Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting April 3, 2023 7:00 pm
**Please note that in order to vote or run as a candidate in LRCA’s May 2023 election, you must pay dues by April 3, 2023. Visit https://lrcadc.org/membership-join.**
LRCA April 2023 Meeting Agenda
1. Welcome/Invocation 2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report 3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA 4. Remarks from the DC Office of the Attorney General 5. LRCA Nominating Committee—May election process and procedures; Board position nominations accepted from the floor during the meeting as well as during the May General Body meeting 6. Community Concerns/Closing
To view the meeting online click the following link:
Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting March 6, 2023 7:00 pm
March 2023 Meeting Agenda
1. Welcome/Invocation 2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report 3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA 4. LRCA Budget Review 5. LRCA Bylaws updates and review with The DC Bar Pro Bono Center 6. Green Space Development Project, LRCA Development Taskforce 7. Upcoming Changes to the District’s Medicaid Program & Restart of Medicaid Renewals – Danielle Lewis-Wright, LRCA Trustee/Chair, Health & Wellness Committee 8. Community Concerns/Closing
To view the meeting online, click the following link.
Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting February 6, 2023 7:00 pm
February 2023 Meeting Agenda
1. Welcome/Invocation 2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report 3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA 4. LRCA Budget Review 5. John Stokes, DC Department of General Services (DGS) 6. LRCA Development Taskforce presentation regarding greenspace project on land adjacent to Food & Friends 7. Community Concerns/Closing
To view the meeting online, click the following link.
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is gathering input from residents on how best to preserve and maintain the District-owned green space on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE near Food & Friends for community use.
Features of Green Space
A few things to keep in mind as you complete the survey. The space is roughly 1.5 acres and triangular shaped with grade changes near a busy intersection. Given the shape of the land, it is not an ideal location for a standalone building/development project. The space has some really wonderful mature shade trees as well as a field of grass. If you can, take some time to just walk around the space and feel what it would be like to spend time on that corner of the neighborhood on a weekday morning/afternoon/evening or on the weekend.
Some ideas kicking around for the space include a neighborhood history park, art park, native plant demonstration garden, orchard, walking path, information kiosk, skating/ice skate rink, water feature, and more.
Note that a dog run will be included in the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten, which is currently under construction on South Dakota Avenue between Ingraham Street and Kennedy Street NE with an anticipated 2025 completion date, so a dog park is not a use included in the survey for this green space. Specific uses and timeline for the final phases of Art Place at Fort Totten which will sit along South Dakota Avenue just north of Kennedy Street are unclear at this time. In addition, leadership of Food & Friends, located just west of the green space, indicated they are looking to potentially double the existing building footprint in the nearish future. So the surrounding neighborhood contexts could look a little different several years from now.
Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue NE Area Development Plan
The survey continues efforts by the LRCA to advance an element of the neighborhood’s area development plan that contemplates having “park and open spaces” on this District-owned space.
2009
Neighborhood area development plan approved by the DC Council in March 2009.
2011
District Department of Transportation (DDOT) completed reconfiguration of the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road intersection, eliminating the former right turn slip lanes, creating contiguous green space on the southwest corner.
2017
In September 2017, ANC 5A passed a resolution, initiated by residents, requesting that the green space be transferred to the DC Department of Parks & Recreation for community park space. DDOT and DPR have indicated that they do not think it is a good idea to have a playground on this green space given the volume of car traffic near this intersection.
2019
In May 2019, LRCA executed a community benefits agreement with EYA, developer of Riggs Park Place, to work with residents on visioning sessions and provide in-kind design concept services for the space.
2021
Neighborhood area development plan fully incorporated into the DC Comprehensive Plan (2021 Comp Plan).
Present
The space today remains in the portfolio of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Residents have been working informally with the DC Office of Planning on ways to get this element of the neighborhood plan implemented.
View looking north from Kennedy Street NE towards Riggs Road NE. The space between the two rows of trees in the image below roughly aligns with the old slip lane that was eliminated when the intersection was reconfigured in 2011.
View from middle of green space looking northeast
View looking southeast from Food & Friends driveway at 219 Riggs Road NE
View looking south towards grove of trees from Riggs Road NE
View looking east from southwest corner towards townhomes under construction on southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE
Photo gallery of Food & Friends outdoor space on their enclosed campus
Aerial view of District-owned green space on corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. Courtesy DC Office of Planning
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) held a Look & SEE regarding the District-owned green space on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE near Food & Friends (shout out to resident/co-chair of LRCA development task force Deborah Grimstead for the concept). If you were not able to attend, you can still give your input on how you would like to see this green space preserved and maintained for community use.
Many thanks to Carrie Stoltzfus, executive director of Food & Friends, and Casey Dyson, director of government relations for Food & Friends, for hosting and opening their space for the Look & SEE. Thanks also to Edwin Washington, executive director of The Parks Main Street, for joining.
Pictured:Carrie Stoltzfus, executive director of Food & Friends; Edwin Washington, executive director of The Parks Main Street; Barbara Rogers, president, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association at Look & SEE, September 24, 2022.
Features of Green Space
A few things to keep in mind as you complete the survey. The space is roughly 1.5 acres and triangular shaped with grade changes near a busy intersection. Given the shape of the land, it is not an ideal location for a standalone building/development project. The space has some really wonderful mature shade trees as well as a field of grass. If you can, take some time to just walk around the space and feel what it would be like to spend time on that corner of the neighborhood on a weekday morning/afternoon/evening or on the weekend.
Some ideas kicking around for the space include a neighborhood history park, art park, native plant demonstration garden, orchard, walking path, information kiosk, skating/ice skate rink, water feature, and more.
Note that a dog run will be included in the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten, which is currently under construction on South Dakota Avenue between Ingraham Street and Kennedy Street NE with an anticipated 2025 completion date, so a dog park is not a use included in the survey for this green space. Specific uses and timeline for the final phases of Art Place at Fort Totten which will sit along South Dakota Avenue just north of Kennedy Street are unclear at this time. In addition, leadership of Food & Friends, located just west of the green space, indicated they are looking to potentially double the existing building footprint in the nearish future. So the surrounding neighborhood contexts could look a little different several years from now.
Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue NE Area Development Plan
The Look & SEE event and the survey are efforts by the LRCA to advance an element of the neighborhood’s area development plan that contemplates having “park and open spaces” on this District-owned space.
2009
Neighborhood area development plan approved by the DC Council in March 2009.
2011
District Department of Transportation (DDOT) completed reconfiguration of the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road intersection, eliminating the former right turn slip lanes, creating contiguous green space on the southwest corner.
2017
In September 2017, ANC 5A passed a resolution, initiated by residents, requesting that the green space be transferred to the DC Department of Parks & Recreation for community park space. DDOT and DPR have indicated that they do not think it is a good idea to have a playground on this green space given the volume of car traffic near this intersection.
2019
In May 2019, LRCA executed a community benefits agreement with EYA, developer of Riggs Park Place, to work with residents on visioning sessions and provide in-kind design concept services for the space.
2021
Neighborhood area development plan fully incorporated into the DC Comprehensive Plan (2021 Comp Plan).
Present
The space today remains in the portfolio of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Residents have been working informally with the DC Office of Planning on ways to get this element of the neighborhood plan implemented.
View looking north from Kennedy Street NE towards Riggs Road NE. The space between the two rows of trees in the image below roughly aligns with the old slip lane that was eliminated when the intersection was reconfigured in 2011.
View from middle of green space looking northeast
View looking southeast from Food & Friends driveway at 219 Riggs Road NE
View looking south towards grove of trees from Riggs Road NE
View looking east from southwest corner towards townhomes under construction on southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE
Photo gallery of Food & Friends outdoor space on their enclosed campus
Our neighborhood has an area development plan that was initiated by the LRCA, completed by the DC Office of Planning in 2008, approved by the DC Council in 2009, and fully incorporated into the DC Comprehensive Plan in 2021.
One element of the plan envisions “parks and open space” for the District-owned green space (“District Green”) on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE near Food & Friends.
This Saturday September 24, 2022, the LRCA invites neighbors to the District Green to Look & SEE.
“SEE” stands for “Site Experience Event.”
At your own pace and in no particular order, walk the land, see information displays, talk with your neighbors, have light refreshments, and envision what you would like to see in this community open space.
Come as you are & come-and-go as you please any time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Note: To enter the Food & Friends facility, you must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Masks are optional.
WUSA 9 television provided really nice coverage of the Lamond-Riggs Boys & Girls Club Reunion & Community Welcoming event that took place on May 14, 2022 at the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. It was a wonderful event where people who grew up in the neighborhood came together to celebrate their pride in a neighborhood that invested so much in them. The Lamond-Riggs Boys and Girls Club got its start in a little red church building and eventually found a home in the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. Seeing so many come back to the neighborhood to attend this event and express so much joy at seeing old neighbors with whom they grew up, it became even clearer why so many chose this neighborhood in the 1960s to call home and why so many who grew up here feel such great pride in the neighborhood.
The event was emceed by Howard Burnett, who grew up in Riggs Park and went on to become a senior administrator with Prince George’s County Public Schools. The program recognized all those who made a difference in the lives of the young people in the neighborhood–founders of the boys and girls club, coaches, and community partners. Guest speaker Richard Dyer, who is the president and general manager of WUSA 9 television, also grew up in Riggs Park. His family lived in the neighborhood from 1967 to 1992.
Pictures of the program below
Origin of event
The event grew out of facebook group conversations among individuals who grew up in the neighborhood, talking about the changes that they were seeing in the neighborhood. Those conversations made their way to Frank Jones, who also grew up in Riggs Park and has a special talent for putting on events. Mr. Jones retired from many years of service at the Walter Reed Medical Center, including in special events. He decided to volunteer his organization, the DC High School Alumni Association, to sponsor the event and pulled together a team of three committees to assist. Many of those assisting in the planning were his fellow Coolidge High School alumni. Mr. Jones said one of his goals was to make sure the event would be a bridge between generations and unite residents. That is one reason the event was stylized as both a reunion and community welcoming event. The team also wanted to give back, so they decided to donate funds to both the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and the Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center.
It really was a special treat to see so many come back, hear how much the boys and girls club meant to them, and hear how they wish to continue meeting the needs of youth in the neighborhood.
Additional event photos below
Howard Burnett emceeing eventCommittee members with DC Mayor Muriel BowserRiggs-LaSalle Rec director Shirleta Settles & Friends of the Rec board member Robert OliverLRCA president Barbara RogersFrank JonesHoward BurnettLRCA president Barbara Rogers & Richard DyerBook of Riggs-LaSalle Rec Center origin
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and the North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) did a great job of hosting two candidate forums for the upcoming primary election earlier this week .
The Ward 5 DC Council candidate forum was held on May 10, 2022. Participating candidates: Kathy Henderson, Gordon Fletcher, Zachary Parker, Faith Gibson Hubbard, Vincent Orange.
The DC Mayor candidate forum was held on May 9, 2022. Participating candidates: James Butler, Mayor Muriel Bowser, At-large Councilmember Robert White. Mayor Bowser did let the associations know ahead of time that due to a prior commitment, she would be late. She arrived about 44 minutes into the forum.
The primary election is June 21, 2022. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters begining May 16, 2022. Useful information about the primary election, including mail ballot drop box locations, vote center locations, and instructions on how to register to vote or update voter registration information, is available on the DC Board of Elections website at https://dcboe.org/PrimaryElection2022.
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) in conjunction with the North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) will host two virtual Candidate Forums in anticipation of the upcoming District elections.
Mayoral Candidate Forum Monday, May 9, 2022 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Ward 5 Candidate Forum Tuesday, May 10, 2022 6:30PM to 8:30PM
These virtual Candidate Forums will be hosted on Zoom and streamed to both Facebook and YouTube for your easy access. The sessions will be moderated and will feature pre-selected questions from members of our community. If you have a question(s) that you wish for the forum candidates to respond to, you may submit them in advance for consideration:
Updated: The LRCA is giving students an extra day to submit applications. Now due May 10, 2022.
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors who reside in Lamond-Riggs, attend a DC public school (traditional or charter), and who will attend college full-time in the fall. The application and guidelines are available at http://www.lrcadc.org/scholarships.
The Application Deadline is May 10, 2022.Please spread the word!
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) in conjunction with the North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) will be hosting two candidate forums in time for the upcoming District election races in June.
Mark your calendar and plan to join in for both of these informative events. This will be your chance to learn more about the candidates that hope to serve you as your elected District officials.
The District of Columbia Mayoral Candidate Forum Monday, May 9, 2022 From 6:30PM to 8:30PM The session will be conducted online via Zoom. The session will also be streamed to both Facebook and YouTube. Link and page information to come.
Ward 5 Member of the Council Candidate Forum Tuesday, May 10, 2022 From 6:30PM to 8:30PM The session will be conducted online via Zoom. The session will also be streamed to both Facebook and YouTube. Link and page information to come.
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors who reside in Lamond-Riggs, attend a DC public school (traditional or charter), and who will attend college full-time in the fall. The application and guidelines are available at http://www.lrcadc.org/scholarships.
The Application Deadline is May 9, 2022.Please spread the word!
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors who reside in Lamond-Riggs, attend a DC public school (traditional or charter), and who will attend college full-time in the fall. The application and guidelines are available at http://www.lrcadc.org/scholarships.
The Application Deadline is May 9, 2022.Please spread the word!
Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting April 4, 2022 7:00 pm
Agenda
1. Welcome/Invocation
2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
4. Guest Speakers and Q&A: A. DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), Riversmart Program B. City Administrator Kevin Donahue to discuss budget (recently added)
From Danielle Lewis-Wright, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Trustee & Health Committee Chair
The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) 1st Health Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 3/9 (today) at 7:00pm. The purpose of the Health Committee is to promote whole body health through education, activity, and engagement. We are looking for community members to join this committee who can bring their ideas and skills to promote health in our neighborhoods. All are welcome. Information to join meeting is listed below:
LRCA Health Committee Meeting
Time: Mar 9, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time Every month on the Second Wed, until Jun 8, 2022, 4 occurrence(s) Mar 9, 2022 07:00 PM Apr 13, 2022 07:00 PM May 11, 2022 07:00 PM Jun 8, 2022 07:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 