Art Place Construction Notice 5/6/2024


ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 24, 2024. Commissioners present: Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Vice Chair & Secretary; Diego Rojas (5A04); Tyeron Boston; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer. ANC 5A06 & 5A07 are vacant.
This meeting was focused on public safety so there is not much to recap.
No public safety updates from Commissioner Cozart, who heads up the ANC’s public safety committee.
Former ANC Commissioner Sandi Washington noted there was a shooting on North Capitol Street NE. A five-year-old was shot. Former Commissioner Washington asked the ANC for attention on that area of the ANC given that both ANC 5A06 and 5A07 have been vacant for several months now.
Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Anthony Black, Ward 5 MOCR)
Ward 5 MOCR Anthony Black addressed individual questions raised by residents, including mowing/tree care/dumping mitigation needed along public land near Puerto Rico Avenue & Taylor streets NE. As a reminder, Mr. Black is able to meet with residents and commissioners on Tuesdays and Fridays in person to address any issues. Contact Mr. Black at anthony.black@dc.gov.
MPD 4D Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) (Neena Murphy Martin)
Each police district has a citizens advisory council (CAC). Neena Murphy Martin chairs MPD 4th District’s CAC. Commissioner Lucio and Ms. Murphy Martin discussed ways to get more outreach in the Ward 5 part of MPD’s 4th District. For example, they might have punch with a cop. For more info on the CAC, visit https://4dcac.org or contact Ms. Murphy Martin at 4dcacdc@gmail.com.
Ward 5 Council Report (Carlos McKnight, Constituent Services Coordinator to Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker)
Councilmember Zachary Parker held his monthly Ward 5 public safety call on April 24. Neighbors were encouraged to testify during budget oversight hearings.
The next ANC 5A meeting will be on May 22, 2024.

Apply for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Scholarship
If you meet the requirements listed above, then consider applying for this great scholarship opportunity!
Go to lrcadc.org/scholarships for application details.

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:
From DDOT
Traffic Pattern Change on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW Beginning May 6, 2024
(WASHINGTON, DC) — The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising all stakeholders to continue to expect intermittent lane closures and traffic pattern changes on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW in the Northbound Direction. Please see the following information for updated lane closures and traffic pattern changes:
Utility Upgrade Construction
As part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Fort Totten to Takoma Project, this area’s utility upgrades will begin on Monday, May 6, 2024. These utility upgrades will improve drainage and pedestrian safety along the new MBT trail section. Vehicle traffic flow of two travel lanes, one in each direction, will be maintained during peak hours (before 9:30 AM and after 3:30 PM). A two-way traffic pattern on Blair Road NW will be maintained during off-peak hours (between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM). Coordination with the impacted individual locations will be performed by the project public outreach team to accommodate access to these facilities.
These lane closures and traffic pattern changes are necessary to complete utility upgrade work efficiently as part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project.
Sidewalk and Trail Construction
As part of the planned Metropolitan Branch Trail work in the abovementioned area, intermittent temporary sidewalk closures will be taking place to replace curb/gutter sections at driveway entrances, replace ADA access ramps, upgrade utilities, and place additional traffic signal poles for various locations at the intersections. Due to safety concerns and spacing limitations, pedestrian detours will be put in place, where possible, to move pedestrians to the opposite side of the roadway at the closest accessible crosswalk. Each impacted location will be contacted directly to coordinate a location-specific pedestrian egress plan through that specific section of the sidewalk.
Traffic controls, including signage, will be in place to guide motorists and pedestrians safely through the work zone. All roadway users are advised to stay alert and be observant of signage and work zones while traveling in this area.
Once complete, the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project will include improvements such as a new multi-use trail section, sidewalks, streetlights, green area revitalization, and other streetscape elements.
For more information about this project and to stay up to date on traffic-related impacts and construction progress, please visit mbt-forttotten-takoma.ddot.dc.gov.

Hellbender Record Fair
May 4, 2024
1:00 pm-7:00 pm
5788 2nd Street NE
Hellbender Brewery is hosting a record fair on Saturday, May 4 from 1pm to 7pm. In addition to numerous vinyl, CD, and music memorabilia vendors, there will be multiple food trucks and live DJs! This is a free, all ages event and fun for the whole family.
From North Michigan Park Civic Association
North Michigan Park Civic Association Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
Virtual Meeting
Meeting ID 882 7345 2110
Pass code 930240
Call In 1-301-715-8592
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88273452110?pwd=dmZ3R1liOTRKY1FyS3hlYlBqWnBWUT09
Meeting Agenda
· Call to Order
· Opening Prayer – Silent
· Roll Call of Officers
Meeting Protocol
Community Update
Guest Speakers:
Community Leader Reports
Community Concerns:
Open to residents
Adjourn
Riggs-LaSalle Rec is the next stop on the Senior Fest Pre-Game Tour.
Senior Fest Pre-Game Tour
May 1, 2024
12:00 pm-2:00 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Senior Fest 2024 will take place on May 29, 2024, at UDC Van Ness Campus. Join in for fitness demonstrations, line dancing, entertainment, and more.

From ANC 4B
Regular Public Meeting Agenda
Monday, April 29, 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/81112727502?pwd=T1QycGMwcWhhQW5lRU4wTGUvY1Frdz09.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 811 1272 7502. Passcode: 431896.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of April 2024 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
C. Approval of March 2024 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report and Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter of FY 2024
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. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education (3 minutes)
D. Housing Justice Committee(2 minutes)
E. Vision Zero Committee(2 minutes)
F. Youth Advisory Committee(2 minutes)
G. Community Safety & Support Committee (2 minutes)
6. Presentation: Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal (20-minute presentation; 15-minute discussion) [Tentative]
7. Presentation: Seth Charde, Senior Manager & Eric Lienhard, Deputy Program Manager, DC Clean Rivers Project, DC Water, Rock Creek Green Infrastructure Project C Permeable Alley Installations (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
8. Presentation: Joel Conlon, Lead Urban Forester, Urban Forestry Division, District Department of Transportation, Mission and Work of the Division (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
9. Presentation: District Department of Energy and Environment, RiverSmart Homes Eligibility and Program Details (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
10. Consent Calendar:
11. Resolution 4B-24-0404: Providing Feedback on District Department of Transportation Proposal for Intersection of Georgia Avenue, Alaska Avenue, and Kalmia Road, NW (NOI 24-821-TESD) (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Colson, Commissioner Palmer, and Commissioner Smith)
12. Resolution 4B-24-0405: Providing Clerical Correction and Reiterating Support for Proposal for 71 Kennedy Street, NW and Application for Zoning Special Exceptions (BZA 21103) (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, and Commissioner Smith)
13. Adjournment
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for May 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for May 28th at 7:00 p.m. Please note change in date to Tuesday to accommodate a holiday.
The next ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting is scheduled for May 1 at 7:30 p.m.
The next ANC 4B Youth Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled for May 5.
The next ANC 4B Vision Zero Committee Meeting is scheduled for May 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Mayor Bowser Ward 4 Spring Clean Up
April 27, 2024
10:00 am
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Both Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker provided parks and recs update in their newsletters a couple of weeks ago that are of interest to the neighborhood.
From Councilmember Lewis George on planned summer repairs:
From Councilmember Parker on green space at southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE:
I listened to a recording of the budget oversight hearing for DGS, and it clarifies conflicting information we were receiving about the green space (discussion starts at roughly the 01:41 mark). The green space sits in DDOT’s portfolio. Instead of pursuing a transfer of jurisdiction to DPR, DGS Director Delano Hunter stated that they will go through DDOT’s public space permitting process to program the space. (DDOT has stated for a while that this is their preferred option). DDOT wants to keep the space in its portfolio in case of transportation needs.
Director Hunter stated that the plan is to have a designer on board before the end of this fiscal year (so before September 30, 2024) with the goal of having initial community engagement by then as well. Director Hunter stated that there is about $440,000 in the budget. We know this is not a ton of money to create an actual park, but it will be a start for some landscaping, maybe some benches, and generally making the space more useable.
Park space here is included in the neighborhood’s area development plan. A team of neighbors (myself included) has been working on getting this funded for several years now. That is the reason for all of the surveys. In my formal and informal conversations with District agencies on this, I pointed out that this space could feature any number of things, such as a neighborhood sign, neighborhood history park, an art park, native plant demonstration garden, walking path, and limited recreation (think seasonal ice/skate rink). To bolster our funding request, a team of us worked with EYA to draw up initial concept plans with the goal of providing a more concrete idea of what we have in mind for agency officials (shoutout to EYA for this).
The limited amount budgeted for this space for Fiscal Year 2024 is not going to get us anywhere close to 100% of what we want, but it is a small start. And we continue to work to identify other sources of funding for things like neighborhood history markers in the space. We also know that there is still a third phase for Art Place at Fort Totten that will eventually get started at some point (this is the space on the northwest side of South Dakota Avenue/Kennedy Street NE). If the timing were better, it would have been nice to be able to conceive of these spaces together.


Metro is replacing the bus shelters at Fort Totten Metro station. The first phase will take place April 22 to May 10, 2024 (residents might have noticed preliminary work happening in the area already). The second phase is scheduled to take place May 13 to May 28, 2024.
Below copied from Metro’s website
The following bus bays at Fort Totten will be receiving new shelters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K
The installation of new bus shelters will occur in two phases at Fort Totten:
Phase 1 – April 22, 2024 – May 10, 2024
Bus bays A, B, C, and K will temporarily close from April 22nd to May 10th to install the new bus shelters. During this timeframe, customers will board their regularly scheduled buses at temporary stop locations:

Bus bays D, E, F, G, H and J will not be impacted during Phase 1 of the temporary bus stop relocations at Fort Totten.
Customers should be aware that the Kiss & Ride shelter will close temporarily on Wednesday, April 10th and will reopen at the end of Phase 1. Additionally, four parking spaces at the Kiss & Ride will be temporarily unavailable during Phase 1. Sidewalk accessibility will be maintained outside of the Kiss & Ride shelter construction area.
For more information on temporary bus stop locations and accessibility during phase 1, see map.

Phase 2 – May 13, 2024 – May 28, 2024
Bus bay D, E, F, G, H and J will temporarily close. The Kiss & Ride will also be closed during this period. Customers may board buses at temporary stop locations:

Bus routes serving temporary bus stops T1, T2 and T3 during Phase 1 will be relocated to new temporary bus stop locations during Phase 2. Customers may board buses at temporary stops locations:

Bus bay K and the shelter at the Kiss & Ride will not be impacted during Phase 2 of the temporary bus stop relocations.
Customers should be aware that the Kiss & Ride will be closed during Phase 2.
For more information on temporary bus stop locations and accessibility during Phase 2, see map.

Please plan on additional travel time to access these temporary locations.
Station entrances and exits will not be impacted during construction.
From ANC 5A
ANC 5A Meeting
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 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.
I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm
II. Quorum
III. Agenda Review/Acceptance
IV. Commission Business
A. Minutes (March 2024)
B. Public Safety Committee Update
V. Commission Action Items/Updates
VI. Community Updates
A. 4D CAC
B. MPD
B. Mayor’s Office
C. Councilmember Parker’s office
VII. Reports & Presentations
VIII. Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
IX. Adjourn

CALL FOR ARTISTS – Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Art Project
Applications due by Monday April 29, 2024
The Parks Main Street (TPMS), with funding from EYA (developers of Riggs Park Place) and the support of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA), seeks artist proposals for designs to wrap traffic control boxes in Riggs Park featuring artwork by local artists of all ages.
The community selected artwork will be professionally printed on vinyl wrapping and installed by local printers. The expected lifespan for the vinyl wraps is about six years but may be removed early. TPMS and its vendors will be responsible for managing maintenance of wraps.
Application due by Monday April 29, 2024.
The selected artwork will be announced on or around May 24, 2024.
Final selected artwork design on or around June 7, 2024.
Click the link to apply: Riggs Park Traffic Control Box Art Project – CALL FOR ARTISTS

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites residents to join his next Monthly Public Safety Call on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Guests will be Commander Aaron Donald, Metro Transit Police; MPD 3rd District Captain Chris Moore; MPD 5th District Commander Sylvan Altieri.
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.
[Ed. Note: This information was posted on the Lamond-Riggs community list yesterday.]
MPD 4th District Commander Nikki Lavenhouse will hold a community walk today April 17, 2024, at noon. Meet in the 400 block of Riggs Road NE. If you are interested in participating, please feel free to join them.