Supporting Necessary Funding for Lighting and Pathway at Takoma Community Center (Commissioner Knickerbocker)

13.     Resolution 4B-19-1102: Supporting Application for Alcoholic Beverage License for Walmart, 310 Riggs Road, NE (ABRA-109874) (Commissioner Huff – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

14.     Resolution 4B-19-1103: Protesting Application for Alcoholic Beverage License for Boulevard Lounge, 6233 Georgia Ave, NW (ABRA-115385) (Commissioner Knickerbocker – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

15.     Resolution 4B-19-1104: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for S&S Wine & Spirits, 6925 4th Street, NW (ABRA-114978) (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

16.     Resolution 4B-19-1105: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for Takoma Station Tavern, 6914 4th Street, NW (ABRA-079370) (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

17.     Resolution 4B-19-1106: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for The V.I.P. Room, 6201 3rd Street, NW (ABRA-105823) (Commissioner Parks- 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

18.     Resolution 4B-19-1107: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for Jackie Lee’s, 116 Kennedy Street, NW (ABRA-105767) (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

19.     Resolution 4B-19-1008: Resolution on Trinity Episcopal Church (BZA 20111) (Commissioner Yeats – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

20.     Adjournment

Please Note: Anyone in the audience may speak on any subject during “Community Concerns.” You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. Discussion on other agenda items will generally be limited to Commissioners. Finally, the meeting may not last beyond 9:00 p.m. unless extended by a two/thirds vote of the Commission.

Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, January 27, 2019, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4B

ANC 4B02 Commissioner

Next Stop Neighbors: Jamal Gray with Meow Wolf

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

By David Kosub (Contributor)

Weird. Yes. Sci-Fi novel come to life. Check. DIY. Thumps up. Space and time traveling. Naturally. Coming to Riggs Park. Woot woot. That’s right, the immersive art collective Meow Wolf is revving up and getting ready to meet us. In this edition of Next Stop Neighbors, we’ll get to know the man who is tasked with the job.

Jamal Gray is Meow Wolf’s liaison with the artists in DC and the community here. Our conversation weaves in and out from his Aquatic Gardening Roots in the District, the history of Meow Wolf, his philosophy to be “neighborhoodly,” social impacts, his artistic flare, and a full body slam for good measure. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

Click here to listen to the conversation (running time: 19 minutes – we just kept going and going)

Jamal Gray with David Kosub

Background on Next Stop Neighbors:

Welcome to Next Stop Neighbors where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50 years, we all have a story to tell. We welcome recommendations and, better yet, your own 10-minute interviews too!

Can’t get enough Next Stop Neighbors? Check out these past conversations for more:

Robert “The Library Guy” Oliver (October 2019)
Soon-to-Be Moms and Soon-to-Be Dads (September 2019)
Explore! Children’s Museum (August 2019)
Troka Insurance (July 2019)
Ms. V and Culture Coffee Too (July 2019)
Bertie Backus Urban Food Hub (June 2019)
LRCA Forward Team (April 2019)
Ramdass Pharmacy (March 2019

REMINDER-November 19: Lamond-Riggs Library Design Community Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Lamond-Riggs Library Community Meeting: Design of the New Library
November 19, 2019
7:00 PM
Lamond-Riggs Library
5401 South Dakota Avenue NE

Join your friends and neighbors for the next meeting about the new Lamond-Riggs Library. The design team will share the latest designs and gather your feedback. Learn more about the project at dclibrary.org/newlamondriggs.

Chick-fil-A: Renderings, Drive-Thru, & Delivery Kitchen Pilots

Posted by nextstoprp in Chick-fil-A, Neighborhood Development

I finally got my hands on renderings for the Chick-fil-A planned to replace the KFC/Taco Bell at 220 Riggs Road NE, courtesy of ANC Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08). Also, a neighbor sent me a Reuters article entitled, “U.S. restaurants remove dining rooms to speed off-site food frenzy.” It describes the use of so-called “dark kitchens” and the real estate and labor cost savings that result from providing service only via drive-thru or pickup windows for mobile orders:

The newest Chopt Creative Salad Co location, which opened Tuesday in New York, is unlike any of the chain’s other 61 sites. It has no cash registers or tables for customers.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A Inc has similar sites in Nashville and Louisville, where customers order and prepay online with the option for delivery or pickup.

Chick-fil-A is also trying something different, opening three pilot “delivery kitchens” this year – in Chicago, Los Angeles and near San Francisco. The latter is run by delivery platform DoorDash Inc.

At those sites, the chicken chain shares kitchens with other restaurants to prepare food for delivery only.

Off-premise digital orders are a major growth area for fast-food and fast-casual chains. More are turning to these so-called dark, virtual or ghost kitchens, which can also save labor and real estate costs.

“U.S. restaurants remove dining rooms to speed off-site food frenzy” by Hilary Russ, available at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fastfood-kitchens-idUSKBN1XP1A1

Unclear if that is what is going on for the location planned for this neighborhood, which will be drive-thru only with a walk-up window. But as I mentioned before, 2,600 square feet is more than enough space to have interior seating, so surely the decision not to include interior seating is a business cost decision, not one based on “room.” And if that space is not being used for interior seating, then what is it being used for. Plenty of businesses have figured out how to streamline mobile order and pickup while also providing standard in-person ordering and dining. This is a by-right project, but ANC 4B should find out exactly what Chick-fil-A is planning for this location.

Edit: Media also report on Chick-fil-A’s recent change in charitable donation priorities.

Exterior View
Exterior View
Exterior Elevations (North & South)
Exterior Elevation (East & West)

More thoughts on Chick-fil-A

Posted by nextstoprp in Chick-fil-A, Neighborhood Development

Blog contributor David Kosub did a nice job of explaining why swapping fast-food for fast-food at a major intersection in the neighborhood represents not much of an opportunity in this post. Here are my thoughts on Chick-fil-A that I originally started composing as a way too long comment to his post.

1. Make community engagement useful. Chick-fil-A representatives are scheduled to attend ANC 4B’s meeting on November 25. I hope they bring at least a basic one-pager/fact sheet with an overview of the project, the process, timeline for when certain steps of the process will take place, construction plans, and answers to questions already asked by residents that can be posted on 4B’s website so that everyone is on the same page. This is basic community engagement and even though this is a by-right project, Chick-fil-A should want to be a good neighbor and there should still be a basic level of engagement.

2. Make the public space permit process useful. We have been told that the only public comment process required for this project is DDOT’s public space permit process. ANC 4B will have an opportunity to comment on Chick-fil-A’s application once that is submitted. I really hope DDOT and the development team have some fantastic ideas about how to manage accessing this corner location. As David mentioned in his post, I do think there is also an opportunity to make this space as attractive as possible for that corner, especially if Chick-fil-A is going to be leasing this space for many years. The existing KFC building is not an eyesore to me, but if the Chick-fil-A team is going to knock down two buildings (one of which is an eyesore) and put up an entirely new one, might as well make this corner as visually appealing as possible. For example, they could do a lot with native landscaping to deal with stormwater runoff. How they design the outdoor seating and the exterior of the building, having adequate trash receptacles, placement and containment of their dumpster, all those are things that I hope they are prepared to address. And I do hope The Parks Main Street will present some ideas to Chick-fil-A for this part of the process.

3. Provide traffic mitigation measures. At the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) meeting on November 4, the Chick-Fil-A representatives noted that there will be a dual lane for ordering, which they say will allow the location to accommodate more cars on the lot and minimize the number of cars in the street. But I am guessing there will still be lots of cars idling in the street. We know that Chick-fil-A is just very popular and people are completely willing to wait in long drive-thru lines for their food (no judgment, just fact). A traffic study still needs to be done, but I would like to know what other mitigation measures they will take, such as utilizing traffic control officers if that becomes necessary or staff to walk the lines to speed up the order process.

4. Have interior seating. They could not answer the question of how much of the buildable lot (the KFC plus the former Dakota Liquor building next door) they are using for the building itself. As noted, the new building will be approximately 2,600 square feet, which is a fairly decent size for an operation that is not planned to have interior seating. I am not sure how big the current KFC is, but I am really curious about why they say there is no room for interior seating. For comparison the Five Guys at Fort Totten Square, which does have interior seating, is roughly 2,200 square feet. I suspect the decision has more to do with staffing decisions and construction and business financing than “room,” but that is just speculation on my part. I do think having a little bit of interior seating would be better and make this a more walkable location, especially if they really do keep the number of parking spaces minimal at nine or less. I am curious how many public restrooms there will be. To me, what would be even better is if they built a location like the one in downtown Silver Spring. Of course I have to acknowledge that there are large parking garages in downtown Silver Spring for people to park, which we do not have in this neighborhood. And of course they are attracted to this location precisely because it already has a drive-thru so they do not have to jump through hoops to put one in. Still, parking and interior seating do not have to go hand-in-hand and this location should have interior seating.

5. Support the community and support local. The Chick-fil-A representatives are likely aware of the reputation of its owners, who support anti-LGBTQ causes. The representatives made a point of noting that while Chick-fil-A corporate is responsible for leasing, purchasing equipment, and building out each restaurant, each Chick-fil-A has its own operator who is responsible for hiring and who decides what kinds of groups to support. This distinction between the corporate owner and the franchise operator is a point that has been made before in response to protest. This distinction of course might not matter to some, but if Chick-fil-A does get this location off the ground, people should not be shy in recommending how this location can support community groups.

6. This could be a good opportunity for the neighborhood, maybe. Objectively speaking, Chick-fil-A is probably a higher quality fast food restaurant than KFC/Taco Bell (don’t @ me). When you look at the Vibrant Retail Streets Initiative that was done for this neigborhood in 2015, Streetsense and DC’s Office of Planning stated that for a neighborhood like this one with a few long-term businesses and an untested retail market with a slew of new development on the way, the goal should be to continually seek to upgrade retail options to get to the retail that we really desire (see Part I: Market Analysis; Part II: Retail Attraction; Part III: Start at Step One). For example, a Subway may become a Panera Bread (just an example for the Subway lovers out there). So from that perspective, having a Chick-fil-A replace a KFC/Taco Bell would be moving in the direction of “better” for the neighborhood, especially if the Chick-fil-A has interior seating, and might be a good way of proving the market for more desirable retailers.

That said, as an aside, I am a little curious what other retailers, particularly food and beverage retailers, have approached or been approached by this particular property owner (and others in the neighborhood). I know that this is not the first time Chick-fil-A has shown interest in this particular location, so when I hear things like XYZ retailer is not interested in the neighborhood or the other myriad excuses for not having a sit-down restaurant, I do suspect something else is going on, like seeking a lease rate that is kind of ridiculous. I believe The Parks Main Street is working on a strategy for retail attraction so that it is not done haphazardly and residents do not feel like things are just being dropped on the neighborhood with no regard to impact because they are by-right projects (like a 117,000 square Walmart or a planned Chick-fil-A drive-thru with no interior seating at a major intersection).

These are just my thoughts on how we can help the ANC help us try to maximize what little opportunity may exist as we go through this process. I do hope people will provide constructive feedback to ANC 4B as we move forward.