Category Archives: Lamond Riggs Library

February 15: Lamond-Riggs Library Black History Month Lecture by Noted Historian C. R. Gibbs

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Guest post by Robert Oliver, President of the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends

Historian C.R. Gibbs has been invited to give a lecture during Black History Month. He will present “A Dawn Like Thunder: Africa, Black America and Work War II” from his series of lectures on African American History and Culture. The Lamond-Riggs Library proudly hosts this presentation on Thursday, February 15, 2018 starting at 7 p.m.

Mr. Gibbs is an award-winning historian, humanities scholar, and exhibitor of artifacts. He is noted for writing, researching, and narrating Sketches in Color, a 13-part companion series to the acclaimed PBS series The Civil War. He received an Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation in Public Education from the Mayor of the District of Columbia. He was honored by the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust, and he was named one of the “50 most influential people in Washington, D.C.” by the Washington Informer.

So please come and enjoy an evening of thoughtful discussion at the Lamond-Riggs Library.

Lamond-Riggs Library Rebuilding

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Get excited for a new neighborhood library! In 2021, we will have a new $20 million Lamond-Riggs neighborhood library to replace the existing library located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE. Following the rebuilding kickoff meeting on October 5, 2017, DC Public Library officials established a dedicated website for the project at https://dclibrary.org/newlamondriggs. Bookmark the site to stay abreast of community meetings and information about the new library.

Residents will have several opportunities to provide input on what the new new library should look like and what services it should offer. DCPL will work with Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie to appoint two community members to an advisory panel. Typically those members are the president of the library friends group and the advisory neighborhood commissioner of the area in which the library sits. Robert Oliver is president of the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends group and Commissioner Frank Wilds (5A01) is the commissioner for this area. If you have not already done so, please fill out the survey from the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends by October 20, 2017. DCPL will issue a separate survey during the community engagement process.

Milestones from DCPL to keep in mind:

Fall 2017: Due diligence
Winter 2017-18: RFP for design/build contract
Spring 2018: Design/build selection
Summer 2018: Design kick-off
Fall 2019: Close for construction
Fall 2019: Interim library opens
2021: New library opens

DCPL contacts for the project:

Martha Saccocio, martha.saccocio@dc.gov or 202-727-1188
Archie Williams, archie.williams@dc.gov or 202-727-1437

October 5: Lamond-Riggs Library Modernization Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Advance notice from DC Public Library:
—

Dear Lamond Riggs Library Patrons –

We have been communicating with many of you for the past 4-5 years regarding the modernization of the Lamond Riggs Library. We are pleased to announce that we are nearing the time to begin the design process for a new Lamond Riggs Library. To this end, we are holding a Lamond-Riggs Library Community Meeting to take place on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Library [5401 South Dakota Avenue NE]. Please note, this preliminary meeting will not discuss the design of the proposed library but serve to familiarize us with one another and to inform the community of DCPL’s engagement process.

The Request for Funding Proposals (RFP) for design services will be issued in early November 2017.

DCPL Partnership on Caring for Mobility Challenged Adults

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

A neighbor passed along information about Caring for Bedbound and Mobility Challenged Adults, a program developed through a partnership between DC Public Library and The Washington Home and Community Hospices. The site is  full of information on topics related to caregiving. In addition, a clinical liaison from Washington Home and Community Hospices will visit different library locations during 2015 to conduct workshops on a range of issues.

Topics to be covered include:

  • How to support a sick person
  • How to turn and change bed linen
  • Bathing and dressing a bedbound person
  • Incontinence care
  • Bed changing while the patient is in bed
  • Positioning the patient
  • Feeding
  • Bedside conversation
  • Comfort care
  • Medical equipment use
  • Long-term care services
  • When to call on hospice care

All of the workshops will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise noted.  Below is a listing of library locations offering this program throughout 2015.

Jan. 15: Tenley-Friendship May 21: Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Sept. 17: Northeast
Feb. 19: Deanwood June 15 (Monday:
Cleveland Park		 Oct. 15: Shepherd Park
March 21: Southwest July 15 (Wednesday):
Mt. Pleasant		 Nov. 19: Palisades
April 16: Parklands Turner Aug. 20: Northwest One Dec. 10: Takoma Park

 

 

 

Cool services offered by DC public library

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

We are going to use a latepass in getting this post up. The Washington City Paper ran an article about some cool new services offered by DC Public Library (DCPL). The main branch (Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library) offers 3-D printing services with laser cutting so that residents can make all sorts of nifty projects in the library’s Fab Lab. The library’s Studio Lab offers a digital production lab, a voiceover studio, and a main production studio.

Some of DCPL’s not so new digital services merit mention as well. You can use your library card to download e-books and read books online or on a digital device. Download music, up to three songs per week, and stream music 24 hours per day. The music library contains lots of genres and plenty of pop hits. You can also stream movies, including independent films and film festival fare. Educational offerings such as language learning and test prep guides are also available online.

And of course every branch library has a calendar of events. Check out the Lamond Riggs Library page for their upcoming events, which include lots of offerings for the kiddie set and a screening of Into the Woods, the final installment of the “Grown-up fairytales” summer film series.

Free meals for youth this summer

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library, North Michigan PArk and tagged with

Youth eat free

Youth 18 years old and younger can eat free meals at a number of sites across the city, including a few locations in the neighborhood:

  • North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson St. NE)

Phone: (202) 541-3526

Open June 22, 2015 through August 21, 2015

Meals served Monday through Friday

Breakfast: 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Lunch: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

 

  • Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Rd. NE)

Phone: (202) 576-5150

Open June 22, 2015 through August 21, 2015

Meals served Monday through Friday

Breakfast: 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Lunch: 12:30 – 2:30 pm

 

  • Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Ave. NE)

Phone: (202) 541-6265

Open: July 8, 2015 through August 14, 2015

Meals served Monday through Friday

Lunch: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

ANC 5A Meeting Wrapup

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , , ,

The June 25 ANC 5A meeting was the last meeting before the summer break. Meetings resume in September.

Crime

A report from Commander Kim Missouri: There has been an increase in thefts from autos, burglaries, robberies (mostly phones), and stolen autos. The police have determined that recent gun incidents involve a back and forth between juveniles from North Michigan Park and Riggs Park. They have identified one person of interest and they are continuing to focus on juvenile curfew enforcement, particularly around the metro station. Common tips to prevent crime:  lock doors/windows, do not leave valuables in cars, be aware of surroundings when walking, and call 911 if you see anything suspicious or out of place. You can anonymously text crime tips to 50411.

Lamond Riggs Library

A committee chaired by Commissioner Angel Alston has been formed to ensure that Lamond Riggs Library remains and is renovated at its current location. Recall that the Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten project is a multiphase development and one of the later phases contemplates the construction of a new neighborhood library. Also recall there was supposed to be funding in the budget for renovating the library. It turns out that money would actually come from selling the library to the developer so that the developer can then build a new one. The sale would have to be approved through the surplus process. Assurances have been made by a couple of elected officials that the library will not be sold, but the commission and residents want to make sure they stay on top of things. The committee will meet again in September. Contact Commissioner Alston for more information.

School Boundary Redrawing Proposal

With respect to the redrawing of the school boundaries, the commission voted to adopt a resolution stating the focus should really be on ensuring a quality, matter of right K-12 education for every student.

Renaming of Gym at North Michigan Park Recreation Center

The Mayor’s Office will likely forego renaming the gym at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center after Medric Mills, the gentleman who tragically passed away across the street from a firehouse on Rhode Island Avenue NE. Mr. Mills was a 46-year employee of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and DPR thought it would be a fitting honor to name the gym after him. NMP residents and commissioners were not alerted of DPR’s proposal ahead of time and expressed their belief that Mr. Mills, a resident of Riggs Park, should be honored in a different manner.

Recap of ANC 5A meeting: Zoning, Library, Fort Totten metro station

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Metro Development, Lamond Riggs Library, Neighborhood Development, Transportation and tagged with , , ,

Highlights from the January 29th ANC 5A public meeting:

Miscellaneous items

  • The commission elected the same slate of officers.
  • The commission is looking for an office assistant available to work around 20 hours per week.  Direct inquiries and leads to your commissioner.
  • Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie said that the Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation report is still under review, but he hopes that the task force can have that out to the public in the next couple of months.
  • Art Place at Fort Totten:  The Cafritz team will likely have to file for a PUD extension.
  • Path between Gallatin & Galloway Street NE:  Expect notice of a meeting for SMD 5A08 regarding the National Park Service environment study.
  • Hotel:  Developers presented on a new Marriott brand hotel proposed for a site at Michigan Avenue NE and Irving Street NE.  A parking lot currently sits at this site.  The area was part of ANC 5C prior to revision of the ANC boundaries.  Now it is in ANC 5A.  The developers believe the area, with several hospitals and universities, will be well-served by a hotel and they plan to provide discounted community rates on rooms and hotel facilities.  They also emphasized the importance of hiring from the community.
  • McMillan Sand Filtration Site:  The commission plans to draft a resolution in support of ANC 5E’s resolution on the first phase of the McMillan project.

Zoning

The ANC plans to draft a resolution requesting more time to review the zoning update.  The Ward 5 hearing on the zoning update is 9:00 am on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Dunbar High School.  The Ward 4 hearing is at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Wilson High School.  The Office of Zoning will accept written testimony after today’s deadline for written submission, but might not have time to review it before scheduled hearings.  Individuals can also testify in person.  Early sign up is encouraged since testimony will take place on a first come, first serve basis.  Instructions and more information are available on Zoning’s site.

Lamond Riggs Library

The ANC plans to draft a resolution requesting the full modernization and renovation of Lamond Riggs Library at its current location.  Recall that the Cafritz project potentially includes a new, state-of-the art neighborhood library in a later phase of the development.  However, since there is no indication of when the project will actually break ground on the first phase, the ANC believes it does not make sense to make the update of the library contingent on the Cafritz project.  Recall from this post that the FY 2014 budget included zero funding for renovating the library, but there is proposed funding for FY 2015 & 2016.  The budget summary noted that DC’s chief librarian was in communication with the Cafritz team about the libary.  We look forward to seeing the resolution the commission draws up at a future meeting.    

WMATA Joint Development for Fort Totten Metro Station

Stan Wall, WMATA’s real estate development director, presented on WMATA’s joint soliciation for proposed development of the park-and-ride lot (west parcel) at Fort Totten metro station.  As mentioned in previous posts, WMATA anticipates that this project will be all or primarily residential, with possibly a very small retail component.  Below is a 4 pager that was distributed at the meeting showing conceptual designs of circulation pattern, massing, potential development concepts, and a timeline for the project.  A developer can propose a concept not shown as long as it meets the requirements in the solicitation. 

Mr. Wall said that WMATA’s chief concerns with this project are that it enhance the community and have good placemaking and design elements.  He noted that Aventine Fort Totten (and even Rhode Island Row), while transit-oriented in the sense that they abut a metro station, are not so great in terms of looking like they fit, enhancing the community, or having good placemaking elements.  In addition, with this project, they hope to add more eyes to the street around First Place NE, thereby making it safer for those accessing the station from west of the tracks. 

WMATA plans to hold community meetings after proposals have been submitted.  They plan to have boards for each proposal so that residents can say which elements of each they like.  That way, WMATA can work with the developer they ultimately select to incorporate certain things the community found favorable even if those elements were not originally in the proposal.  

Submissions are due March 7, 2014.  The total time for selection of a developer and negotiating an agreement is expected to be one year.  If the project needs to go through the planned unit development (PUD) process (for example if the developer wants to do something not currently permitted under zoning laws), then expect additional time.  All told, the project is expected to be completed in the 2017-2018 timeframe. 

For those interested in learning more about the project before the community forums begin, it’s worth taking a look at the 13 pages from the solicitation pertaining just to Fort Totten station: Full WMATA Fort Totten Development Section (source:  WMATA Joint Development Solicition November 2013 (pdf)).

New and longer hours for Lamond Riggs Library

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Beginning October 1, 2013, Lamond Riggs Public Library will be open on Sundays and offer expanded hours during the week.  The new hours will be:

Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

To see new hours for other neighborhood libraries, visit the DC library website.

Connectivity around Fort Totten

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Fort Totten Square, Lamond Riggs Library, Neighborhood Development and tagged with , , , , , ,

This post is long overdue, but still timely because of a couple of events coming up.  At the Ward 5 budget townhall meeting, I raised a question about connectivity around Fort Totten.  Of course, Fort Totten metro station with its three lines and several bus bays is a huge plus for the neighborhood, but the neighborhood could benefit from a bit more connectivity.  More specifically, I asked if funding would be made available to improve connectivity through completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, installation of bikeshare stations in the neighborhood, and a study of the feasibility of a north-south streetcar route along South Dakota Avenue NE to Riggs Road NE.

Metropolitan Branch Trail

Currently, the northbound off-road portion of the MBT ends in Brookland.  From there, an on-street route continues (partly up a steep hill) to Fort Totten.  DDOT previously held workshops and planning sessions to determine the best route for completing the MBT north of Brookland.  The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB) May meeting included proposed amendments to update DDOT’s section of the FY 2013-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  One of the items is completion of the Fort Totten portion of the MBT in 2015.

Bikeshare

Residents have been asking for bikeshare stations in the neighborhood for a while.  JBG/Lowe, developers of Fort Totten Square, have said they are committed to paying for installation of a bikeshare station at the corner of the FTS development on 3rd Street & Riggs Road NE.  However, that station will not be installed until the development delivers in spring 2015.  They also said Walmart, which will anchor the development, has promised to pay for installation of a bikeshare station at Fort Totten metro station, but it’s not clear if Walmart will pay for that station to be installed before the development is complete.   In any event, the neighborhood will be getting at least one, maybe two, stations by spring 2015.

Opportunities for input

In the next couple of weeks, there will be two really good opportunities to speak directly to and hear from the agencies that are responsible for shaping the way residents connect and move around the city.  The first is DDOT’s moveDC public workshop on Thursday, June 6, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. at Lamond Riggs Library.  MoveDC is DDOT’s initiative to develop a strategic, multimodal long-range transportation plan for the city.  The workshop will provide a chance to talk about how residents travel around the city and share ideas on projects and priorities and what residents hope to see in the future.  Residents are strongly encouraged to participate.  Visit the moveDC website  for more information.

The second opportunity is a walking tour hosted by the Coalition for Smarter Growth called “Fort Totten:  More than a Transfer Point,” on Saturday, June 15, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.  This tour is more of an opportunity to learn about what is happening in the neighborhood.  Plenty of agency officials will be on hand.  CSG’s policy director Cheryl Cort will lead the tour.  A representative from WMATA will discuss plans to develop the parking lot parcels at Fort Totten metro station.  A representative from DDOT will discuss the streetscape improvements in the neighborhood and the reconfiguration of the South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE intersection.  A representative from JBG will discuss the vision for Fort Totten Square as a placemaking development.  A representative of the tenants of the Riggs Plaza apartments will discuss the Art Place at Fort Totten development.  Finally, a representative from the Office of Planning familiar with the neighborhood will tie it all together.  Hopefully residents were able to sign up because registration is now full.

Ward 5 budget townhall April 10 & Lamond Riggs neighborhood library

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Council, Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , , ,

Mayor Gray will host a budget townhall with a focus on Ward 5 on April 10, 2013 at Luke C. Moore Academy (1001 Monroe St. NE) at 6:30 pm.  In his press release on the mayor’s budget, Councilmember McDuffie said that he would like to see money allocated for the modernization of Lamond Riggs library.  The mayor’s proposed budget does not include any money for modernizing Lamond Riggs library, but it does provide money so that all DC public libraries will be open 7 days per week.

Updated  3/29/2013

The mayor’s proposed FY 2014 budget includes a line item for renovating the Lamond Riggs library (pdf), with full funding estimated at over $18 million.  It notes that the library is 45 years old and is energy inefficient.  The spec calls for the library to be substantially renovated “to create a new 21st century state-of-the-art LEED Silver Rated vacility.”  The budget includes zero FY 2014 funding for renovating the library, but includes proposed funding for FY 2015 & FY 2016.  It notes that Cafritz’s development (Art Place at Fort Totten) includes a spec in a (much) later phase to build a new library for the neighborhood as part of the Art Place development.  The document states DCPL is still involved in discussions with Cafritz about this.  An older budget timeline projected that the design for a renovated library would be completed by October 2011, with construction starting in Jan 2012 and completed by June 2018.  Of course none of those milestones was met and it’s unclear at this point if Cafritz’s proposal is the reason for the delay.

Free tax preparation assistance from AARP Foundation at Lamond Riggs neighborhood library

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , ,

The AARP Foundation is offering free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with a focus on those 60 and older.  In our area, this service will be available at the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood library.  Visit the foundation website here for more information about this service, to find out what documents to take, and to find other service locations in the city.  Let your neighbors and family know.