March 4: LRCA Public Meeting (Hybrid)
[Ed. Note: The LRCA’s March meeting will include an update about Riggs Crossing Senior Residences under construction on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. In addition, the newsletter contains information about an air tag raffle.]
From Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA)
The March 2024 LRCA Community meeting will be held on Monday, March 4, 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:
Webinar Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83726154641?pwd=Nmd6WFRyQ2RjZ0hVQ0JEcEhmSlk4Zz09
Webinar ID: 837 2615 4641
Passcode: 842799
Or, dial in by phone: 301-715-8592
Webinar ID: 837 2615 4641
Passcode: 842799
Agenda Items include:
- Welcome/Invocation
- Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
- Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
- Dolly Turner, Department of Insurance Securities and Banking
- Joanna Ha Yean Shin, Project Manager APAH (Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing)
- Community Concerns/Closing
Read the LRCA March 2024 newsletter.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker FY 2025 Budget Request Letter
Yesterday, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker sent his FY2025 budget request letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. The mayor is expected to send her budget proposal to the DC Council on March 20, 2024.
Councilmember Parker’s letter addresses schools, libraries, rec centers, and youth programs around the ward around the ward; public safety; supports for LGBTQIA+ residents, seniors, and tenants; road safety and trail networks; and ways to offset increased spending.
Specific items of interest to the Riggs Park neighborhood and nearby areas copied from letter:
Address deficiencies at Ward 5 DPR facilities. Maintenance and upkeep of Ward 5’s recreation centers are paramount. My office regularly fields complaints about the condition of Turkey Thicket Recreation and North Michigan Park Recreation Center, especially. I recommend that DGS expand its preventative maintenance campaign to DPR facilities and play spaces for children. Additionally, neighbors in Edgewood continue to express concern over the availability of the Edgewood Recreation Center for neighborhood youth. Routinely, citywide sports teams and groups monopolize recreation space that could otherwise provide Ward 5 youth positive recreational outlets. What’s more, I recommend you expand community-facing programming at Edgewood Recreation Center and New York Avenue Recreation Center. Finally, I recommend you use DPR’s Ready2Play Equity Framework to address funding needs at Ward 5 facilities, such as Bunker Hill Park, Dunbar Aquatic Center, Joe Cole Recreation Center, Keene Field, New York Avenue Recreation Center, and Noyes Park.
Expand and improve the efficacy of the District’s Safe Passage program. The number of juveniles who are at risk of committing or being victimized by crime requires us to expand coverage of the Safe Passage Program, a critical tool to prevent violence involving students as they travel to and from school. Currently, much of Ward 5 does not have coverage under the Safe Passage Program despite longstanding issues at chronic hotspots—including the Fort Totten Metro Station. Therefore, I recommend a gradual expansion of the Safe Passage program, targeting Ward 5, 7, and 8, by increasing funding by $1 million/year. I also recommend improving the value of this program through more frequent school leader convenings and data and information sharing at the school level. This is a key recommendation I expect will soon receive the formal endorsement of the School Safety Enhancement Committee that with the help of my council colleagues I established last budget cycle.
Expand bikeshare options near UDC’s Lamond-Riggs Campus. In 2021, DDOT announced that the agency planned to install a bikeshare station on the northwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. My understanding is that the agency has been having issues coming to an agreement with the property owner on that side of the street regarding placement of the station. With UDC’s plan to grow campus enrollment to 3,000 students with over 100 faculty, I stand ready to help get this station installed as soon as possible.
Design a trail connection between the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) at Fort Totten and the future Prince George’s County Connector. In 2023, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission secured funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a shared-use path between the Northwest Branch Trail of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in Chillum to Avondale Community Park, which borders Eastern Avenue in the District. To complement this project, DDOT should begin planning its own trail connection to the Metropolitan Branch Trail along Eastern Avenue and Gallatin Street N.E.
March 6: At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson Community Office Hours at Lamond-Riggs Library
Councilmember Christina Henderson will be hosting Community Service Office Hours in March.
- March 6, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon – Lillian J. Huff/Lamond-Riggs Library
February 28: Ward 5 Monthly Public Safety Call – Register in Advance
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites residents to join his next Monthly Public Safety Call on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will be the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and leadership from MPD’s Third District (Bloomingdale and Truxton Circle) and Fifth District (all Ward 5 neighborhoods east of North Capitol St and south of Michigan Ave NE).
Register to receive the meeting link at ward5.us/monthlycall. The meeting will be livestreamed on CM Parker’s YouTube channel. It will be recorded, and slides will be shared afterwards.
Art Place Construction Notice 2/26/2024-3/2/2024
Reminder: Complete Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Community Art Project Survey by March 4
From The Parks Main Street
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), in collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and EYA (developer of Riggs Park Place), is excited to announce the launch of the Traffic Control Box Community Art Project.
This art installation project will create decorative vinyl wraps featuring local artwork on six traffic control boxes in public spaces along the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE corridor. All art designs will reflect community input. The art will be suitable for family-friendly viewing. Artists of community-selected designs will receive $500 for each design.
Your input is needed to select the “Themes” for this community art project. Choose up to 3 of the suggested themes or include others you would like to see.
Access the survey by clicking the link: Traffic Control Box Art Project Survey
Please vote by the end of the day on Friday, March 4, 2024.
Paper copies of the survey are available at the Lamond-Riggs Library.
Questions about the project? Want more information?
Email info@theparksmainstreet.org.
Find TPMS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X): @theparksmainstreet
Website: https://theparksmainstreet.org
February 28: ANC 5A Public Meeting (Virtual)
From ANC 5A
ANC 5A Meeting
Wednesday, February 28 at 6:45 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86210460261?pwd=NnF5RElVd0orWWppd3FPRGlPMjRPZz09
Meeting ID: 862 1046 0261
Passcode: 869469
Dial In: 301 715 8592
Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
Commissioners will be let into the meeting room first. Once they are all present, the residents will be let in.
AGENDA
I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm
II. Quorum
III. Agenda Review/Acceptance
IV. Commission Business
A. Minutes (November 2023- Regular and Special Meeting, January 2024)
B. Treasurer Report
C. Annual Report
D. Public Safety Committee
E. Faith United Church Community Agreement Update
V. Commission Action Items/Updates
A. 243 Hawaii Ave BZA (5A07)
B. Catholic University of America- Letter of Support (5A04)
VI. Community Updates
A. MPD
B. Mayor’s Office
C. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations
A. 4975 South Dakota Ave NE Gas Station E Charging Station (5A08)
B. Art Place at Fort Totten Update (5A09)
C. UDC Presentation-President Edington (5A01)
D. Boys Town Closure (5A02)
VIII. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 27, 2024
IX. Adjourn
February 26: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)
From ANC 4B
ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting Agenda
Monday, February 26, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:
For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82101129078?pwd=NVRTSnd0Ni9FVE5nLzV3Z1pwOTN6UT09.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 82101129078. Passcode: 531002.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of February 2024 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
C. Approval of January 2024 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report and Quarterly Financial Report for First Quarter FY2024
3. Commissioner Updates
4. Community Concerns
*Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting. This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.*
5. Reports:
A. Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
B. Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
C. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)
D. Vision Zero Committee (2 minutes)
E. Youth Advisory Committee (2 minutes)
6. Presentation: Travoris Culpepper, Manager of Strategic Infrastructure & Operations Initiatives, Pepco, Climate Ready Pathways Multi-Rate Plan (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
7. Presentation: Dr. Linda McKay, Executive Director, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School, Petition to Public Charter School Board to Amend Charter Agreement to Relocate from Sixth Presbyterian Church at 5413 16th Street, NW, to Takoma Park Baptist Church at 635 Aspen Street, NW (10-minute presentation; 15-minute discussion)
8. Consent Calendar:
- Resolution 4B-24-0201: Authorizing Translation of the Commission’s Website and Related Expenditures (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Smith, and Commissioner Yeats)
- Letter: Providing Feedback on the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions’ Strategic Plan (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Smith, and Commissioner Yeats)
- Resolution 4B-24-0202: Establishing Community Safety and Support Committee (Commissioner Johnson)
9. Letter: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Fiscal Year 2025 Housing Justice Budget Priorities (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Brooks, and Commissioner Smith)
10. Resolution 4B-24-0203: Calling on DMOI to Provide Coordinated Response to Pervasive Nuisance Issues on 6500 Block of Sandy Spring Road, NW (Commissioner Cohen)
11. Adjournment
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for March 12 at 6:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for March 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Art Place Construction Notice 2/19/2024-2/24/2024
Upcoming Mayor Bowser FY2025 Budget Engagement Opportunities
There are a few upcoming opportunities to share budget priorities with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. If you want something for your neighborhood, now is the time to ask for it. Complete the form at budget.dc.gov or leave a voicemail at 202-442-4755. Attend an upcoming budget engagement forum.
Budget Engagement Forum Schedule
Budget Engagement Forum at Deanwood Community Center
When: Saturday, February 24 @ 11:00 a.m.
Where: Deanwood Community Center (1350 49th Street NE)
RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/fy-25-budget-engagement-forum-deanwood-tickets-840160983117
Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall
When: Wednesday, February 28 @ 11:00 a.m.
Call In: (844) 881-1314. Watch parties will also take place at all Senior Centers.
RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/fy-25-senior-budget-engagement-town-hall-tickets-840168646037
Budget Engagement Forum at Brookland Middle School
When: Wednesday, February 28 @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Brookland Middle School (1150 Michigan Ave NE)
RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/fy-25-budget-engagement-forum-brookland-tickets-840167081357
Gen-Z Online Budget Engagement Forum
When: Thursday, February 29 @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Watch online at mayor.dc.gov/live or on Mayor Bowser’s Facebook or X.
RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/fy-25-gen-z-budget-engagement-online-forum-tickets-840170030177
February 22: ANC 5A03 Community Meeting (Virtual)
From ANC Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03)
ANC 5A03 Meeting
Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 7:00 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83272638450?pwd=MG9kcVdQRzdXeWxPTE9zRlZzSUpSUT09
Meeting ID: 832 7263 8450
Passcode: 740734
Dial In: 301 715 8592
AGENDA
- Hypothermia Shelter Agreement
- Updates on construction
- Updates on work with DDOT
- Community Concerns
For more information, contact:
Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio
5a03@anc.dc.gov
Water Main Break 5300 Block Chillum Place NE
DC Water is repairing a broken water main in the 5300 block of Chillum Place NE. See alert at https://www.dcwater.com/content/emergency-water-outage-1304.
Give Input on Metro Proposed FY2025 Budget by March 5
Metro is seeking input on its proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. Potential service cuts/reductions would impact several neighborhood bus routes and rail service. See details of the revised FY2025 budget (with jurisdictional funding) at wmata.com/budget. Submit survey responses and comment letters by 5:00 pm on March 5, 2024.
See proposed bus service cuts by visiting the Docket for Public Feedback.
A few notable proposed changes for the neighborhood:
- Eliminate routes 60, E2, F1, K2, K9
- Eliminate route R1, retain route R2
- Shorten route 64 to operate between Fort Totten and Georgia Ave-Petworth. Route 64 would no longer have weekend service.
- Shorten route 80 to operate between Fort Totten and Union Station. Decrease frequency on route 80 to every 20 minutes or better all day
—
Portion of Metro News Release copied below
Metro has released a revised FY25 proposed Budget based on public funding commitments that keeps operating spending flat with Fiscal Year 2024 and minimizes service changes. Pending this funding, the FY25 Budget proposal would severely limit service and increase costs for customers. These include:
Fares
- Up to 25 percent fare increase
- 20 percent parking rate increase
Metrobus
- Eliminate service on 83 of 184 routes
- Reduce service on 51 of 184 routes
- Shorten routes with rail service
Metrorail
- Close 10 lower ridership stations
- Turn back every other Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring
- Turn back Silver Line trains at Stadium-Armory
- Decrease service on all lines – weekdays every 15 minutes, weekends every 20 minutes
- Decrease Hours of operation: Close the rail system at 10pm; or
- Keep existing rail system hours and open earlier and close later weekends: open at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays, close at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays
MetroAccess
- Reduced service area due to a reduction in fixed route bus service
- Approximately 20 percent of MetroAccess trips would no longer be served
How to provide feedback
Take the Survey
Take the survey and upload documents, letters, and written comments
Public Hearings
Metro will host three in-person and one virtual public hearing. Information about the FY25 Proposed Budget will be available during a “Your Metro” Open House along with staff to answer your questions. The Open House will begin one hour prior to the start of the hearing.
If you’re interested in providing in-person testimony at a hearing, pre-registration is strongly encouraged, but not required. Email speak@wmata.com or call 202-962-2511 by 12 p.m. the day of the hearing.
Monday, Feb. 26
Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans’ Plaza
1 Veterans Pl
Silver Spring, MD
Nearest rail station: Red Line Silver Spring Station
Bus routes: Metrobus Z6, Z8; Ride On 9, 12, 15, and Flash
Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.
Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Metro L’Enfant Plaza HQ
300 7th Street SW
Washington, DC
Nearest rail station: Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, Yellow lines (L’Enfant Plaza)
Bus routes: Metrobus 32, 36, 52, P6, DC Circulator
Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.
Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Arlington County Board Room
Ellen M. Bozman Government Center
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Ste. #307
Arlington, VA
Nearest rail station: Orange, Silver lines (Court House)
Bus routes: Metrobus 4B, 38B, ART Bus 41, 77
Thursday, Feb. 29, at 12 p.m.
Virtual only (via telephone or video) on Microsoft Teams*.
To provide video testimony, pre-register by emailing your name and organizational affiliation, if any, to speak@wmata.com or calling 202-962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.
To take part by phone, call 206-899-2028 during the hearing and enter meeting code 164 729 013. No advance registration available.
*You do not need to download Teams or have a Microsoft account to join the meetings.
Watch the Public Hearings Live
You can watch the Public Hearings live on our YouTube channel.
February 20: Meet Up with Mendo (Virtual)
Virtual Meet Up with DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson
February 20, 2024
5:00 pm
Facebook and Youtube (Chairmanmendelson.com/live)
Send questions in advance to ChairmanCS@dccouncil.gov or message any of Chair Mendelson’s social media accounts (facebook, twitter, instagram).
Art Place Construction Notice 2/12/2024-2/17/2024
Complete Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Community Art Project Survey by March 4
From The Parks Main Street
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), in collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and EYA (developer of Riggs Park Place), is excited to announce the launch of the Traffic Control Box Community Art Project.
This art installation project will create decorative vinyl wraps featuring local artwork on six traffic control boxes in public spaces along the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE corridor. All art designs will reflect community input. The art will be suitable for family-friendly viewing. Artists of community-selected designs will receive $500 for each design.
Your input is needed to select the “Themes” for this community art project. Choose up to 3 of the suggested themes or include others you would like to see.
Access the survey by clicking the link: Traffic Control Box Art Project Survey
Please vote by the end of the day on Friday, March 4, 2024.
Paper copies of the survey are available at the Lamond-Riggs Library.
Questions about the project? Want more information?
Email info@theparksmainstreet.org.
Find TPMS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X): @theparksmainstreet
Website: https://theparksmainstreet.org
Partial Red Line Closure North of Fort Totten Planned for Summer 2024
Metro is planning to shut down the red line between Fort Totten and Glenmont from June to September 2024. Metro will provide more details about the planned outage at a later date. At its board meeting on February 8, Metro stated this closure is needed to support Maryland’s work on the purple line:
June 2024 – September 2024: Fort Totten Metrorail Station to Glenmont Metrorail Station Red Line service will be shutdown to allow the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) access to construct the Purple Line mezzanine at Silver Spring. The work must be completed during a shutdown as the scope of work involves both tracks for extended timeframe. Additional work scheduled includes leak mitigation, automatic train control system replacements, traction power cables installation, drain pumping station replacement, tunnel standpipe replacement, and elevator/escalator maintenance. Shuttle Bus Service will be provided to customers.
Read Metro press release at https://wmata.com/about/news/Metro-announces-three-year-capital-construction-plans-including-Red-Line-station-closures-this-summer.cfm.
February 10-11: No Red Line Service at Brookland & Fort Totten Stations
Metrorail weekend service for Saturday, February 10 through Sunday, February 11
Advisory Effective: 2/10/24 – 2/11/24
Hours: Sat 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sun 7 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Service-At-A-Glance
| Red Line | Free shuttle buses replace trains between Rhode Island Ave and Takoma. No Red Line service at Brookland-CUA and Fort Totten stations. Trains operate Normal Service frequencies between Shady Grove and Rhode Island Ave and between Takoma and Glenmont. |
| Blue Line | Modified service with trains operating between Foggy Bottom and Franconia-Springfield only. Trains single track between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian and run every 20 minutes between Foggy Bottom and Franconia-Springfield. |
| Silver Line | Trains single tracking between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian. Trains run every 20 minutes between Ashburn and Downtown Largo. |
| Orange Line | Trains single tracking between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian. Trains run every 20 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton. |
| Green Line | Trains run every 6 minutes between approximately 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 minutes all other times. |
| Yellow Line | Trains run every 6 minutes between approximately 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 minutes all other times. |
February 10: Free West African Dance Class at Faith Moravian Church
Join Faith Moravian Church for an exhilarating West African Dance Class at Faith Moravian Church! Get ready to move your body and immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms and energetic dance styles of West Africa.
Led by Ashanté Green, Creative Director of Dance Institute of Washington, you’ll have the opportunity to learn traditional dance steps, explore the rich cultural heritage of West Africa, and connect with fellow dance enthusiasts. She will guide you through the movements, ensuring an enjoyable and inclusive experience for all skill levels.
Whether you’re a beginner or have previous dance experience, this class is open to everyone who wants to have fun and embrace the spirit of West African dance. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM (EST), and get ready to let loose and groove to the infectious beats!
Next Stop...Riggs Park 