Category Archives: Neighborhood Development

Neighborhood Aldi is Hiring – Apply online (Updated)

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Workforce Development

Republishing post with hiring poster

Aldi is now hiring for full-time and part-time positions at the new store that will be opening at 5300 South Dakota Avenue NE (at Kennedy Street NE) in fall 2024.

New Aldi Store Hiring Poster (South Dakota Avenue NE)

Individuals must apply online. Current opportunities posted on Aldi’s career site:

Full-Time Associate
Part-Time Store Cashier/Stocker
Full-Time Assistant Store Manager

Note, the starting wage of $19.50/hour listed on the hiring poster is the wage that will be in effect starting August 26, 2024. The starting wage listed on the website will be updated in August.

Applicants who are selected for an interview will likely be asked to interview at an existing Aldi location. Interview days are already being scheduled, so apply as soon as possible.

Aldi’s website offers the following tips for potential candidates: 

  • Do your research – Make sure you understand ALDI and the job requirements.
  • Arrive early – Try to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled interview to allow yourself time to get settled.
  • Come prepared – Research common interview questions and brainstorm your answers. Prepare questions for your interviewer, to show you are interested in the position. Also, be sure to bring extra copies of your resume, and a pen and paper to take notes.
  • Follow Up – Kindly follow up with your interviewer(s) by sending a thank you email or handwritten note, thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in the position.

Please let your neighbors who are looking for part-time or full-time work know about these employment opportunities right here in the neighborhood and encourage them to apply.

The store is several weeks behind in construction due to delay in getting an interior buildout permit. Previously they were anticipating opening around October 1, 2024. They are still anticipating a fall opening.

Neighborhood Aldi is Hiring – Apply online

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Workforce Development

Aldi is now hiring for full-time and part-time positions at the new store that will be opening at 5300 South Dakota Avenue NE (at Kennedy Street NE) in fall 2024.

Individuals must apply online. Current opportunities posted on Aldi’s career site:

Full-Time Associate
Part-Time Store Cashier/Stocker
Full-Time Assistant Store Manager

Applicants who are selected for an interview will likely be asked to interview at an existing Aldi location. Two interview days have already been set up at Aldi in Takoma Park.

Aldi’s website offers the following tips for potential candidates: 

  • Do your research – Make sure you understand ALDI and the job requirements.
  • Arrive early – Try to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled interview to allow yourself time to get settled.
  • Come prepared – Research common interview questions and brainstorm your answers. Prepare questions for your interviewer, to show you are interested in the position. Also, be sure to bring extra copies of your resume, and a pen and paper to take notes.
  • Follow Up – Kindly follow up with your interviewer(s) by sending a thank you email or handwritten note, thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in the position.

Please let your neighbors who are looking for part-time or full-time work know about these employment opportunities right here in the neighborhood and encourage them to apply online.

The store is several weeks behind in construction due to delay in getting an interior buildout permit. Previously they were anticipating opening around October 1, 2024. They are still anticipating a fall opening.

Aldi Beer/Wine License Application

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Aldi is anticipating opening at 5300 South Dakota Avenue NE (at Kennedy Street) around October 2024. They have applied for a new class B Full-Service Grocery store license with a Tasting Permit Endorsement to sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption. Hours of beer/wine sales would be Sunday through Saturday 9am – 8pm.

The ABCA protest petition deadline is July 8, 2024. The roll call hearing date is July 29, 2024. The protest hearing date is September 18, 2024, at 1:30 pm.

The store sits in ANC 5A09. ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) will discuss the application at her single member district meeting on June 17, 2024.

Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series Kicks Off May 31, 2024

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

The popular Fridays at Fort Totten summer concert series kicks off next Friday May 31, 2024. The series, sponsored by The Modern at Art Place & DC Fray, features a different artist 6pm to 8pm each Friday through August.

Bring a chair, hang out with neighbors, and enjoy live music, a food truck, and games.

Fridays at Fort Totten Free Concert Series
May 31 – August 23, 2024
6:00 pm-8:00 pm
The Modern (corner of South Dakota Avenue NE & Galloway Street NE)

2024 Lineup

Riggs Cross Senior Residences Below Market Retail Opportunity – Submit Offers by May 23, 2024

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

From Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing

Retail space is delivering 1st Quarter of 2025 in Riggs Park near the Fort Totten metro station. Seeking local and unique tenants for exclusive under-market lease. Tenant improvements available. Flexible retail split option may be considered (similar concept to Black & Forth).

Offers received by May 23, 2024, will be given priorty.

Read the Brochure.

Send questions and proposals to Joanna Ha Yea Shin at jshin@apah.org.

Riggs Crossing May 2024 Construction Update

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

From Davis Construction (copied and pasted below)

Early May 2024 Update

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Recently Completed Construction

Framing / Facade

  • Wood Framing and Sheathing Top Out + Completion
  • All Tyvek and Windows Installed (Less Balcony Doors and Leave-Outs)
  • Temporary Trash Chute Installed on north side of the building facing Riggs Park Place NE
  • Facade Mock-Up Completion
  • Bulk Fluid and Sheet Applied Air Barrier at garage entry and Stair S2
  • East and South Side Foundation Waterproofing and Backfill
  • Roof Davit Installation and Testing
  • Roof Vapor Barrier Membrane installation (substantially weathertight)

Interior Work (Rough-Ins and Finishes)

  • Permanent Steel Stairs and Concrete Infill
  • Elevator roof deck, hoist beams, and divider beams
  • All interior metal stud framing and pre-rock for ceilings below podium.
  • Mock-Up Unit Rough-Ins and level 1 unit ceiling framing
  • Garage ramp waterproofing and topping slab
  • Drain, Waste, and Vent Riser Completion and Inspections through level 4
  • Gypcrete Pre-Pours Levels 3 and 4

Ongoing and Upcoming Work

Work is taking place in many facets of the building at once and is broken down as follows:

Exterior Work and Power

DAVIS continues our ongoing perimeter layback, pile burnoff, and backfill. We have to cut down all of the steel piles that supported our excavation so it doesn’t interfere with future sitework and since the top 4’ of these piles interfere with waterproofing, we need to expose this area to complete our waterproofing accordingly. We’re 85% complete through the building, awaiting the backfill on the NW corner and the north side of the site.

Brick will be starting at the SE corner and the east side of the building near the townhomes. Expect to see mortar mixers, forklifts, scaffolding, and a lot of workers on the side of the building facing the townhomes! Before brick starts, we need to finish all of our air barrier and waterproofing systems to ensure they’re complete and that the building remains watertight.

Bulk roofing is commencing on Thursday 05/09/2024. We will have a mobile crane to boom material up to the roof that will be staged within the project extents on the Riggs Road side of the building (West Side). We will start craning roof materials as well as mechanical equipment up to the roof shortly.

Framing + Facade

  • Below Podium (Level 1 and Garage)
    • We’re installing our stick-pinned insulation and drywall pre-rock. We have to install drywall slab-to-slab for fire ratings, but we need to frame ceilings before hanging bulk drywall. In order to do so, we install drywall from the structure above down to the ceiling elevation.
    • Blocking QC —> DC inspects all of our blocking to ensure it meets accessibility standards/requirements such that every unit, not just ADA units, can meet accessibility requirements in the future (e.g. every unit is convertible).
    • Masonry infill work and preparation for elevators.
    • Final air barrier and waterproofing tie-ins
  • Above Podium (Level 2 and Up in Wood Framing)
    • Installation on balcony knife plates. The balconies have cables that attached to the building for structural support. The “knife plates” are the blades on the east side of the building that stick out and are black. These will be visible in our finished facade.
    • Structural and blocking punchlists. MEP installation damages our structure and the framers have to follow after the trades to ensure our structure remains in tact.
  • Now that the building should be substantially weathertight, our focus is on completing balcony doors and knife plates.

Interior Work (Rough-Ins and Finishes)

  • Garage level MEP rough-ins have started and are ongoing. This will be a process as parts are dependent upon the building becoming dried in and there are many building systems that need to be installed in a specific sequence for coordination.
  • Level 1 OH plumbing and HVAC is complete until ceilings are fully framed. Next up is pulling refrigerant lines and completing water lines.
  • Main plumbing drain, waste, and vent rough-ins, including final roof drain tie-ins, are forthcoming in conjunction with roofing.
  • Plumbing waterline rough-ins on level 2, moving up to level 3.
  • HVAC ductwork installation on levels 2 and 3; Finishing up 100% and then moving to level 4
  • Electrical box out and pulling wire level 2 and 3.
  • MEP Post Dry-In activities have started (insulation and pulling wire)
  • Interior pre-rock and setting tubs

Community + Safety

As we approach the summer months and hotter days, DAVIS is ensuring that we have our heat stress plan in place for worker safety. This includes having a large misting fan on site, electrolyte powder. electrolyte popsicles, and cooldown stations for our workers. We have also set up picnic tables in our retail space for a lunch break area to keep workers out of the sun and for them to have a comfortable space to take breaks when needed.

As for our ABC CORE Training Program, we held a job fair with (6) of our trade partners on 05/02/2024 and we’ve heard feedback that at least 5-6 of our candidates have been hired after the fair. Telligent, Platform, CA Klein, Justin Company, Benchmark Building Enclosure, and Muller all attended. Atlas Foundations and Miller & Long DC have also contacted candidates as has A. Wash & Associates and Miscellaneous Metals, Inc. We’re pushing to get our trainees hired as we near our class completion on 05/16/2024.

Art Place at Fort Totten Updates

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

A few updates about Art Place at Fort Totten.

Phase 1 – The Modern (Building A along South Dakota Avenue between Galloway and Ingraham streets NE)

  • Urban Garden Brewing has signed a lease for space along South Dakota Avenue.
  • An Italian restaurant is looking at space next to the brewery.
  • One Life Fitness is expanding with construction anticipated to finish up by end of this year.
  • A dentist office is looking at space.
  • One other sit-down restaurant has looked at space, but it is not at letter of intent stage just yet.

Phase 2 – The FEZ (Block B under construction along South Dakota Avenue between Ingraham and Kennedy streets NE)

  • Aldi plans to open on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Kennedy Street NE around October 1, 2024. The store plans to hold three job fairs over the summer.
  • Kids Museum is looking at opening along South Dakota between Ingraham and Kennedy in 3rd or 4th quarter 2025. They are finishing up a feasibility study.
  • There is interest from a couple of retailers, but the development team is not ready to share details yet.
  • The development team is still looking at financing for the residential portion of this phase (294 rental units).
  • The team is sequencing construction and occupancy for the second phase.

Social Justice School Relocation

Social Justice School, a public charter middle school, is currently subleasing space from Rocketship Public Charter School at 5450 3rd Street NE. Recall that Rocketship signed a 35-year lease with the Cafritz Foundation for the 3rd Street property. After renovating and combining a couple of the older warehouses on the site, Rocketship opened its Infinity Prep preK/elementary school campus in August 2020. Rocketship decided to sublease to Social Justice School for a few years while Rocketship gradually expanded its grade offerings. Now it is time for Social Justice to vacate the space for Rocketship’s use.

Social Justice School wants to stay in the neighborhood and worked with the Cafritz team to find space nearby. They recently filed an application to amend their charter to relocate to 333 Kennedy Street NE, which is across the street from their current location.

The DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) hearing on Social Justice School’s proposed relocation will be on May 20, 2024, at 6:15 pm. Instructions on how to submit testimony are in the hearing notice. The school’s application notes that they want to relocate in time for the 2024-2025 school year. The application states that the school will use prefabricated modular classrooms, which will be delivered and installed in the new location.

The application notes that the school contacted ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08), who is the chair of ANC 5A, as well as Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker. The school sits in ANC 5A09. ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) is the commissioner for that area.

The DCPCSB plans to vote on the planned relocation on June 24, 2024. If the request is approved at the time, I imagine we will start to see movement around the site pretty quickly so that the school can open in time for fall.

I am sure I am forgetting some updates, but more to come.

May 14: Info Session on Retail Opportunity – Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Crossing Senior Residences

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), developer of Riggs Crossing Senior Residences, is seeking interested local and unique retail tenants for under-market lease opportunity. The project is currently under construction at 307 Riggs Road NE on the southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE in Riggs Park. Project delivery expected first quarter 2025.

There will be a virtual information session on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10:00 am.

Submit initial inquiries by May 23, 2024.

Click here for the Retail Brochure.
Click here for the Microsoft Teams invite to join during the scheduled informational session.

Send questions/inquiries to Joanna Ha Yean Shin at jshin@apah.org.

APAH is very interested in assistance from residents who have connections to unique, local retailers. Help APAH make this a great project.

May 6: LRCA Public Meeting (Hybrid)

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

From Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association

The May 2024 LRCA Community meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM EST. Doors open at 5:45 PM.

This IN-PERSON meeting is scheduled to take place at the Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room 1, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20011.

Additionally, the meeting will be live-streamed via the Zoom webinar platform:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88351773574?pwd=NkNwOHpvVzhxNERjclJSamFucklkUT09

Webinar ID: 883 5177 3574
Passcode: 324968
Or dial in by phone: 301-715-8592

Agenda Items include:

  • Welcome/Invocation
  • Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
  • Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
  • Sean Cahill, Cafritz Enterprises (Art Place at Fort Totten)
  • 2024 Fiscal Budget
  • 2024 LRCA Scholarship Competition
  • Community Concerns/Closing

Zoning Order for UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan (2023-2033)

Posted by nextstoprp in UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus & Expansion (formerly Bertie Backus Campus)
Phase I Lamond-Riggs campus development plan
Phase II Lamond-Riggs campus development plan

The DC Zoning Commission recently issued a final order for UDC’s Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan (2023-2033) (ZC case no. 23-16). A public hearing was held on October 30, 2023. The Zoning Commission took final action to approve the plan on November 30, 2023. The campus is located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE in Riggs Park in ANC 5A01. UDC’s campus plan website is https://www.udc.edu/campus-master-plan.

Formerly known as the Bertie Backus campus, the Lamond-Riggs campus houses the university’s community college program and a few workforce development programs. UDC plans to gradually increase student enrollment at the campus from roughly 1,800 students currently to 3,000 students.

(The grounds also house an American Job Center for the DC Department of Employment Services. The job center will eventually relocate).

UDC plans a two-phase campus development process. Phase 1 will involve renovating the existing buildings on the campus. Phase 2 will involve constructing a new wing on the campus. Currently, there is no funding for Phase 2 activities.

The Zoning Commission order includes conditions related to campus enrollment, further processing, student conduct, a transportation demand management plan, a performance monitoring plan, and community outreach. Enrollment will be limited to 3,000 students with 118 faculty. UDC will have to return to the Zoning Commission for construction of the new wing and will have to provide 60 days’ notice to ANC 5A for review of the design.

This was a long process that I think could have been run a lot better by the university and their counsel. I do want to acknowledge ANC Commissioner Duvalier Malone (5A01), who I think did a nice job of listening to residents and making sure our voices were heard during this process. With a new university president in place, early collaboration with the DC Council and District agencies like DDOT, and better communication, I think UDC can make implementation of this campus plan a beneficial process for the university and the neighborhood.

Tentative April 9: Job Fair for Wingstop at Lamond-Riggs Library

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Square

Wingstop will be opening at 300 Riggs Road NE (former Culture Coffee Too space) mid- to late-April 2024 (possibly around April 22).

Wingstop is looking to hire for around 28 positions at this location, manager and crew positions. The owner plans to hold a job fair with the DC Department of Employment Services, tentatively scheduled for April 9, 2024, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, at Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE).

I am waiting for official confirmation/flyer with job fair details.