Category Archives: Neighborhood Development

February 2026 Events at Explore!

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Uncategorized

Check out Explore!’s February 2026 activities lineup.

Eventbrite: Explore! Fort Totten Events. RSVP encouraged.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Dance Loft Youth Classes: Mondays at Explore! (Winter Session January 12 – March 16, register at the link).

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay & Texture | February 5, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Cardboard Creation | February 10, 4pm-7pm

Valentine’s Card Origami Workshop | February 12, 4pm

Candle Making Workshop | February 12, 6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paper & Pattern | February 17, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay Open Studio | February 19, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Tile & Mosaic Play | February 24, 4pm-7pm

Bingo Day | February 25, 2pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Mixed Materials Studio | February 26, 4pm-7pm

The best way to learn about Explore! events is to follow them on eventbrite and visit the Explore Museum website and Art Place Events Page.

Below Market Rate Retail Space Available at Riggs Crossing (January 2026)

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

The Riggs Crossing team at True Ground Housing Partners shared an updated retail flyer.

Riggs Cross Retail Flyer (January 2026)

Inquiries are open for retail space in Riggs Park (Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE) near the Fort Totten metro station. The team is seeking local and unique DC tenants for an exclusive under-market lease. Please contact True Ground Housing Partners to submit interest at Info@truegroundhousing.org.

Riggs Crossing Senior Residences was completed in early 2025 at 307 Riggs Road NE. The mixed-use building features 93 apartments (fully leased) above ground floor retail. Happy Violet DC Natural Nail Salon occupies the retail space at 305 Riggs Road NE with plans to open soon.

Total available retail space = 5,407 sq ft.

  • Space A = 2,035 sq ft.
  • Space B = 3,372 sq ft.

One tenant can lease the entire 5,407 sq ft space or the spaces can be leased separately.

Please share with interested parties.

Riggs Crossing Retail Tenant Layout (January 2026).

January 2026 Kids Events at Explore!

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Uncategorized

Check out Explore!’s January 2026 Kid’s Maker Space Activities lineup.

Eventbrite: Explore! Fort Totten Events. RSVP encouraged.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Dance Loft Youth Classes: Mondays at Explore! (Winter Session January 12-March 16, register at the link).

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Snow Science + Art | January 8, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Texture Day | January 13, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Community Kindness | January 15, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Build-a-City | January 20, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Wearable Winter Art | January 22, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Big Color + Big Shapes | January 27, 4pm-7pm

January Finale: Gallery Night | January 29, 4pm-7pm

The best way to learn about Explore! events is to follow them on eventbrite and visit their website at https://www.exploremuseum.org.

Urban Garden Brewing out at Art Place

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Urban Garden Brewing is no longer coming to Art Place at Fort Totten. The brewery was looking at locating in the first phase of Art Place on South Dakota Avenue. Owner Eamoni Collier posted a message on instagram a couple of days ago:

These past few weeks have been a lot to process. Due to a combination of factors including ongoing design delays, challenges accessing additional funding, and the current political and economic climate, our Fort Totten lease has ultimately been terminated. We were preparing to begin construction in late October and worked diligently to bring the project to the finish line, but circumstances beyond our control prevented us from moving forward as planned.

This has been painful, especially after all the love, work, and community support that went into it. Even through the frustration, I keep coming back to gratitude. Every person who believed in this dream helped build something real, and that means everything.

Urban Garden Brewing is not over. The mission, the heart, and the community that built it are still here. Weeks after losing Fort Totten, I am still reminded to keep believing.

I can’t share more yet, but I can say this: every ending makes space for a new beginning.

Thank you for standing with us. Always.

With love,
Eamoni

Explore! December Events + Coffee Pop Up on December 13

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Check out Explore!’s December lineup + new coffee pop up on December 13.

Explore! Fort Totten Events

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Explore! Kid’s Maker Space Hands & Hearts | December 9 & 11, 4pm-7pm

Coffee Pop Up with @tz’ikincafe | December 13, 9am-1pm

Explore! Kid’s Maker Space Stories in the Stars | December 16 & 18, 4pm-7pm

Candle Making Workshop with @tajaaessentials | December 18, 6pm

Dance Loft Youth Classes, Mondays at Explore!

AFRO Newspaper Social Justice School Profile

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Education

Social Justice School is building its long-term home in the neighborhood at 3rd Street and Kennedy Street NE. The AFRO newspaper recently published a nice profile of the school. See Creating the next generation of change makers: A look at D.C.’s Social Justice Charter School by Deborah Baily.

The piece tracks what Social Justice School officials have previously shared about the school’s mission and its guaranteed income pilot for families. Check it out.

December 6: Explore! Winter Wonderland at Art Place at Fort Totten

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

From DC Fray

Explore! Winter Wonderland at Art Place Fort Totten

Date: December 6, 2025, from 1pm to 4pm EST

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

This event is FREE with RSVP; however, adults wishing to participate in the instructor-led painting sessions MUST RSVP for their desired time slot: Eventbrite Link.

Step into the holiday magic on December 6th at Art Place! Build gingerbread people, decorate ornaments, sip hot chocolate, paint a canvas, snap pics, play games, and enjoy festive music with a live DJ, and wear your best ugly sweater

The Features:

  • Photos Ops
  • Hot Chocolate Station
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Adults Painting Session 1 // 1:45pm to 2:30pm
  • Adults Painting Session 2 // 2:45pm to 3:30pm
  • Live DJ
  • Winter Games
  • Ugly Sweater Competition at 2:40pm!
  • & MORE!

Dance Loft Classes – Mondays at Explore! Starting November 17

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

From Explore!

Dance Loft Classes at Explore! Fort Totten

Creative movement and dance for ages 4 to 8.

EXPLORE! brings dance classes to Art Place this fall provided by Dance Loft+ Moveius Ballet

As part of a limited six-week youth dance series this fall and winter, families can enroll their children in $10 classes that provide an affordable introduction to dance for ages 4 to 8. This offers a structured opportunity to explore dance in a supportive, engaging environment. The pre-ballet and creative movement classes are designed to help children build confidence and creativity through movement.

Classes will take place every Monday offering two 45-minute sessions between 4–6 p.m

● 4:00-4:45 p.m.: Pre-Ballet (ages 4–6) – This class introduces ballet through creative movement, basic technique and imaginative play—building coordination, rhythm and a lifelong love of dance.

● 5:00-5:45 p.m.: Creative Dance (ages 7–9) – This class explores expression, storytelling and musicality through a blend of ballet, improvisation and beginner choreography—all in a supportive, imaginative environment.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

On Mondays, starting November 17, 2025

Registration Link