Muralist Jay Hudson painted a new mural, “Divided We Fall, United We Drink” at Hellbender for a scaled-down Riggs Park Art Crawl and Hellbender’s sixth anniversary. Hellbender is located at 5788 2nd Street NE.
The mural replaces one painted last year (pictured below) that ended up getting painted over.
3 Starts Brewing in Lamond is hosting a nonperishable food drive this Saturday, November 21, 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Drop off nonperishable foods and get one dollar off beer. Special request for low-sodium and whole grain products. Local vendors will also be selling unique holiday gifts from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The brewery is located at 6400 Chillum Place NW.
At last night’s ANC 5A meeting, Ward 5 State Board of Education Representative Zachary Parker mentioned that he and the former state board rep Mark Jones are having an informational meeting tonight at 6:00 pm about standing up an organization to support Ward 5 schools called Ward 5 Education Trust.
Those of us who live on the Ward 5 side of Riggs Park are actually zoned for Ward 4 schools, but there are a number of charter schools in Ward 5 that serve Riggs Park families. I do not have any more information than what was briefly shared at the meeting last night, but I think the idea is to develop an organization that will be able to provide financial support PTA-style to Ward 5 schools. Some schools in the District have strong PTAs that have lots of money to fund supplies and all sorts of enrichment activities for those school communities, but they are few and far between in Ward 5.
If you are interested in learning more and being involved in this effort, you can register for the informational meeting at this link.
The quarterly National Park service meeting with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office originally scheduled for December 2, 2020, is postponed until first quarter 2021. In the interim, inquiries about NPS issues may be sent to Norton.Casework@mail.house.gov.
ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:
For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09.
Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196.
Password: 964318
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318.
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ba2OO0NJ7cU.
Agenda
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Consideration and Approval of November Agenda
B. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting
C. Approval of October Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report – 2020
E. Treasurer’s Report & Update re Grants
F. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
3. Reports:
A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (10 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)
4. Consent Calendar:
Resolution 4B-20-1101: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 200 – 500 Block of Quackenbos Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)
Resolution 4B-20-1102: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the Unit Block of Kennedy Street, NE, between North Capitol Street, NE, and 1st Street, NE(Commissioner Brooks)
Resolution 4B-20-1103: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on 7th Street, NW, between Fern Place, NW, and Dahlia Street, NW(Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-20-1104: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 600 Block of Madison Street, NW (Commissioner Redd)
5. Presentation: The Parks at Walter Reed Development Team & Resolution 4B‑20-1105: Supporting Proposed Concept Design for The Parks at Walter Reed Building QRS (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
6. Presentation: Rank the Vote DC and Resolution 4B-20-1106: Calling for Ranked Choice Voting in the District of Columbia (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
7. Resolution 4B-20-1107: Supporting the Preliminary Design Concept and Providing Initial Community Input for 6928 Maple Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
8. Presentation: Cozen O’Conner and Resolution 4B-20-1108: Supporting Requested Variance for 11 Nicholson Street, NW (BZA 20390) (Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
9. Resolution 4B-20-1109: Supporting DDOT’s Notice of Intent to Modify the Intersection of North Capitol & Longfellow Streets, NE (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
10. 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.
11. Adjournment
Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, January 25, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
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)
ANC 5A Public Meeting
November 18, 2020
6:45 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86719715920?pwd=ZklRYmd3aEVxcU93QXVSRzF3Uy84dz09
Meeting ID: 867 1971 5920
Passcode: 690348
Dial In: 301 715 8592
All residents will be muted. Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
Agenda Items
Update 11/18/2020: This meeting will be postponed until first quarter 2021
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will be holding her quarterly meeting with the National Park Service (NPS) on December 2, 2020. This is a good opportunity to ask about issues pertaining to NPS parkland and property in the neighborhood. Email nortonevents@mail.house.gov for the Zoom link. See the press release below.
Norton to Hold Quarterly Community Meeting with the National Park Service and D.C. Residents
Nov 2, 2020 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will hold a virtual community meeting open to all District of Columbia residents with representatives from the National Park Service (NPS) on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Her quarterly community meetings have been popular with her constituents. Virtually all D.C. neighborhood parks are within NPS’s jurisdiction.
“Our parks, allowing us to get fresh air, have been our lifelines during this pandemic. My quarterly meetings have become the most effective way for me to hear from constituents and work to resolve concerns on issues related to parks and federal land that fall under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service,” Norton said. “I look forward to hearing from my constituents.”
To attend, email NortonEvents@mail.house.gov for the Zoom link. The event will be open to the public and to the media.
By David Kosub (Contributor)
Congratulations goes out to Ms. V and Culture Coffee Too! Our local Riggs Park coffee shop located at 300 Riggs Road NE received a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture to winterize their outdoor dining setup. As reported on DCist yesterday, “each restaurant could get up to $6,000 for tents, heaters, propane, lighting, furniture and advertising” through the District’s Streatery Winter Ready Grant program.
Culture Coffee Too will use their funds to purchase a tent and heaters. Ms. V wanted me to share the following with the community, “Y’all come down and enjoy the tent when it goes up…around November 20.” I personally cannot wait to have one of their black bean burgers with a peanut butter and banana smoothie under that tent! But, don’t wait until the 20th, go in as soon as you can to share the good vibes. Tomorrow, November 7, beginning at 11:00 am, there will be live painting and music outdoors for a modified Riggs Park art crawl.
Support your local small businesses! The winter will be a difficult time and they will need our help. A complete list of the District’s restaurants receiving a grant can be found here.
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on October 28, 2020. Commissioners present: Grace Lewis – Parliamentarian (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio – Secretary (5A03); Ronnie Edwards – Chair (5A05); Claudia Barragan (5A06); Sandi Washington – Treasurer (5A07); Gordon Fletcher – Vice Chair (5A08)
The ANC used this meeting primarily to discuss ANC business.
ANC Budget
The ANC is supposed to prepare a budget for the new fiscal year. They have to get public input, so there could be a special meeting in the next couple of weeks for that. Think about if you have specific ideas for how the ANC should use its funds.
ANC Annual Report
The ANC is supposed to prepare an annual report. The ANC did not submit a 2018-2019 report, so this year’s annual report will cover activities from 2018 to 2020.
Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan)
Chair Ronnie Edwards (5A05) thanked the residents who worked on the ANC’s resolution to the DC Office of Planning (OP) regarding the proposed Comp Plan amendments (see part one and part two of ANC 5A’s submission). OP responded to the ANC’s submission back in April of this year. OP accepted two of the ANC’s comments for inclusion in OP’s draft plan, acknowledged around thirty-five comments as consistent with and already incorporated elsewhere in the draft plan, and rejected around nine comments as either inconsistent with or out of the scope of the plan. OP’s response letter stated the agency would be interested in talking with the ANC about its submission (language included in responses to all of the ANCs), so Chair Edwards mentioned having OP at a meeting to do so. (Given that OP’s response was sent in April and the Council is having a hearing on the proposed amendments on November 12 and 13, I am not sure when a conversation will realistically happen). The ANC plans to testify at the Comp Plan hearing.
ANC 5A Website
Commissioners Gordon Fletcher (5A08) and Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) are leading the project to revamp the ANC’s website. The ANC will secure at least three bids for the design. Commissioner Claudia Barragan (5A06) implored the ANC to contract with someone who lives in the District (preferably in Ward 5). After all, she noted, the ANC often asks developers to hire Ward 5 residents and do business with local companies so it only makes sense for the ANC to hold itself to the same standard. If you or anyone you know may be interested in designing a website for the ANC that can be easily maintained, reach out to Commissioners Fletcher and Lucio for a scope of work.
ANC Office Space
The saga that is the ANC office space at Art Place at Fort Totten continues. The developer is requesting a self-insured document from the ANC so that the ANC may occupy the space free of charge. Getting that document is turning out to be a little difficult. During the meeting, Commissioner Fletcher, who represents the SMD where Art Place sits, displayed a document that other ANCs have received from District government for a similar purpose to explain what he needs. Director of the Office of ANC Gottlieb Simon was in the meeting and seemed to suggest that getting a similar document to ANC 5A would require jumping through a little more hoops for some reason. But they are working on it.
Art Place at Fort Totten
An item not on the agenda was a public space application for curb cuts for the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten. The permit expediter handling the application for the developer appeared at the meeting to explain that the request is for two curb cuts on Ingraham Street NE and one curb cut on Kennedy Street NE. The full commission was not aware of the application so they will review it for the next meeting.
Miscellaneous
The ANC will work on recording its public meetings.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on November 18 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
On October 30, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser broke ground on Riggs Park Place, a new EYA townhome community at the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE that will have 90 townhomes (five below market rate), 80 rental units for seniors, and retail. The project will be built in two phases beginning with the townhomes. Over 50 percent of the homes have been sold.
This project has been in the works in some form or fashion since at least 2006. During the groundbreaking, Gwen Cofield and I were recognized for our efforts in representing the community (view a video snippet here). Pictures and the full press release below.
Mayor Bowser Breaks Ground on Riggs Park Place, Bringing 170 New Homes to Ward 4
Friday, October 30, 2020
New Development to Deliver Homeownership Opportunities, Apartments for Seniors, and Retail Options
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, along with Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), broke ground on Riggs Park Place in Ward 4, a long-awaited housing community of townhomes, apartments, and retail located at the intersection of Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue, NE.
“Today is a special day in Ward 4 – we are excited to start construction on Riggs Park Place, a community where DC residents from all walks of life can call home,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’re going to keep investing in projects that bring housing, particularly affordable housing, to neighborhoods across all eight wards.”
The first phase of Riggs Park Place will feature 90 new townhomes for sale, five of which will be designated as affordable homeownership opportunities. Phase two will be an 80-unit mixed-use senior apartment community with at least 30 affordable units. The 90 townhomes will be modern, two-, three-, and four-bedroom floor plans close to Fort Totten Metro Station, a café and shopping across Riggs Road, the newly renovated Lamond-Riggs Library, as well as cultural and art experiences at Art Place, an adjacent mixed-use development offering apartments, retail, a new fitness center, a children’s museum, and more.
“I couldn’t be prouder to break ground at this historic development after working for years with the community, developers and other stakeholders,” said Councilmember Todd. “This new community in the Riggs Park/Fort Totten neighborhood is a huge win for our seniors who wish to age in place, our families and individuals alike who are looking for an affordable place to live. It is these economic opportunities and creation of affordable housing that will uplift our communities and help us make an equitable recovery.”
“This project is an example of how the Bowser Administration continues to push ahead on complex, and long-stalled projects because we know that having safe and affordable housing options and neighborhood amenities for our communities is what our residents want,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “We also want to thank this community for their active engagement in this project for many years and for sticking with us to get to today.”
Other financial partners for Riggs Park Place include EYA, JBG Smith and Paramount Development, with its lender, Eagle Bank.
“Riggs Park Place, and our partnership with the city, exemplify EYA’s ability to effectively work with residents, local jurisdictions, and our financial partners to both create value and bring meaningful projects to life,” said Aakash Thakkar, EVP at EYA. “Despite uncertain times, this partnership has shown that there is tremendous demand for high-quality, attainably priced new housing in the region. The public-private nature of the project, its revitalization impact on the neighborhood, and its delivery of missing middle townhomes that address a broad demographic are all core tenets of EYA’s mission. We appreciate the partnership with JBG Smith, Paramount Development, Eagle Bank, the District, and the community that enabled us to move the project forward.”
Mayor Bowser reaffirmed her commitment to investments in affordable housing with her Fiscal Year 2021 budget, recognizing that both short- and long-term efforts must be ongoing to preserve housing affordability and stability for all District residents. The Mayor’s FY21 budget includes an investment of $100 million in the Housing Production Trust Fund – for the sixth consecutive year – and a $1 million investment in the Housing Preservation Fund.
At the start of her second term, Mayor Bowser set a bold goal to deliver an additional 36,000 units of housing – including at least 12,000 units of affordable housing – by 2025. From January 2019 through July 2020, the District has produced 10,658 units, of which 1,692 are affordable. You can track the District’s progress toward #36000by2025 at open.dc.gov/36000by2025.
By David Kosub (Contributor)
…Then in 1885…the room (in what is now the Hay Adams Hotel) is warm, yet still somehow oddly…cold. Quiet, except for the sound of wood burning in the fireplace. Smell of almonds perfuming the still air. Photograph developing chemicals are spilled on the ground. The body of a woman lies lifeless on a rug nearby. The husband who finds her is devastated.
…Now in 2020…her restless spirit continues haunting the grounds where her body lies for eternity…grounds, which may be uneasy to hear, lie very close to you. Read on, if you dare.
Marion “Clover” Hooper Adams was an interesting character in her day. Sure, she was married to Henry Adams—of Boston Presidential family notoriety–but but she was oh so much more. An accomplished photographer for her day, she captured images that became a commentary on the role of women in society and domestic life.
She also experienced severe mental illness and depression. And, on one fateful day, she brought her 42 year life to an end by swallowing some of the very same developing chemicals that brought her photos to life. Chemicals, no less, that commonly contained potassium cyanide.
No suicide note found. So, why did she do it? Some say it was the loss of her father months back. Some think it was the claustrophobia caused by the domestic role of women in her day. Some believe it was because Henry stymie her artistic ambitions. Maybe it was the affair she learned about? Regardless, her suicide haunted Henry’s psyche for the rest of his life (even though she was not mentioned once in his award winning autobiography).
Henry commissioned a statue for Clover years later. Inspired by the Buddhist principle of nirvana, it depicted his anguish over her death in bronze for hereafter. The anonymous and androgynous figure, now overlooking her grave site encircled by conifers and granite, hides behind a shroud. And, if you look at its face, you too will understand the grief he must have felt. When Henry passed a few decades later, he too was buried right there under the gaze of the contemplative figure. You can walk through it here.
Those who visit the site say they can strongly feel Clover’s presence. Others, after time spent near the statue, are overtaken by sadness, grief, and despair. Both Clover and Henry have been seen wandering the grounds. Now, it’s time for you to experience the site and feel their grief firsthand. Their spirits are both right here, a short 30 minute walk from Riggs Park, in Section E of Rock Creek Cemetery, right off Allison St NW and North Capitol.
If you miss Clover during your visit, that may be because she is getting payback in nearby Pikesville, Maryland. A couple decades after the statue began overseeing her eternal resting place, General Felix Agnus made an illegal replica of it for his own family plot. Since then, visitors have experienced strange activity at the so-called Black Aggie statue (watch this video). Legend has it that “her” eyes glow red at night, which could make you go blind if looked upon. Grass refused to grow nearby. Pregnant women would miscarry if walking through her shadow. And, naturally, you would die from extreme fright if you sat on her lap or stayed overnight with her. After frisky teens and drunk college kids kept breaking into the Druid Ridge cemetery to get their late night kicks, the family shipped the statue off to the Smithsonian for safekeeping in the late 1960s. Eventually, Black Aggie would reside outside the Dolly Madison House in Lafayette Square, mere steps from the hotel where Clover took her own life.
If you are the type of person who likes staying overnight near an androgynous shrouded statute with glowing eyes in a cemetery, well, then you should write next year’s Riggs Park spooky post. I suspect you have some interesting stories to tell…Happy Halloween!
The rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue NE from New Hampshire Avenue NE to Whittier Street NW is near the 95% design stage. At ANC 4B’s meeting on October 26, 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) shared that final design is expected early 2021. There is not funding for construction yet. DDOT stated that the earliest they are looking at getting funding for construction is fiscal year 2023. You can view the livestream of the meeting here (DDOT presentation begins at the 8:22 minute mark).
This project has been in the works for many years. DDOT explained that the delay in completing the design is due to expansion of the scope of work.
DDOT Ward 4 Liaison Sayra Molina stated that DDOT will have another meeting for residents after the design is complete. DDOT will discuss with residents interim, short-term traffic calming measures that may be possible, such as signage and markings. Because Eastern is classified as an arterial road, DDOT will not install speed humps.
The project website is https://ddot.dc.gov/page/rehabilitation-eastern-avenue-ne.
A neighbor passed along a photo of the Walmart on Riggs Road NE with barriers in front the building and boarded up windows. The store remains open. Some businesses have started boarding up in anticipation of potential protests leading up to and following Election Day. I happened to drive downtown yesterday to pick up some items from my office and noticed businesses downtown boarding up. The Parks Main Street communicated that District officials are not presently recommending that businesses board up but are recommending that businesses make sure their insurance is up-to-date and that employees know what to do in case of emergencies.
In addition, there have been two straight nights of protests a couple of miles from the neighborhood on Kennedy Street NW and near DC police Fourth District headquarters on Georgia Avenue NW following the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton. The police department’s initial statement of Mr. Hylton’s death stated Fourth District officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the young man on Friday, October 23, after observing him riding a moped on the sidewalk in the 500 block of Kennedy Street NW without a helmet. The statement went on to say he fled on the moped, drove through an alley, and collided with a passenger vehicle upon exiting the alley. Witnesses dispute this police account, contending that police pursued Mr. Hylton in contravention of a no-pursuit policy for traffic infractions. Camera footage of the interaction could possibly be released today.
Get out the vote at Hellbender Brewing Company
On Sunday, November 1, 2020, the Tischa Cockrell for ANC 4B-09 Campaign will gather (socially distanced, outside) at Hellbender Brewing Company from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. The brewery will open an hour early at 12:00 pm for Tischa’s campaign, and a food truck will also be available.
This is a great chance to meet the candidate and learn more about the race to represent 4B-09 as ANC Commissioner.
Hellbender Brewing Company
5788 2nd Street NE, Washington D.C. 20011
Just up 2nd Street behind Walmart
We noted in this post that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is soliciting public input to update the moveDC long-range transportation plan that was adopted in 2014. Thanks to neighbor Gavin Baker for pulling together some proposed update highlights for Lamond-Riggs outlined below.
DDOT is asking for survey responses by November 10 about goals and priorities for updating moveDC. DDOT is also asking for feedback by November 10 on three maps of proposed mobility priority networks for transit, bikes, and freight.
With respect to the bike map, there are some differences from the 2014 plan, if you are inclined to leave comments on and propose changes to the map.
As for why DDOT is updating a plan that was adopted in 2014 and that still has a lot left to be implemented, DDOT stated in a virtual townhall that it is general practice to update long-range plans every five to eight years.
One key point to note is that on September 22, 2020, the DC Council unanimously passed a Vison Zero omnibus bill. The legislation is under review by the mayor’s office. Assuming the legislation goes into effect, it would require DDOT to build transit and bike facilities listed in the long-range plan when they are doing other major work on that road segment, so it would give some teeth to these maps.
The project website is wemovedc.org.
ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, October 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:
For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318.
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/IJNG8qn514A.
Agenda
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Consideration and Approval of October Agenda
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
C. Approval of September Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report & Quarterly Financial Report for Q4 2020
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
3. Presentation: Tesfalem Aim and Yvonne Thelwell, District Department of Transportation, Rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue (Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
4. Presentation: Greg Matlesky, Bicycle Program Specialist, District Department of Transportation, Proposed Capital Bikeshare Station at Kansas Avenue and Longfellow Streets, NW (Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
5. Presentation: Julie Patton Lawson, Director, Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, Pilot Project re Residential Trash Disposal (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
6. Presentation: Petra Development, Proposed Development at 6928 Maple Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
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. Consent Calendar:
Resolution 4B-20-1001: Supporting Proposed Capital Bikeshare Station at Kansas Avenue and Longfellow Streets, NW (Commissioner Johnson)
Resolution 4B-20-1002: Encouraging Best Practices to Assure Broad Inclusivity and Robust Participation in DC Government Hearings (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Johnson)
Letter to District Department of Transportation Regarding Improvements to Traffic Safety Assessment Process (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Yeats)
Letter to District Department of Transportation Requesting Traffic Safety Improvements on Butternut Street, NW (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-20-1003: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on 6th Street, NE, from Eastern Avenue, NE to Oneida Street, NE(Commissioner Brooks)
Resolution 4B-20-1004: Requesting Traffic Calming for the 5700 – 5900 Blocks of Eastern Avenue, NE(Commissioner Huff)
Resolution 4B-20-1005: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on Dahlia Street, NW between Georgia Avenue, NW, and Piney Branch Road, NW (Commissioner Yeats)
9. Resolution 4B-20-1006:Establishing a Vision Zero Committee (Commissioner Yeats and Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
10. Resolution 4B-20-1007: Supporting and Providing Recommendations on B23-149, Fair Tenant Screening Act of 2019; B23-498, Intersectional Discrimination Protection Amendment Act of 2019; B23-195, Michael A. Stoops Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2019 (Commissioner Palmer – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
11. 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.
12. Adjournment
Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
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)
On October 14, 2020, DC’s Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of General Services shared the final design for the new Riggs-LaSalle Playground that will be located on the Nicholson Street NE side of the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. View the presentation here.
The playground will be ADA accessible with play structures for the 2 to 5 year old age group and for the 5 to 12 year old age group. New shade trees, low maintenance landscaping, and a four foot decorative fence will be installed.
We discussed the preliminary design in this blog post. A few updates from the preliminary design:
DPR will not create a direct walkway between the existing splash pad and the new playground as requested because they do not want children with wet slippery feet running onto the playground and potentially hurting themselves. As for security, DPR noted the agency will work with DGS to ensure that the playground is adequately maintained and safe.
The project will break ground in the next couple of weeks, with completion anticipated late 2020/early 2021. For questions, contact the project manager Peter Nohrden at peter.nohrden@dc.gov. The project website is https://dgs.dc.gov/riggs-lasalle.
Images from presentation
