Lamond-Riggs Library construction progress update 4/15/2021:
· All (151) deep foundation piers have been completed.
· Construction equipment for deep foundations has been demobilized
· Post deep foundation site re-grade is complete.
· Offsite Steel fabrication is complete.
· Temporary utility coordination is underway.
· As you may recall, from design presentations, the large (Bradford pear) tree closest to the building informed the design concept and the footprint of the new building. As shown in the design phase diagram below, this tree was intended to remain and was safeguarded during demolition. Following the removal of the building, the previously hidden root structure has been under evaluation by Arborist, Urban Forestry, & DDOT and unfortunately as of this week, they all agreed that the tree is a safety hazard and needs to be removed.
o In consultation with DDOT, an expedited tree removal permit has been filed.
o A distinct mature tree is planned to be transplanted in the proximity of the old tree to keep the design intent intact.
o The exact location and species for the new replacement tree are under consideration and will become clear following ongoing consultation with Urban Forestry & DDOT.
What to expect in the weeks ahead?
Construction will continue within the permitted hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday.
To make up for the lost weather days, the library has directed Consigli to work Saturdays.
All work will continue to take place within the enclosed construction fence.
Typical concrete foundations (above the completed deep foundations) are slated to start in the upcoming week and related site work will continue through the month of May.
Underground utility, electrical, and plumbing work has commenced
Excavators will remain onsite and concrete trucks & pumps, will be onsite during pour days.
Trucks will still enter and exit the site via South Dakota Avenue into the construction enclosure from Kennedy St.
Coordination of utility work in streets is underway, and an update will follow to share the traffic control plans and dates of the work.
All trucks will be completely stationed within the site enclosure to limit the disruption to adjoining South Dakota, Kennedy & Jefferson Streets.
Underground utility, electrical, and plumbing work is slated to overlap foundation work.
The sidewalk on South Dakota, Jefferson St & Kennedy St. will continue to remain open for the foreseeable future.
Consigli Construction is taking all necessary measures to run a safe operation, and as with all construction projects, construction-related noise will be part of the process as the team builds your new library.
Any general questions you receive from the community can be directed to Library’s Community engagement liaison Martha Saccocio at her email: Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.
Any time-sensitive Construction Safety Issues can be reported to Consigli Construction Superintendent- Michael Davis at 202.570.3375
Many neighbors might notice the construction for the new playground is nearing completion. I reached out to the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation for an update and here is what they said:
Thank you for your support of the new playground at Riggs Park. You have probably seen that we are in the finishing moments. We have to install the landscaping and various punch-list items in the coming weeks, but we anticipate opening the playground around the end of the month. I will let you know once we have a confirmed date.
So, that sounds like very good news. I’ll keep ya’ll posted when that “confirmed date” is known.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee will meet on Monday, April 12, 2021, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Committee will be meeting virtually. Details about participating/watching the meeting are included below:
ANC 4B07 SMD Meeting April 7, 2021 7:00 pm-8:00 pm
ANC Commissioner Geoff Bromaghin (4B07) will be holding a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, April 7th, from 7:00pm-8:00pm about a proposal to install a “FitLot” at Lamond Recreation Center.
AARP is looking to donate the FitLot, which is an outdoor fitness space featuring a combination of exercise equipment. DPR has suggested the underutilized handball court area on the north side of Lamond Rec could be a good location.
DC Water provided updated materials for the neighborhood’s sewer system evaluation. We first wrote about the study in this post. Part of the evaluation will involve a smoke test. Smoke testing is expected to begin in April 2021. DC Water will provide notice before smoke testing is done.
The Commission is now seeking applicants for Committee membership. You must be a resident within the Commission’s boundaries to be a member. Check if you reside within the Commission’s boundaries here: https://anc4b.com/about-the-anc/.
If you are interested in serving as a member of the Committee, please email a statement of interest, including any relevant experience, by April 30th. The Commission will not be monitoring responses to the listservs. Please send any statements of interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson at 4B06@anc.dc.gov.
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 24, 2021. Commissioners present: Damion McDuffie, Sr. (5A01); Charles Lockett (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio – Secretary (5A03); Ronnie Edwards – Chair (5A05); Derrick Holloway (5A06); Sandi Washington – Treasurer (5A07); Gordon Fletcher – Vice Chair (5A08)
ANC Business
The ANC has signed a contract for services to update and maintain the ANC website. While the work is taking place, the website will be offline. Meeting notices will be posted at https://anc.dc.gov/events.
The ANC will report on action steps that came out of the ANC’s public safety meeting held on March 18, 2021. Commissioner Fletcher stated the goal is to have quarterly public safety meetings. The next one will be in June. The DC Office of the Attorney General and DC Department of Behavorial Health will be invited.
Resolution on Heavy Trucks
Comissioner Lucio presented two resolutions concerning heavy trucks on prohibited streets. The first was to request a heavy truck camera on Sargent Road NE where it becomes 13th Street NE. The resolution will likely be modified in some way for the other commissioners to add other areas where heavy trucks are a problem.
The second resolution was a letter to request more funding for MPD’s motor carrier unit in order to get more truck cameras. The city only has a few truck cameras that get rotated throughout the city. That resolution was not seconded, so Commissioner Edwards told Commissioner Lucio that she can present it again at a future meeting after the commissioners have reviewed it.
MPD Police Report
MPD Fourth District Lt. Patrick Schaut stated that in the last 30 days in ANC 5A, there were only 24 crimes and all of them were property crimes. The numbers for the 4th District as a whole are different though. He mentioned a shooting near Turkey Thicket/ in Brookland that resulted in arrest of suspects and a shooting on Sheridan Street in which a suspect has been arrested.
All of the Fourth District officers are back from their details to the US Capitol following the January 6th insurrection.
There has been an increase in thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles. Lt. Schaut said it appears that Hondas and Toyotas are being targeted. It takes about two to three minutes to remove the part. There is not much that anyone can do, but if you see someone fiddling under your car, you might want to check it out.
Commissioner Edwards asked if Lt. Schaut had any thoughts about Commissioner Lucio’s request for more funding for MPD’s motor carrier unit. Lt. Schaut responded that he does not really get into MPD budget issues.
If you know any seniors who need the coronavirus vaccine, contact Ward 5 MOCR Nokomis Hunter at nokomis.hunter@dc.gov so that the MOCR office can assist the senior.
Ward 5 Council Report
Silas Grant, Senior Advisor to Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, repeated that Councilmember McDuffie sent a budget priorities letter to Mayor Bowser for fiscal year 2022. The letter has requests for a guaranteed income program; reparations study; violence interrupters for Riggs Park; and a new library in the Eckington area. Councilmember McDuffie has also requested more funding for the Pathway Programs, a transitional employment program run by the DC Office of Neigborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE). Mr. Grant mentioned this program at ANC 5A’s public safety meeeting as a promising tool to address public safety in a holistic way. If you know anyone who would benefit from this program, reach out to Mr. Grant.
Councilmember McDuffie will host a townhall on COVID-19 next steps soon.
Councilmember McDuffie is also looking at planning a townhall on recreational cannabis and social equity. A resident asked what can be done about the amount of marijuana smoking being done in public that makes it hard for residents to enjoy fresh air. Mr. Grant responded that smoking marijuana in public is prohibited and therefore it is a law enforcement issue. (I will note here as I noted in the chat at the meeting that MPD officers have told me they have been instructed by the mayor to stand down on marijuana enforcement). Mr. Grant also stated that the Council office has received complaints of smoke from attached homes and that the District Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) is looking at studying air quality in homes of seniors in attached houses as a result of smoking by neighbors, or something like that.
DC Bilingual School Expansion
Rendering of DC Bilingual school expansion
DC Bilingual Public Charter School was back to discuss its building expansion at 33 Riggs Road NE. View the presentation here. The website for the expansion is https://dcbilingual.org/growth.
The school is looking to add a 27,000 square foot expansion to serve more students (I think they said roughly 234 more students). There was a lot of discussion about traffic. Pepco’s Capital Grid project is going on in that area. Even before the Capital Grid project made its way to that location, traffic was really terrible along that stretch of Riggs Road NE during morning and evening rush hour. One of the commissioners asked for a copy of the school’s traffic study, which the school will provide when it is completed. One possibly good thing is that DDOT is planning to install a traffic signal at Riggs Road NE and 1st Street NE (the signal is part of the planned Metropolitan Branch Trail but it will be installed before the rest of the trail from Fort Totten to Takoma is constructed). The school plans to lease space at two nearby parking lots for use during construction and afterwards.
Catholic University Nursing School Expansion
The ANC voted to support Catholic University’s nursing school expansion. The zoning case number is 12-01D.
Capital Bikeshare for All Program
Capital Bikeshare for All flyer
The Capital Bikeshare for All program provides an annual bikeshare membership for $5 for eligible individuals 18 years old and older (regular annual membership costs $85). Program participants get unlimited 60-minute rides. In addition, there are no usage fees for ebikes for program participants. The program is open to residents that receive assistance, such as SNAP, WIC, TANF, SSI/SSDI Supplemental Security Income, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Medicaid. Ordinarily, individuals must have a credit or debit card to enroll, but if an individual is unbanked, there may other options for getting enrolled. A webinar for interested community partner organizations will be held March 30, 2021. For questions, contact Lester Wallace at lester.wallace@godcgo.com.
There was a bit of a mixup because Commissioner Lucio thought DDOT would be discussing a bikeshare station that will be installed near South Dakota Avenue NE and Decatur Street NE. DDOT will discuss that at a future meeting.
Miscellaneous
Commissioner Fletcher will hold a single member district (SMD) meeting for his area on April 27, 2021. He also announced that around 40 to 50 students have returned to Rocketship’s Infinity Community Prep campus in Riggs Park for in-person instruction. Rocketship may present on its reopening plans at a future meeting.
Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, located at 4611 Sherriff Road NE, has lots of COVID-19 vaccination appointments available through Five Medicine on March 29 and March 30. The Moderna vaccine will be administered.
Open to
Individuals 65 years old and older living in Wards 5, 7, & 8
Individuals 18 to 64 years old with a qualifying medical condition living in Wards 5, 7, & 8
You may want to keep an eye on this website. It looks like there is also an ability to be added to a vaccination waitlist and there may be appointments available at different churches on different dates.
At last night’s ANC 4B public meeting, AARP presented on a plan for a “FitLot,” an outdoor fitness space, at Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE). View the presentation here.
AARP is sponsoring installation of one FitLot in every state, DC, Puerto, and the US Virgin Islands. AARP will cover the cost of installation as well as up to three years of instructor-led courses. The total value of the amenity is around $170,000.
AARP is waiting for a final agreement from DPR, but construction is anticipated to begin in May or June of this year. ANC Commissioner Geoff Bromaghim (4B07) will discuss this a bit more at a single member district meeting for that area, tentatively scheduled for April 7, 2021.
Neighbors if you live in Lamond-Riggs, it is time to pay dues for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) if you have not done so. The LRCA will be holding its next election for officers and trustees on May 3, 2021. Each term is two years. We are fortunate that Barbara Rogers has decided to run for LRCA president again. In order to vote for her in the election, you must pay dues by April 2, 2021. Pay dues at https://lrcadc.org/join-lrca. It is only $10 for individual membership and $15 for family membership. When you pay, be sure to enter your address so that that LRCA has a record showing that you live in the neighborhood.
I know some of this blog’s readers live in North Michigan Park and elsewhere outside of Lamond-Riggs. Take a look at the boundaries for LRCA to make sure you live within the boundaries before you pay. Donations are always welcome, but only those living inside the boundaries of LRCA will be able to vote in the election. LRCA’s boundaries are Galloway Street NE to the south, Eastern Avenue NE to the east, Underwood Place NE/NW to the north, and the Metro tracks to the west. Edit: To be clear, if you do not live inside the boundaries of LRCA, you will not be able to be a member of LRCA.
LRCA Boundary Map
Many of you know Barbara served two terms as LRCA president from 2013 to 2017, immediately before I served as president of LRCA. I served on the board with her when she was president and she was really fantastic for the board and for the neighborhood. She was so welcoming to all neighbors, new and old. During her tenure, she revived several working committees for LRCA. A number of active committees did great work–education, membership, scholarship, newsletter, nominations, communications, youth development/recreation, senior, public safety, and development task force. LRCA obtained its 501(c)(3) status under her leadership. In addition, LRCA’s website and social media platforms were all created during her tenure as president. Under her leadership, the board did a great job keeping everyone informed about what was happening in the neighborhood. She fostered professional, collegial, and respected relationships among neighbors, elected and District agency officials, and those wishing to do business in the neighborhood. I cannot emphasize enough how meaningful her strong leadership was for the neighborhood.
And on a personal note, I really think kindness matters, and I cannot overstate how kind Barbara is as a person. A lot of good things happened under her leadership because she is a kind person and people were willing to do the work alongside her.
Many asked Barbara to run for LRCA president again and she answered the call. Check out her flyer and pass it along to your neighbors. Pay dues by April 2.
From Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Office:
Johns Hopkins Medicine is partnering with the DC Housing Authority to vaccinate Ward 5 residents this Saturday at Edgewood rec center starting at 9 AM. Ward 5 Residents who are eligible (65 and older, possess a qualifying medical condition, or are a qualifying essential worker) can call 202-964-3650 to get registered.
2. Administrative Items: A. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting B. Consideration and Approval of March Agenda C. Approval of February Regular Public Meeting Minutes D. Treasurer’s Report
3. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
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. Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes) B. Tamira Benitez, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes) C. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative (3 minutes) D. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
6. Presentation: Louis Davis, Jr., State Director, AARP District of Columbia, Proposal to Install an AARP Fitlot at Lamond Recreation Center, 20 Tuckerman Street, NE (5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
7. Presentation: Casey Auch, Client Services Manager, goDCgo, Go Far with No Car Campaign (2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
8. Presentation: Lester Wallace, Community Outreach Coordinator, Capital Bikeshare, Capital Bikeshare for All Program (2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
9. Presentation: James Waller, Chief of Schools; Lee Chaffin, Consultant to Friendship; and Tony Newman, Director of Architectural Operations at Michael Marshall Design, Proposed Expansion of Friendship Public Charter School’s Ideal Campus, 6130 North Capitol Street, NW (5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
10. Presentation: Masaley Kargbo, Director, Academy of Health Sciences, Coolidge Senior High School (2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
11. Consent Calendar: ● Resolution 4B-21-0301: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 7100 Block of 9th Street, NW (Commissioner Palmer) ● Resolution 4B-20-0302: Supporting Proposed Concept Design for The Parks at Walter Reed Building WXY (Commissioner Bromaghim)
12. Resolution 4B-21-0303: Supporting Proposed Improvements to Intersection of Piney Branch Road, Whittier Street, and 8th Street, NW (NOI #21-6-TOA) (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
13. Resolution 4B-21-0304: Establishing Public Safety Committee (Commissioner Johnson – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
14. Letter re Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Priorities (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Johnson & Commissioner Yeats – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
15. Adjournment
Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, April 26, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
ANC 5A Public Safety Meeting March 18, 2021 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Guests Randy Griffin, Commander, MPD 4th District Judi Jones, Chair, MPD 4th District Community Advisory Council Silas Grant, Senior Advisor to Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie Kelly Jeong-Olson, Ward 5 Liaison, District Department of Transportation Kimberley Pinkney and Kecia Barnes, DC Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement
As we head into budget season at the Council I want to invite you to my virtual Ward 4 Community Meeting on the DC Budget this Saturday, March 6 at 1pm – 2:30pm to discuss Ward 4 budget priorities. At the event we will explain DC’s budget process, share how you can plug in, and gather your ideas on what should be included in the budget.
DC is in the midst of a pandemic that has been devastating to our communities and continues to pose big risks, particularly to our most vulnerable residents. At the same time, our fiscal forecast is improving and we could receive nearly $2 billion in federal aid from the next stimulus bill. We can also consider new targeted, responsible taxes to provide greater equity and support to our most impacted residents and small businesses. The budget gives us an opportunity to address the profound impact that COVID has had on public health, housing, health, education, jobs, businesses, community safety, and social services in Ward 4 and across DC.
Last month I shared my budget priorities letter outlining some key investments I believe we need to ensure a just recovery in the District and lift up working families in our Ward. This is just the start of our budget engagement. I want to build on and expand these recommendations with your input. The DC Council will receive the Mayor’s proposed budget on April 22, when we will officially begin our budget hearing, markup and vote process.
DC has a nearly $17 billion budget that impacts so many aspects of our lives. My team and I will work to ensure these funds address the needs of our communities, but I’m also encouraging all of you to get involved directly with the budget process by testifying at a budget hearing, submitting public comment, or sharing your budget input directly with us and other Councilmembers.
So join us this Saturday at 1pm – 2:30pm to share what you want to see in next year’s budget. Please RSVP at this link to receive the Zoom link and dial-in information: bit.ly/Ward4BudgetMeeting
Next Stop...Riggs Park 