Culture Coffee Too Closing End of March

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street, Riggs Park

Culture Coffee Too will be closing its doors at 300 Riggs Road NE at the end of March after five years of providing a space for culture, coffee, and conversation in Riggs Park. Owner Veronica (Ms. V) Cooper opened the Riggs Park location after moving from a location on Kennedy Street NW. She stated in her closing note that she has enjoyed building community in Riggs Park over the last five years and now it is time to move on. Build community she did.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a letter in support of the coffee shop for an award. The words are fitting now as I think about how much I will miss Ms. V. I wrote then:

As the owner of Culture Coffee Too, a coffee shop and arts space in the Riggs Park neighborhood in Northeast Washington, DC, since 2017, Veronica Cooper has made it her business to make her business the cultural and community hub of the neighborhood.

Culture Coffee Too is the quintessential neighborhood small business sitting in the heart of the Riggs Park neighborhood’s commercial corridor. In the three years that Culture Coffee Too has been open, I have seen and been part of the overwhelmingly positive impact it has had on the community. When I served as president of the neighborhood civic association, I had the pleasure of speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate Culture Coffee Too’s opening in 2017. In 2018, Ms. V spearheaded the Riggs Park Art Crawl, bringing art and patrons to neighborhood businesses in Riggs Park. Another successful art crawl followed in 2019, making the neighborhood a little brighter with placemaking murals at neighborhood businesses.

At the end of 2018, I helped start the neighborhood Main Street. The Parks Main Street supports the commercial corridors of the Riggs Park and Manor Park neighborhoods in Washington, DC. It was only fitting that we launched the Main Street at Culture Coffee Too, inviting neighborhood residents, business owners, and all those interested in seeing the commercial corridor of these neighborhoods thrive to join together to make it happen. With Culture Coffee Too, Ms. V. serves as a connector—connecting small business owners, connecting artists, connecting residents. Any time someone steps inside the shop for a cup of tea, a breakfast sandwich, or maybe a smoothie, taking in the artwork on the walls of that month’s featured artist, it is likely that person will leave having met someone new.

I have been told that the coffee shop may be replaced by a Wingstop, a fast food chicken restaurant. (More about this on-brand decision by JBG later.)

Culture Coffee Too will hold a closing party on March 18 at 7:00 pm. Until then, feel free to stop in to give Ms. V her flowers.

Congresswoman Norton Requests More Testing in Fort Totten Park at Request of ANC 5A Commissioner Zachary Ammerman

Posted by nextstoprp in National Park Service

On his ANC website, ANC Commissioner Zachary Ammerman (5A09) has been detailing his efforts to work with the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to request that the National Park Service (NPS) do more extensive soil testing in Fort Totten Park. Congresswoman Norton sent a letter to NPS on February 7, 2023. WTOP also reported on Congresswoman Norton’s letter.

Recall, NPS informed ANC 5A and the Ward 5 Council office in 2017 that the agency was conducting soil testing in an area on the west side of Fort Totten Park that had been used for staging by Metro to build the green line in the 1990s. NPS stated it was testing “out of an abundance of caution” after being informed that fill dirt used to rehabilitate the land was brought from the toxic WWI testing site at Spring Valley. NPS said then that they were not too concerned about Fort Totten Park because of the topography of the land and because the staging area where the dirt was brought and eventually removed was not near any waterways or pedestrian access points. NPS later informed the ANC and the Ward 5 council office of the results of that testing. NPS distributed a community engagement handout to the ANC 5A commissioners and Ward 5 Council office but residents did not receive a copy. NPS also later sent the commissioners and the Ward 5 Council office a copy of the report but that information was not passed along to residents.

Image from 2019 report of soil sample locations on western side of Fort Totten Park.

Fast forward to 2020 when NPS began construction of a formal trail between Gallatin and Galloway Street west of South Dakota Avenue. This is an area of the park east of the station tracks. NPS halted construction after contractors found an unexploded WWI shell along the informal path. NPS contracted for soil testing.

At the time, I noted that it was strange that a WWI shell would be found in an eastern part of the park when the staging that NPS had been concerned about was in the western part of the park.

Image from 2021 study showing study area in yellow where trail planned between Gallatin & Galloway Street NE in Fort Totten Park.
Image from 2020 study showing location of sample testing along previously planned trail between Gallatin & Galloway Street NE in Fort Totten Park.

As this testing was underway, residents and I reached out to Congresswoman Norton’s office and NPS about our concerns both during a quarterly NPS town hall meeting and over email. Congresswoman Norton’s office never addressed the questions during the town hall meetings and simply forwarded the questions to NPS. NPS said that there was no evidence that soil from Spring Valley was brought to the area on the eastern side of the park. NPS said that the soil was confined to the western part of the park and had been removed. Residents and I inquired exactly which areas of the park would be tested. Testing was confined to just the area along the planned trail (full study). NPS restarted construction on the trail in July 2021 after “negative test results.” NPS halted construction again after encountering infrastructure for the green line tunnel. NPS is now supposed to be finishing up design for an alternative location.

Local media reported on the possible connection between the ordnance on the trail and the Spring Valley site in 2022. Congresswoman Norton issued a press release about her “concern” over this discovery and held a meeting with the US Army National Corps of Engineers, Metro, and NPS. NPS stated during meetings that the testing found no evidence of any other unexploded ordnances nearby and found no contamination of the soil beyond that expected of parks in urban areas. NPS stated they would do more test kits and “monitor the area.”

ANC Commissioner Ammerman put together a timeline of events and requested of Congresswoman Norton’s office that NPS conduct more extensive testing. We will see how NPS responds to Congresswoman Norton’s request. What is clear is that this whole thing could have been dealt with properly a long time ago.

Metro temporary bus shelter project at Fort Totten station

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Catching up on posts.

Over the next several months, Metro will be replacing the bus shelters at Fort Totten Metro station. Metro is installing transition bus shelters as part of this process. These are temporary shelters wrapped in artistic images. The temporary shelters still have electronic bus arrival signs and there is a small bench in each shelter.

See more information about the transition bus shelter project at https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/Bus-shelter-replacenment-project-jan2023.cfm and https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/Metro-Transition-Shelter-Installation-Program.cfm.

Signage at the transition shelters explains that the artistic designs are based on hand-drawn renderings of the Metro system by employees of the architectural firm that designed the Metrorail system, including an individual named Gene Streett. See more about the images at https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/art-in-transit/ait-fort-totten.cfm.

February 16: ANC 5A08 and 5A03 Joint Meeting on McDonald’s Development – Public Space Committee Application

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

From ANC 5A

ANC 5A08 and 5A03 Joint Meeting on McDonald’s Public Space Committee Application

Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 7:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82747576285?pwd=SmJaZFl0U3VwNHkzNEVmRHU1YzE1UT09

Meeting ID: 827 4757 6285
Passcode: 826515

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 827 4757 6285
Passcode: 826515

AGENDA ITEMS 

McDonald’s Public Space Committee Application

February 15: ANC 5A Satellite Office Space Committee Community Meeting – Soliciting Public Comment

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

From ANC 5A

ANC 5A Satellite Office Space Meeting
 Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 8:00 pm

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/yaa-task-dzm 

 To join by phone, dial +1 925-621-0939 and enter this PIN: 635 734 652#

Virtual meeting rules: 

Participants will be muted until called upon. A timer will be used, and time limits will be strictly adhered to. The meeting will be recorded, a transcript will be taken, and both the recording and the transcript will be posted after the meeting. Raise your hand to be called upon during the community comment and discussion segment.

Accessibility: 

The Committee strives to host meetings that are inclusive and accessible and that enable the full participation of all residents of the Commission area. The meeting will be closed-captioned. Please contact Commissioner Ammerman at 5a09@anc.dc.gov at least 48 hours before the meeting start time if you have any requests for special accommodations needed to participate fully in the meeting. 

Meeting subject: Soliciting public comment and discussion on use of the ANC 5A satellite office space located at 420 Galloway Street NE

Background info. and documents: In 2017,  ANC 5A acquired approximately 600 square feet of office space located at 420 Galloway Street NE as part of the Community Benefits Agreement in the P.U.D. for the Modern at Art Place development. Starting in 2020 and continuing to the present, Ward 5 Mutual Aid has been using the office on an informal basis as a supply hub for their organization. ANC 5A formed this Committee during its January meeting to provide recommendations to the entire ANC 5A Commission on formalizing this relationship and developing a long-term strategy for using the office. 

Documents: 

AGENDA ITEMS 

  • Welcome and introduction
  • Background information, rationale, and goals for committee and meeting
  • Opening Remarks: Commissioners Ammerman, Fletcher, and Malone
  • Ward 5 Mutual Aid remarks and presentation
  • Community comment and discussion
  • 2 minutes max. per speaker. The total discussion segment is limited to 30 minutes max.
  • Wrap-up 
  • Meeting summary and next steps
  • Closing Remarks: Commissioners Ammerman, Fletcher, and Malone
  • Adjourn

This Week: Mayor Bowser Budget Engagement Forums

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser will be holding a series of FY2024 budget engagement forums this week. You can also share your budget ideas and priorities by completing the form at budget.dc.gov. This is the time to ask for what you want.

Mayor Bowser’s 2023 Budget Engagement Forums

Join fellow DC residents to share your values, priorities, and ideas with the Bowser Administration as the FY24 Budget is developed.

Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall

When: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 12:00pm

Call-In Number: 844-881-1314

RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/FY24SeniorBEF

Budget Engagement Forum #1

When: Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6pm

Where: Jackson-Reed High School, 3950 Chesapeake Street NW

RSVP:https://tinyurl.com/FY24JacksonReed

Budget Engagement Forum #2

When: Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 11am

Where: Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE

RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/FY24Eastern

Other Ways to Participate

Leave a Voicemail

Call 202-442-4755 to share your ideas and priorities.

My Neighbor Mrs. Cobb & the Miracle of Hamilton Street

Posted by nextstoprp in Riggs Park

This morning, I attended the funeral service for my neighbor Mrs. Cobb. She lived a full 96 years. Mrs. Cobb and her family moved to Riggs Park on Hamilton Street NE around 1960, one of the first Black families to do so. She held a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hampton (Institute) University and trained a generation of nurses in DC. She was active in her Michigan Park Christian Church community.

It was a treat to know Mrs. Cobb and to hear the tributes to her. Reggie and Chucky Royster, two brothers who grew up on Hamilton Street with Mrs. Cobbs’ sons–Benny, David, and the late Tyrone–shared that Mrs. Cobb was part of a group of families who all moved onto the 900 and 1000 blocks of Hamilton Street NE in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These families looked out for each other’s families, took each other’s children to school, fed each other’s children, and corrected each other’s children when they did something wrong. They worked in a number of different professions. Reflecting on their time growing up on Hamilton Street in the 1960s and ’70s, Reggie Royster said it was like being part of a miracle on Hamilton Street.

I always tell people one of the reasons I was drawn to this part of Riggs Park and Hamilton Street in particular was that when I was looking at my house, it reminded me of the neighborhood where I grew up. A neighborhood where neighbors knew one another, held block parties and parades, always shared a friendly wave and hello, and looked out for each other.

By the time I purchased my home on Hamilton across the street from Mrs. Cobb in 2010, she would have been 83 years old. One would not know it. I certainly did not. She was pretty active and spry well into her 90s. A neighbor and I joke that the women on the block all live into their 90s because of all the steps in these houses. Or maybe it is because they are some of the kindest people I know. In any case, Mrs. Cobb started slowing down probably around 93 years old. She would sit on her porch every day simply enjoying the fresh air and quiet.

Mrs. Cobb was part of a group of elderly Black women on the block whom I know only by last name. Only today did I learn her first name. Marianne P. Cobb. May she rest well and memories of her be a comfort and blessing to her loved ones.

February 6: LRCA Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting
February 6, 2023
7:00 pm

February 2023 Meeting Agenda

1. Welcome/Invocation
2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
4. LRCA Budget Review
5. John Stokes, DC Department of General Services (DGS)
6. LRCA Development Taskforce presentation regarding greenspace project on land adjacent to Food & Friends
7. Community Concerns/Closing

To view the meeting online, click the following link.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81370798567?pwd=SlhqTlJrWVMyMVlOSEh0UUExbmMyQT09

Meeting ID: 813 7079 8567

Passcode: 881450

Dial into the meeting by phone:

Call: (301)715-8592

Meeting ID: 813 7079 8567

Passcode: 881450

Read LRCA’s February 2023 Newsletter.

Become a member of LRCA. View map of LRCA’s boundaries.

Tonight: North Michigan Park Civic Association Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

If you live in North Michigan Park and wish to receive North Michigan Park Civic Association meeting notices and updates, please email president Carmen Williams at carm8954@aol.com to be added to the distribution list.

North Michigan Park Civic Association 

Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting

Meeting ID 882 7345 2110

Passcode 930240

Call In 1-301-715-8592

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88273452110?pwd=dmZ3R1liOTRKY1FyS3hlYlBqWnBWUT09

Unfortunately, no face-to-face meeting at the NMP Recreation Center – Recreation Center new hours of operation close at 8:00 pm

·         Call to Order

·         Opening Prayer – Silent

·         Roll Call of Officers

Meeting Protocol

  • Phone call should remain on mute unless asked to unmute. 
  • Respect others when speaking
  • Respect our guest.
  • Raise your hand if you have a question and wait to be acknowledged.

Guest Speaker

Leila Batties – McDonald’s Update
Q&A

Community Leader Reports

Carlos McKnight – Ward 5 Councilmembers Office

Q&A

Guest Speaker

Officer Robert Hamrick – 4D Community Affairs
MPD Officer from the Weapons Unit

Community Leader Reports

Mayor’s Office – Christian Starghill

ANC Commissioners that represent NMP

    5A02 – Karlus Cozart

    5A03 – Emily Lucio

    5A08 – Gordon Andrew Fletcher

    5A09 – Zachary Ammerman

Civic Association Updates 

Open Discussion:

  • Bike Lanes for South Dakota Ave
  • Installation of Gas Pumps at the 4Mart on South Dakota Avenue
  • Face to Face meeting for monthly meetings in discussion with Faith United Church

 Coming Events in 2023

  • February – Scholarship application begins (2 $1,000.00 scholarships) applications available at the Recreation Center email to individuals on NMPCA registered listserve
  • May – Community Clean Up also with Bulk Trash pick up
  • June – Scholarship Night
  • June – Community Yard Sale
  • June – August – Community Day (date unconfirmed)
  • August – School Supplies and Backpack event
  • September – Community Clean Up with Bulk Trash pick up
  • November – Toy Drive
  • December – Holiday Party

Next Month Guest

  • Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker 
  • Board of Zoning
  • Tax and Revenue

McDonald’s Rezoning Request for Drive-thru Gets Final Approval by DC Zoning Commission

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

At its public meeting on January 26, 2023, the DC Zoning Commission took final action, voting (3-1-1) to approve a map amendment request for the McDonald’s property at 4950 South Dakota Avenue NE to change the zone district from MU-3A to MU-7B (Zoning Commission case no. 22-19, recording at approximately 1:24:50 mark). The new zoning district permits a drive-thru as a matter of right, which is the reason McDonald’s pursued this rezoning. Zoning Commission Chair Anthony Hood, Vice Chair Robert Miller, and Commissioner Joseph Imamura voted in support. Commissioner Peter May opposed. One seat is vacant.

The zoning commissioners rested on the points they made at the initial vote, described in this post. Recall DC’s Office of Planning supported the rezoning request, while the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) objected to the request. In order to actually build a drive-thru, McDonald’s will have to go through DDOT’s public space permit process.

Brookland Metrorail Station Closed January 28 & 29: Shuttle Buses between Fort Totten & Rhode Island Avenue Metrorail Stations

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

From Metro:

Red Line Red Line

  • Trains every 10 minutes operating in two segments: Shady Grove to Rhode Island Ave; and Fort Totten to Glenmont.  

Scheduled Maintenance

Due to fiber-optic cable installation for radio and signal systems, service will be shut down between Rhode Island Ave and Fort Totten: 

  • Trains will operate in two segments: between Fort Totten and Glenmont; and Rhode Island Ave and Shady Grove. 
  • Brookland Station closed.
  • Free shuttle buses available between Fort Totten, Brookland and Rhode Island Ave. 

Reminder: Complete Ward 5 Needs (Budget) Survey Soon

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 5

Performance oversight and budget season is upon us. In preparation for DC Council performance and budget oversight hearings, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker office is asking residents to identify Ward 5 needs.

Complete the Ward 5 Needs Survey at ward5.us/oversightform.

The survey lists four areas (schools & rec; street safety & transportation; pollution, trash, & environmental justice; & violence reduction & community safety), but residents can also list other areas of concern.

CM Parker’s office is also accepting feedback in other ways. Copied from the survey:

We welcome emails and letters from residents, civic associations, parent-teacher associations, and advisory neighborhood commissioners highlighting concerns in more detail. Please send those materials to Conor Shaw (cshaw@dccouncil.gov) by February 3, 2023. If you’d prefer to relay your concerns via phone, please contact us at 202 724 8028.

This is the time to identify issues you would like Councilmember Parker to be aware of for oversight purposes and to advocate for budget items. I know neighbors have asked for support and funding for a number of things over the years that still need attention and funding, with a couple of more recent asks.

  • Attractive green space at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. This is consistent with approved neighborhood area development plan.
  • Shade for the Riggs-LaSalle Rec playground.
  • Support/funding for neighborhood park/area recommendations in draft Ready2Play plan.
  • New Riggs Park-area pool.
  • Better coordination with National Park Service (NPS) to get things that neighbors would like to see at Fort Circle Park. This is consistent with approved neighborhood area development plan.
  • Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Avondale segment. This is consistent with approved National Capital Trail Network
  • South Dakota Avenue NE Multimodal Safety and Access Study along the lines of the Bladensburg Rd. Multimodal Safety and Access Study that was funded in FY 2023. Longstanding issues at key intersections at Galloway Street, Hamilton Street, Ingraham Street, & Riggs Road in Riggs Park, but also points further south.
  • Taylor Street/Rock Creek Church Road bike lanes
  • Riggs Road NE cycletrack and trailhead
  • For Bertie Backus campus plan, ensuring that any plans/changes have a positive impact on the local neighborhood in addition to advancing institutional goals.
  • For Metro’s Joint Development program, ensuring that any further redevelopment of Fort Totten Metro station, as anticipated in Metro’s 10-year strategic plan, has a positive impact on the local neighborhood in addition to advancing Metro’s institutional goals.

Being as specific as possible, explaining how neighbors have advocated for items over a number of years, and providing cost estimates & number of people impacted to the extent possible, is always helpful. Connecting requests to approved plans, study recommendations, and initiatives, such as the Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue NE Area Development Plan, moveDC, Vision Zero, and DDOT livability studies, is also helpful to provide justification for the request or context for the issue.

Even if you do not have a lot of time to spend on the survey, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with Councilmember Parker.

Upcoming DC Council Agency Performance Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

DC Council oversight hearings for District government agencies begin this week. Find the full draft schedule at https://dccouncil.gov/2022-2023-performance-oversight-fy-2024-budget-schedules.

Have issues with how an agency is performing? Have ideas about how to make things better?

Is there something that multiple neighbors are experiencing with an agency that remains unresolved despite multiple attempts at resolution?

Is there an agency doing something well that might be a useful idea for another agency?

Are there things that an agency is doing well but you just wish they were doing more of whatever that thing is?

Let the Council know.

Individual committee instructions on how to participate either by testifying orally or by submitting written comments are available at https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DRAFT-Instructions-for-Public-Participation-PERFORMANCE-OVERSIGHT-01132023.pdf. (Note, this list is currently incomplete).

Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George chairs the Council’s Facilities & Family Services Committee. This is the committee that oversees DC’s Department of General Services (DGS), among other agencies. DGS is responsible for maintaining District-owned buildings and District-managed space. This includes traditional public schools and recreation centers. Instructions on how to sign up to testify for that committee are available at https://janeeseward4.com/testify.

Reminder: Submit Comments on DC Parks & Rec Master Plan by January 31

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

Be sure to comment on the District’s draft parks and recreation long-range plan by January 31, 2023. Visit ready2playdc.com to read the draft plan and submit your comments.

From DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR):

The plan includes goals, strategies, actions, and an investment blueprint to guide DPR over the next two decades. There are policy-level planning, programming, design, and operations actions that DPR intends to undertake and track over the coming years, as well as specific site-based recommendations and an implementation plan of investment.

The draft plan is currently posted on the Ready2Play website, where you can submit comments directly in the document by clicking on the relevant area of the page and filling in the comment window that pops up. Additionally, there is a public comment survey where you can leave additional feedback or general comments on the whole document.

I previously discussed some elements of the draft plan in this post.

This is the time to support the items in the draft plan that you like and to continue to advocate for funding and implementation of the things neighbors want.

Want to see attractive community green space at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE? Ask for it and remind officials that this request is consistent with the neighborhood’s area development plan.

Want shade at the new Riggs-LaSalle Rec playground? Ask for it.

Want a neighborhood walking track and tennis courts? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan.

Want better coordination with National Park Service for Fort Circle Park? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan & remind officials that the neighborhood’s approved area development plan contemplates recreation and a trail around the perimeter of the park.

Want “safe access” to include not just safe routes to the rec, but also safety in and around the rec? Let officials know.

Whatever it is that you support, let DPR know by January 31.