Below are links to a few of the outlets that reported on the news that Meow Wolf is coming to DC to operate the family entertainment zone as part of the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten.

DCist: https://dcist.com/story/18/12/11/meow-wolf-is-building-a-huge-immersive-museum-experience-in-fort-totten/

Washington Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/12/11/huge-multimedia-museum-meow-wolf-coming-to-fort.html

Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/santa-fe-based-arts-venture-sets-sights-on-washington/2018/12/12/8fab6160-fdcf-11e8-a17e-162b712e8fc2_story.html?utm_term=.337b62887d1a

Reaction seems to be mostly positive. Some have wondered why it is not slated to open until 2022. Recall that this project is a planned unit development (PUD), and earlier this year in September, the developer filed for second-stage review and modification of the first-stage PUD approval. At some point next year, DC’s Zoning Commission will hold a hearing on the project. Between the required regulatory process and construction, three years for completion is a reasonable estimate.

The developer has provided FAQs and a project overview for the second phase, available on the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association website development page. (Disclosure: I serve as president of the LRCA and maintain the website). Those documents should provide answers to a lot of questions. One note, the FAQs mention that the developer had planned to announce the name of the grocery store around Thanksgiving. That did not happen. The developer anticipates naming the grocery store “soon.”

News hit the PR wire this morning that Meow Wolf will operate the “family entertainment zone” (or FEZ) that will anchor the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten. See press release below
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MEOW WOLF TO CREATE HUGE EXHIBITION IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Former Fringe DIY Collective Announces Third New Massive Installation This Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. December 11, 2018: Meow Wolf rocketed into 2018 with back-to-back January announcements of huge new permanent installations in Denver and Las Vegas. Now the booming arts startup bookends a phenomenal orbit around the sun with news of a major permanent installation coming to the nation’s capital: Washington, D.C.

The project is the result of a partnership with the Cafritz Foundation and will be a three-level, 75,000 square foot structure located in the Fort Totten community. The exhibition will feature a new immersive narrative with uniquely interactive art experiences. Meow Wolf will reveal more details about plans for D.C. in 2019.

Grand opening will be in 2022.

“Washington, D.C. is an international cultural powerhouse and an ideal setting for the evolving Meow Wolf story universe that began with House Of Eternal Return,” said CEO Vince Kadlubek. “Our intergalactic, transmedia story is rooted in a community of underdogs who overcome ‘The Powers That Be,’ and we will have something really special for all the fellow underdogs who seek a transformative experience when we unveil the D.C. chapter.”

Meow Wolf credits the Cafritz Foundation for taking that chapter from possibility to reality.

“One of the chief reasons we committed to Washington, D.C. is the quality of our partnership with the Cafritz Foundation,” said Kadlubek. “We are very honored to work with this world-class developer and foundation in a project that will focus so strongly on positive community impact.”

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is the largest private, independent, local foundation dedicated exclusively to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Foundation is the legacy of Morris Cafritz—one of Washington’s leading commercial and residential builders from the early 1920’s to the mid-60’s—and is committed to improve the quality of life for residents of the area. Since 1970, the foundation has granted awards totaling more than $447 million. In just the last ten
years, $185 million has been awarded to more than 961 organizations in Community Services, Arts & Humanities, Education, Health and the Environment.

“We are excited to announce this new partnership with Meow Wolf,” said Jane Cafritz of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. “Meow Wolf has grown beyond the innovative DIY art collective to a nationally renowned, immersive art experience. This opportunity will be an important addition to Washington, DC and the Northeast DC. As a team that has been involved in the arts for decades, we are thrilled to see that the future of the art experience will be coming to the Nation’s capital.”

A Bigger Story For A Better Time

As a blue wave rolls to Washington, a Meow Wolf wave grows in all directions. House Of Eternal Return was recently named the #4 Best Experience In The World and the just-released feature documentary Meow Wolf: Origin Story received sold out shows and glowing reviews from coast to coast. The group challenges a wide variety of paradigms as it invents a whole new form of storytelling, pays artists commensurate with our culture’s high-demand for art, gives generously throughout community, and always goes maximal. Meow Wolf makes discoverers of the half million guests who visit Santa Fe every year and gives them each the agency to access the unknown.

Because the group’s vision and energy accept no bounds, Meow Wolf presents imaginative, unique creation all the time:

• January
Huge new permanent installations announced in Denver and Las Vegas

• February
House Of Eternal Return expands with new portal, rooms, artwork, David Loughridge Learning Center programs and free art supplies for young and disabled people, and Float Café

• March
Premiere of film, virtual reality experience and epic party wins Spirit Of SXSW Award at SXSW

• April
Launch of Score Wars with the Galaga World Championship makes headlines around the globe

• May
Mikey Rae’s Talent Show animation and art series premieres, benefits Humane Shelter

• June
Passportals series opens with free, live talent all summer throughout House Of Eternal Return

• July
House Of Eternal Return celebrates one millionth guest in only two years of operation

• August
Debut of experiential music festival Taos Vortex and first talent management recording artist release: Carlos Medina: El Cantador

• September
World’s first artist-driven dark ride Kaleidoscape announced for April 2019, Audio Tours debut, Anomaly Tracker app released, DIY Fund expanded, Educator Appreciation Program launched

• October
Stunning new AR/VR and fabrication work The Navigator premieres to rave reviews at Magic L.E.A.P. Conference, House Of Halloween opens for third year in Santa Fe

• November
Meow Wolf: Origin Story feature documentary premieres in 700 theaters throughout 50 states to stellar reviews, streaming version opens new online Meow Wolf Entertainment portal

• December
75,000 square foot new permanent installation announced in Washington, D.C.

More major location announcements are expected in 2019, but Meow Wolf is especially thrilled and
humbled to be welcomed to the world-renowned city on the Potomac.

“As with all our immersive experience projects, the exhibition in D.C. will be family-friendly and
accessible to local

residents as well as the many tourists and VIP’s who visit our nation’s capital from around the
world,” said Kadlubek. “Audiences should expect dazzling, inspired and wild experiences totally
unlike anything they have ever known before.”

For more Meow Wolf → meowwolf.com.

###

Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment group that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company’s first location showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation House Of Eternal Return where over one and a half million visitors have discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, climbing apparatus, and surreal, aximalist & mesmerizing art exhibits along with a Learning Center and Float Café. The location is also home to a music venue, bar, and outdoor dining scene. In 2018 Meow Wolf announced plans for massive new permanent locations, in Denver, Las Vegas & Washington, D.C., and the world’s first artist-driven dark ride at Elitch Gardens with more major announcements to come soon.
www.meowwolf.com

The Lamond-Riggs Development Task Force has developed a survey to gather community input on the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten, which was previously discussed in this post. This will be a useful tool to document what questions residents have regarding the project with the aim of getting written responses from the developer so that the community can be informed about the project. Before completing the survey, please take some time to review the project. A preliminary list of questions has already been developed, which can be viewed here: LRCA Task Force Questions to Cafritz 9.25.18 (pdf). Please complete the survey by clicking the link.

Last concert of the Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series 2018 summer season this Friday! This week’s event features the band Eastern Standard Time and eats by CapMac food truck. 6:00 pm-8:00 pm on the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE.

This free concert series sponsored by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place has been really great for the neighborhood. Most of the featured bands and food trucks were really good. It was nice to have something to walk to, meet neighbors, chat with friends, and show that the neighborhood can support food and activities. Come on out to enjoy the last concert of the series.

Perspective of Block B from application

Post update 9/7/2018 (see ed. note*)

Yesterday the Cafritz Foundation filed an application for a second-stage review and approval of a planned unit development (PUD)  and modification of the first-stage PUD approval for Art Place at Fort Totten. The Zoning Commission previously told the developer to go back to the drawing board for the second phase (then referred to as Building B) and required the team to file a second-stage PUD application review by September 4 along with a phasing plan for the third and fourth phases of the project. The previous plan can be found here: Art Place Building B (pdf). Below is a perspective of the previous plan.

The updated second phase plan (now referred to as Block B) is quite different, interesting, and a little more cohesive. Block B would sit in a square roughly bounded by Ingraham Street NE to the south, South Dakota Avenue NE to the east, Kennedy Street NE to the north, and the public alley just beyond 4th Street NE to the west. As mentioned in a previous post, the team is proposing to move some elements from previously approved future phases to the second phase, such as the children’s museum and other cultural uses. There will be residential and retail uses. The plan would close 4th Street NE between Ingraham Street and Kennedy Street to maximize the footprint of Block B. Recall the first phase closed 4th Street between Galloway Street and Hamilton Street. closed Hamilton Street west of South Dakota to 4th Street, and extended Ingraham Street west of South Dakota Avenue.

Still need to look at the plan more in-depth, but here is what I can tell so far:

:

• Family Entertainment Zone (FEZ) on South Dakota and Ingraham: The FEZ at Art Place is the highlight of the plan. The development team really went for it. The FEZ would feature a circular building that would be illuminated (in the renderings it looks blue). Described as a high-tech center that will host an innovative artist collective, it will serve as a “beacon” for the project, visible from various locations in the neighborhood. It will also potentially host a video game/virtual reality center, maker space for children, festivals, free children’s programming during the day, and music and comedy performances, book signings and lectures in the evening.
• Food Hall along 4th Street and wrapping around onto Ingraham Street (part of the FEZ) that will host special events and cooking classes with different chefs as well as a brewery
• Total cultural uses of just over 150,000 square feet
• Children’s Museum of 24,931 square feet (reduced from 47,000 square feet approved in first-stage order) on South Dakota between Ingraham and Kennedy
• Ground floor Grocery Store of 11,498 approximately 24,000 square feet* near South Dakota Avenue and Kennedy Street. The application says that the grocery store had to be reduced from the previously approved 59,000 square feet because of Walmart, which opened in 2015 and operates a full-service grocery store.
• Closure of 4th Street to create pedestrian walkway. There would be space for various kiosks along the pedestrian walkway
• Approximately 30 subsidized artist housing/maker space units on eastern side of closed 4th Street
• Apartment building with approximately 210-250 rental units with ground floor retail on western side of closed 4th Street; current renderings show brick veneer and paneling of mix of neutral colors
• Additional ground floor retail on South Dakota Avenue
• Total retail of approximately 50,000 square feet
• Water feature along the pedestrian walkway
• Morris Square, outdoor plaza at South Dakota and Ingraham to serve as a grand entrance into the FEZ
• Underground parking; 765 vehicle parking spaces (reduced from 1100 approved in first-stage order); parking entrance on South Dakota just north of Ingraham and on Ingraham just west of South Dakota
• Max height of 75 feet (increase from previously approved 60 feet building height)
• Truck loading access off Kennedy Street and northern portion of closed 4th Street
• Extensive Landscaping
• Green Roofs
• Two existing Riggs Plaza apartments will remain on-site to continue facilitating relocation plan for remaining Riggs Plaza tenants
• Community benefits are the project itself with some amenities for residents of the project

Proposed phasing plan

• 1st quarter 2020: Begin construction on Block B, expected to take 30 months
• 3rd quarter 2022: Block B construction completed
• December 31, 2024: Applicant will file PUD application for either Block C or Block D
• December 31, 2030: Applicant will file PUD application for final block

Initial impression is that I appreciate the attempt at placemaking. The development team hired the consultant behind Bryant Park in New York to conduct focus groups and a survey for the second phase, and much of the plan reflects ideas from those outreach engagements. I can think of a few things that residents really want that did not make it into the plan, but this is a grand project designed to promote a lot of different uses and attract people to and moving around the neighborhood, no doubt about it. The FEZ in particular will be a tall building at 75 feet. I do not mind a building that tall given that it will be separated from the residential homes on South Dakota Avenue by four lanes. The Modern at Art Place across the street from the site is fairly tall as well, and I think it has been an attractive addition to the neighborhood. The previous plan called for one huge building. The current plan breaks up the site into multiple components of varying heights. I appreciate that this plan keeps a pedestrian walkway along 4th Street NE so that pedestrians do not lose another access path to the metro station. According to the applicant, this project would rest on 5.18 acres, which is a lot, so might as well be ambitious as long as it is thoughtful.

The first phase, The Modern at Art Place, is a beautiful, well-done project with superior landscaping. It showed serious investment of resources by the developer, which cannot be said of a couple of other projects in the neighborhood. I really appreciated that the team underground the wires for the first phase because that makes such a big difference in the sight lines and we do not have to worry about butchering newly planted trees. That was not a cheap undertaking and they did it. That project really set a much-needed high bar for development in the neighborhood, and it looks like the developer intends to continue setting a high bar with the second phase.

Read the supporting statement here: Statement for PUD — APFT – Block B (Sept. 2018) (pdf). Take a look at the full plans here: Art Place at Fort Totten PUD full book Phase 2 – reduced size (pdf). Take a look at the gallery of a few images pulled from the plans below and share your thoughts.

*Ed. note 9/7/2018: The development team stated the following regarding the square footage of the grocery store: “The size of the planned grocery store noted in this article represents the Zoning Floor Area rather than the actual floor area of the store. According to current Zoning regulations only floor area located at or above grade count towards the Gross Floor Area. Because of the site topography and the location of the grocery on South Dakota Avenue NE, more than half of the total floor area is viewed as below grade space from a zoning regulation point of view. The total store area is approximately 24,000 SF.”

Site and floor plans

Perspectives

Circulation plans and diagrams

This week is the rain date for the Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series. Check out photos from last week’s concert. If it does not rain, this week will feature music by Cecily. Friday 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE. Bring a lawn chair for seating. Sponsored by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place.

Shining Stars Pediatric Dentistry, located at 435 Ingraham Street NE, is open for business! Conveniently located near Fort Totten metro station, the pediatric dentistry is the first business to open at the Art Place at Fort Totten Development. The practice by Dr. Gina Pham, a 15-year board-certified pediatric dentist, is accepting appointments for comprehensive dental services for infants, children, and teens. As children return to school, now is the perfect time to book those back-to-school checkups. Book an appointment online or call (202) 600-4833.

Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series continues this week with live music by La Unica and eats by El Pollo Submarine food truck. Takes place 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. Bring a lawn chair for seating. Sponsored by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place.

A special edition of Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series is in store for tomorrow 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Live music by Deacon Izzy and eats by Capital Chicken & Waffles. First 100 guests get free ice cream from Dolci Gelati. On the corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. Sponsored by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place.

At last week’s ANC 5A meeting, zoning counsel for the Cafritz Foundation presented a few high level renderings for the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten. This phase will be located generally on South Dakota Avenue NE between Ingraham and Kennedy. The developer must submit its second phase plans to the Zoning Commission by September 4. We generally knew about everything they presented. The second phase will be mainly commercial, but there may be some residential use. They will incorporate uses that were scheduled for future phases. They envision the space as a family entertainment zone, but think moreso a family theater and other theater and arts uses, not Dave & Busters type entertainment zone. The Explore! Children’s Museum will be in the second phase. The development team is still talking about a grocery store. The building itself is currently designed to have a grand plaza on South Dakota Avenue to serve as a “striking entrance” into the building.

Cafritz’s zoning counsel was there to talk about the second phase, but lots of residents had lots of thoughts to share about the first phase, mainly centered on when there would be sit-down restauarants and useful retailers in the first phase. The team there did not have much to say about that because of course they were hired to provide assistance with zoning not retail. We’ll be hearing more about the second phase in due time.

Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series continues tomorrow with live music by Justin Trawick & The Common Good and eats by Carnivore BBQ food truck. 6pm-8pm on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Sponsored by On Tap Magazine and The Modern at Art Place.

Explore! Children’s Museum End of Summer Shindig
The Modern at Art Place (400 Galloway Street NE)
10:00 am

Free registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-explore-end-of-summer-shindig-tickets-48281637678

Come learn about Explore! Children’s Museum while you enjoy arts and music activities with our neighbors. Participate in another exciting Mad Science Show! Visit Cowboy Barry’s petting zoo, Color with Luna and friends and have your face painted by Fairy Jennabelle.

The first 100 children will receive a signed children’s book by local author Tom Noll. Activities will also include learning and playing with Squishy Circuits, a STEAM activity.
Show Schedule
10:30: Story Time with Tom Noll
11:15: Things That Go Boom! A Mad Science show
12:15: Uncle Ty-Rone, The Kids’ Comedian

Naming public spaces and objects after someone is a practice I have always found a little fascinating. I suppose it is one way of making sure history is not lost and of acknowledging the contributions of individuals who may not necessarily be well-known but whose impact on civic life has been substantial. Back when Art Place at Fort Totten was first planned, some residents asked for a community benefit to include naming public areas of the development in honor of African-American/minority artists and performers, especially those from Lamond-Riggs and Ward 5. These could include chairs, benches, trees, open areas, statues, plaques, etc. Now that the first phase has been built and the second phase is upon us, it seems like an apt time to make good on naming a public space.

I suppose the arts focus is because the project itself is supposed to be arts-focused. It would be interesting though if this were a broader project around recognizing a group of people important to the neighborhood’s history. Maybe it could have been a group of people like the ones who fought against building a freeway through the neighborhood, the people who advocated for building a neighborhood library, the residents who first formed the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Asssociation and established a well-respected, active civic association at a time in DC’s history when civic associations were segregated by race. Maybe it could have been recognizing the first group of Black Americans who began moving into the neighborhood in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s following Brown v. Board of Education.

Anyhow, the ask was for honoring artists and performers, so that’s what it shall be. Please share in the comments your recomendations of African-American/minority artists and performers who should be honored, especially those from Lamond-Riggs and Ward 5.

The Washington Business Journal recently reported that the DC Council approved future funding for the Explore! Children’s Museum, which is planned for the second phase of the Art Place at Fort Totten development. If true, this is good news for the Cafritz Foundation. The $1 million grant is earmarked for 2023. The second phase of the development is expected to be all or mostly commercial. Besides the children’s museum, other expected uses for the second phase include a grocery store, theater, work space, and additional commercial uses. The Foundation must file its plans for the second phase with the Zoning Commission in September. There will be an ANC 5A meeting on August 1, 2018. More information will be provided there.