Art Place Construction Notice 11/28/2022
Category Archives: Neighborhood Development
Complete UDC’s Bertie Backus Campus Plan Survey by December 9
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is planning the renovation and expansion of the Bertie Backus campus, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. The University is required to submit a Campus Master Plan to the DC Zoning Commission.
Please complete UDC’s survey here by December 9, 2022, to share your ideas about the Backus campus and its development over the next 10 years.
Please share with neighbors.
(Edited to add: For more context on this process, see my previous post: UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan Underway).
Art Place Construction Notice 11/21/2022-11/26/2022
Art Place Construction Notice 11/21/2022
UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan Process Underway
Officials from UDC held a community meeting on October 19, 2022 to explain the upcoming Campus Plan process for UDC’s Bertie Backus Campus, which is located in Riggs Park at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE (between Galloway Street and Hamilton Street NE). UDC presented again at the ANC 5A meeting on November 16, 2022. ANC 5A did not notify residents that UDC would be presenting.
The Backus campus is UDC’s community college campus. It is also home to the university’s Bertie Backus Food Hub. University officials anticipate expanding the Backus campus in the future.
DC zoning regulations require universities to update campus plans every 10 years. According to UDC, the goal of the regulations are to ensure that university campuses “(1) are well-planned and designed; (2)have long-term facilities plans; (3) minimize any negative impacts the university may have on the surrounding residential neighborhood; and (4) are consistent and transparent with their planning processes.”
Link: UDC presentation 10/19/2022
Link: UDC presentation 11/16/2022
The two meeting presentations are largely the same. They outline the role of community stakeholders; UDC’s long-term vision for the Backus campus; planning considerations and priorities; and the campus plan process.
The ANC presentation contains a slide regarding discussion points UDC took away from the October meeting: facility improvements, more green space, traffic, parking lot abundance, infrastructure upgrades. A resident asked about installing solar panels. In my view, the October meeting was pretty unfocused because UDC did not communicate meeting objectives or provide any context about the planning process to residents ahead of time. I for one did not offer specifics. I moreso had questions about the process and suggestions about how UDC could get more meaningful input from residents. I imagine residents will have more to say after taking some time to think about things. To that end, anyone who cares about what happens to this campus should spend a little time thinking about what UDC identified as the role of community stakeholders as well as UDC’s long-term vision for the campus.
UDC’s Vision of the Role of Community Stakeholders
- Provide insight based on experience and familiarity with the Backus campus and surrounding neighborhood
- Help the consulting team think about current and future needs
- Identify ways to improve the Backus campus to better serve the community, the overall mission of the university, and better utilize the campus open sapce and other nearby resources such as Fort Circle Park.
UDC’s Long-term Vision for the Backus Campus
- Expand on the vision of the Van Ness plan to holistically address the needs and goals of the university across its various campaus
- Connect the campus to the neighborhood for a stronger institutional presence (e.g., community-based programming)
- Make the campus more accessible through better wayfinding, circulation, and landscape design and
- Explore how the campus might be redesigned to have more of a presence on South Dakota Avenue that improves its appearance, the pedestrian experience, and how it can better interact with and respond to the Art Place at Fort Totten development across the street from the campus.
UDC’s Planning Priorities & Considerations
- Buildings/Facilities
- Consideration of classroom space; improving the “community feel”
- Transportation/Circulation
- Open Space/Urban Design
- Campus Programming and Use of Space
- Sustainability
- Utilities/Infrastructure
UDC’s Next Steps & Milestones:
- Continue community outreach throughout fall/winter
- January/February 2023: Submit Notice of Intent to file application
- March 2023: File Backus Campus Plan with Zoning Commission
- Summer 2023: Zoning Commission hearing
Residents have asked UDC to set up a webpage with information about the Backus campus plan process. UDC officials stated that should be ready next month in December. UDC also intends to distribute a survey, so keep an eye out for that.
At both the October and November meetings, residents asked UDC how they plan to reach residents who are not connected virtually. Unclear at this point.
Connection with Van Ness (Main Campus) Plan
Until UDC gets a webpage up and running for the Backus Campus Plan, take a look at the page for UDC’s Van Ness Campus Plan, which is the plan for their main campus. The Van Ness plan was approved in 2021. UDC emphasized in both the October and November meetings that one of their goals is to make sure the Backus Campus Plan aligns with the main campus plan.
At the October meeting, I asked for a fact sheet or highlights/summaries of the Van Ness plan that residents can review as we think about the Backus campus. I have not received that yet, but I will keep asking. In the meantime, if you want some reading to do over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can read the entire Van Ness plan or take a look at the Zoning Commission record for that plan process.
UDC Contact
If you have any questions or would like to share any thoughts about the Backus campus, contact Juanita Gray, UDC’s director of community engagement, at juanita.gray@udc.edu.
You can also sign up to receive university updates, including updates about the Backus campus plan, at the link.
Art Place Construction Notice 11/14/2022-11/19/2022
Art Place Construction Notice 11/14/2022
Note construction hour parking restrictions on Ingraham Street NE west of South Dakota Avenue NE.
Art Place Construction Notice 11/7/2022-11/12/2022
Art Place Construction Notice 10/31/2022-11/5/2022
Art Place Construction Notice 10/24/2022-10/29/2022
REMINDER – Tonight October 19: UDC Bertie Backus Campus Expansion Plan Meeting (Virtual)
UDC Virtual Meeting on Bertie Backus Campus Plan
October 19, 2022
6:30 pm
Join the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to share your thoughts and ideas for the forthcoming campus plan for UDC’s Bertie Backus Campus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE).
This meeting will be held virtually. Click here to join.
More ways to join the meeting below:
Join by video: 26321193183@universityofdc.webex.com
Meeting number/Access code: 2632 119 3183
Join by phone: +1-415-655-0003
For more information or questions please contact:
Juanita Gray
Email: Juanita.gray@udc.edu
Phone: (202) 536-9605
Please share with neighbors.
October 19: UDC Bertie Backus Campus Expansion Plan Meeting (Virtual)
UDC Virtual Meeting on Bertie Backus Campus Plan
October 19, 2022
6:30 pm
Join the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) for to share your thoughts and ideas for the forthcoming campus plan for UDC’s Bertie Backus Campus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE).
This meeting will be held virtually. Click here to join.
More ways to join the meeting below:
Join by video: 26321193183@universityofdc.webex.com
Meeting number/Access code: 2632 119 3183
Join by phone: +1-415-655-0003
For more information or questions please contact:
Juanita Gray
Email: Juanita.gray@udc.edu
Phone: (202) 536-9605
Please share with neighbors.
Reminder – Complete Community Green Space Survey by October 15, 2022
Please complete LRCA’s Community Green Space Survey by October 15, 2022.
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.
Play a part by completing LRCA’s Community Green Space survey by October 15, 2022.
Photos of current site conditions below
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
Art Place Construction Notice 10/10/2022-10/15/2022
Art Place Construction Notice 10/3/2022-10/8/2022
Complete Community Green Space Survey by October 15, 2022
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.
Please complete LRCA’s Community Green Space Survey by October 15, 2022.
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.
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.
Play a part by completing LRCA’s Community Green Space survey by October 15, 2022.
Photos of current site conditions below
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
Art Place Construction Notice 9/26/2022-10/1/2022
September 24: Look & SEE – Help Envision Community Park in Our Neighborhood
Look & See: Help Envision a Community Park in Our Neighborhood
September 24, 2022
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road NE (southwest corner of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE)
Sponsored by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) Development Task Force
Hosted by Food & Friends
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.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 