Lamond-Riggs Library Construction Update 3/1/2021

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

Below is communication from DC Public Library’s Jaspreet Pahwa to the ANC commissioners and myself regarding Lamond-Riggs Library construction:

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Library project. Here is a quick update on construction progress from your Library rebuild and what to expect in the weeks ahead. 

Construction progress update:

  • The building has been demolished and debris hauled off.
  • Building Permit received Feb 19, 2021.
  • Soil borings under the footprint of the old building ahead of foundation work complete

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.
  • All work will continue to take place within the enclosed construction fence.
  • Deep foundation work will be the major activity over the next month. This work will have construction noise associated with it.
  • Vibration monitoring equipment is onsite and all readings to date are well within the threshold; alarms are set to alert if vibration approached near the limit of the safe thresholds. 
  • Following the completion of the deep foundation work, typical concrete foundation work will commence.  
  • There will be additional excavators as well as concrete trucks & pumps onsite
  • Trucks will still enter and exit the site via South Dakota Avenue into the construction enclosure from Kennedy St.
  • 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.

As shared previously, as the Library’s Design & Construction lead, I will continue to send updates your way and remain available to answer any technical questions that arise.  

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.

Here are a few shots of the building completely gone and soil boring equipment onsite:

Image of boring equipment for Lamond-Riggs Library Rebuild. Photo: DC Public Library
Image of empty lot after raze of Lamond-Riggs Library. Photo: DC Public Library

Metro Budget Survey & Public Comment Period

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Metro is soliciting input on its proposed fiscal year 2022 budget, available at wmata.com/budget. Complete Metro’s budget survey by March 16, 2021. The survey walks you through the proposed rail changes, which are easier to digest. Metro proposes keeping rail service at current levels for the remainder of 2021 and proposes an alternative plan beginning January 1, 2022, if additional funding is not secured. The alternative rail plan includes options for service frequency, operating hours (with system closing at 9:00 pm instead of 11:00 pm), turning back trains on the red and yellow lines, and closing some metro stations (Archives, Arlington Cemetery, Cheverly, Clarendon, Cleveland Park, College Park, East Falls Church, Eisenhower Ave, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Greensboro, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Judiciary Sq, McLean, Morgan Boulevard, Mt Vernon Sq, Smithsonian, Van Dorn St, Virginia Square, Innovation Center*, Loudoun Gateway*, and Reston Town Center* – *Pending opening of Silver Line Phase II).

If you are interested in commenting on bus changes, look at the links for proposed bus changes on Metro’s budget website before completing the survey.

ANC 4B recently passed a resolution addressing Metro’s proposed budget. One of the ANC’s recommendations is that Metro “reopen the public comment period for the FY2022 budget before the final six months ‘fiscal cliff’ budget period that results in substantial service cuts in January 2022, especially if there is a possibility of additional federal or jurisdictional funding.” It is worth looking at some of the other recommendations in that resolution as well.

Bus routes near Fort Totten Metro station

Routes 60, 64
Route 80
Route E2
Route E4
Route F6
Route K2
Routes K6
Routes R1, R2

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Ed. Note: Information below is copied from Metro’s budget website:

Proposed FY22 changes

Proposed DC bus changes | Proposed MD bus changes | Proposed VA bus changes | Proposed rail changes | Proposed parking changes

Metro’s financial future

Metro is facing a significant budget shortfall due to a decrease in ridership caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. A second relief package from Congress in December 2020 allowed Metro to avoid layoffs, continue providing essential travel service and prepare for transit ridership to return. However, even with the additional funding there is not enough money to fill the entire budget gap for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021. 

Metro is working with our Congressional delegation to secure additional funding to continue providing service as the region comes back to work. But service cuts remain a looming threat, and Metro must plan accordingly.

Metro’s budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022) is under consideration now, and Metro is requesting your feedback. Metro’s Board of Directors and management will consider your feedback when making difficult decisions this spring.

FY21 covid-19 budget impacts microphone icon

Tell us what matters to you

Public feedback is vital in helping Metro’s Board of Directors and management make decisions about pandemic recovery. Let us know what you think by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

Take the survey and provide comments

Take the survey and submit written comments here or call toll-free 844-468-5748 and provide your feedback.

Participate in a Virtual Public Hearing

Because of the ongoing pandemic, Metro will be hosting all Public Hearings virtually. To provide oral testimony at a hearing, participants must call toll-free 512-580-8850 and enter the four-digit meeting code for the Public Hearing you’d like to attend. 

Below is a list of dates, times and meeting codes for each of the virtual Public Hearings:
Date/Time: Monday, March 8, 2021, 11 a.m. 
Host: Board Member Paul Smedberg
Meeting Code: 9476

Date/Time: Monday, March 8, 2021, 6 p.m. Hearing will focus on proposed changes in DC, but is open to everyone.
Host: Board Member Stephanie Gidigbi-Jenkins
Meeting Code: 3811

Date/Time: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 6 p.m. Hearing will focus on proposed changes in Maryland, but is open to everyone.
Host: Board Member Michael Goldman
Meeting Code: 9131

Date/Time: Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 6 p.m. Hearing will focus on proposed changes in Virginia, but is open to everyone.
Hosts: Board Members Paul Smedberg and Walter Alcorn
Meeting Code: 9141

Watch or listen live
Watch or listen to the Public Hearings live on this page, on YouTube.com/MetroForward or by calling toll-free 512-580-8850 and entering in the four-digit meeting code.

Public feedback will be provided to Metro’s Board of Directors in April 2021 as part of the final decision-making process. Any Board-approved changes will begin after Board approval in April 2021.

Proposed Changes

Click on the links above to learn more details about each of these proposals.

February 24: COVID Testing Popup at Riggs-LaSalle Rec

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

Free COVID-19 testing will be available tomorrow, February 24, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm via a CORE Neighborhood Pop-Up at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE). No appointment necessary, but pre-registration is recommended. Pre-register at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/register. Bring your insurance card. More testing information is available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing.

MBT Fort Totten to Takoma Extension Design Update

Posted by nextstoprp in Met Branch Trail
Fort Tottten to Takoma MBT Extension Overview from DDOT

On February 10, 2021, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented the 65% design plan for the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) extension from Fort Totten to Takoma. View the presentation here.

DDOT is accepting comments on this draft design plan until March 10, 2021. Send written comments to metbranchtrail@dc.gov.

There is a lot happening in this design that is a lot for a blog post, so if you care about this part of the project and missed the presentation, it is worth it to take some time to look at it. The design should be done this spring, with construction anticipated winter 2022 and project completion fall 2023.

A few highlights from the presentation

  • Speed humps have been installed on 1st Street NE.
  • DDOT anticipates construction on the new traffic signal at 1st Street and Riggs Road NE to take place some time this spring. The timing is dependent on the existing work that Pepco is doing for the Capital Grid Project on Riggs Road. When that signal is installed, it will not have a bicycle signal. The bicycle signal will be added later once construction on the trail begins.
  • New traffic signal at McDonald Street NE/New Hampshire Avenue NE/South Dakota Avenue NE planned as part of the trail design.
  • The plan includes a bunch of stuff around the Peabody Street NW/Kansas Avenue NW/Blair Road NW/North Dakota Avenue NW intersection to avoid conflicts between bicyclists and left-turning motorists from southbound Blair to Kansas.
  • There will be a separate access trail for the community garden on Blair Road.
  • There was a lot of discussion about impacts to parking along Blair Road and discussion about how DDOT will deal with the many driveways along Blair with signage, markings, and etc.
  • The 6600 block of 3rd Street NW will become one-way southbound (at Whittier).
  • A lot of discussion about Blair and Aspen Street NW. Really a lot of discussion about almost every intersection along Blair given that Blair is a well-traveled road, so take a look at the presentation for the details.

ANC 4B Draft Resolution

ANC 4B has a draft resolution regarding the design update on the agenda for its upcoming public meeting on February 22. View that draft resolution here. The ANC’s main takeaways, as copied from the resolution, are:

➢ As the design plans for the Fort Totten to Takoma section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail are finalized, the Commission requests that the District Department of Transportation include a turn signal and/or turn lane at the intersection of Aspen Street NW and Blair Road NW for vehicles on Aspen Street that are attempting to turn onto Blair Road.

➢ ANC 4B prefers relocating the 1st Street NE and McDonald Place NE sections of the trail to the nearby National Park Service land. The Commission requests that the District Department of Transportation expedite investigation of the alternative route with NPS, as the alternate route is safer for trail users and residents and has the support of the residents of 1st Street NE and McDonald Place NE currently impacted by the “temporary” route.

➢ The Commission supports the proposed enhancements that would turn the 6600 block of 3rd Street NW into a one-way, and further requests installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of 3rd Street NW and Whittier Street NW.

➢ At the intersection of Blair Road and Van Buren Street NW, the Commission requests inclusions of improved lighting under the adjacent rail corridor underpass.

My own thoughts about this portion of the trail are that while I still think this extension is pretty much an extra wide sidewalk with a portion being on the street, I am glad it is happening. It would be nice to have the trail aligned closer to the tracks through the South Manor neighborhood on 1st Street NE; hopefully NPS will approve that adjustment sooner rather than later. There are a lot of curb cuts on Blair Road. I travel that way from time to time, but it is unclear to me how active many of those driveways are. During the meeting, a representative from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association suggested placing maybe large planters or some other object to informally block off or narrow those driveways that are clearly not in use. Unclear if that is something DDOT will consider. Another person recommended public art along the wall on Blair Road to make it a little more attractive. More to come on that I suppose.

The project website for the Fort Totten-Takoma extension where you can find all project-related documents is http://metbranchtrail.com/met-branch-trail-fort-totten-to-takoma. The DDOT project manager/point of contact is Samer Alhawamdeh (email: samer.alhawamdeh@dc.gov).

Other MBT Section Updates

Other MBT Section Updates from DDOT

DDOT also took some time to provide a status report on other sections of the MBT.

  • 8th Street NE: In design; completion anticipated December 2021
  • Brookland to Fort Totten extension: Under construction, completion anticipated December 2021
  • South Manor Off-street Alignment: Future environmental assesssment (ANC Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) requested a vigorous discussion with National Park Service to expedite this future alignment)
  • Blair Road to Piney Branch Road: Planning and preliminary design to begin in 2021
  • Eastern Avenue: Under construction; completion anticipated June 2021

MoveDC 2021 Transportation Plan Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is updating its moveDC long-range transportation plan. You might have taken a survey for the 2021 update at the end of 2020 as highlighted in this post. DDOT is out with another survey for the 2021 update (also referred to as the second phase). This one is super short. Take advantage of the opportunity to leave comments by clicking on the comment icon in the survey. Complete the survey here by March 31, 2021.

The project website for the moveDC 2021 update is wemovedc.org. The first phase of the moveDC plan was rolled out in 2014. You can view implementation progress of the 2014 plan here. If you missed the February townhalls, you can view the presentations at wemovedc.org.

Reminder: Complete Budget Surveys

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Seems like it is survey season. Please take a moment to complete Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Ward 5 budget survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/McDuffie. Complete this survey by noon on February 19.

Also, please take a moment to complete Mayor Muriel Bowser’s budget survey at budget.dc.gov.

This is the time to request that specific neighborhood items and other items you believe are a priority be funded.

February 24: ANC 5A Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Public Meeting
February 24, 2021
6:45 pm

(Note: The “DDOT Refresher” referred to in item 2 on the agenda is a presentation from DDOT. The agency requested time to present to the new commissioners on how the agency works. The bikeshare station referred to in item 3 on the agenda is for a proposed location near South Dakota Avenue and Decatur Street NE.)

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84404462291?pwd=MkpjeWRTT1ZHQkk0NFcrTGk5SEdIZz09

Meeting ID: 844 0446 2291    
Passcode: 641962
Dial In: 301 715 8592

Agenda Items

  1. Catholic University of America Construction Update
  2. DDOT Refresher
  3. Bike Share
  4. DC Bilingual PCS

February 22: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Public Meeting
February 22, 2021
7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://streetjustice-news.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318.
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/vT_b-N09_E0.

Agenda

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of February Agenda
C. Approval of January 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. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
B. Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
C. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative (3 minutes)
D. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
E. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)

6. Presentation: Susan Davis, East Rock Creek Village, Assistance for Individuals 65+ with COVID-19 (coronavirus) Vaccination Appointments (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

7. Presentation: Gerard Brown, Program Manager, District Department of Health, Rodent Control (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

8. Presentation: Sayra Molina, Program Analyst – Community Engagement, District Department of Transportation, Overview of Programs (5 minute presentation; 1 minute discussion)

9. Consent Calendar:

  • Resolution 4B-21-0201: Calling for Improved Mechanisms to Address Abandoned Cars (Commissioner Palmer)
  • Resolution 4B-21-0202: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 300 Block of Longfellow Street, NW (Commissioner Johnson)
  • Resolution 4B-21-0203: Requesting Traffic Calming Within Single Member District 4B04 (Commissioner Parks)

10. Resolution 4B-21-0104: Providing Feedback On and Expressing Opposition to WMATA Proposed Budget and Service Cuts in Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B (Commissioner Yeats – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

11. Resolution 4B-21-0105: Establishing Recreation and Community Spaces Committee (Commissioner Huff – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)

12. Resolution 4B-21-0106: Providing Feedback on 65% Design of Metropolitan Branch Trail from Fort Totten to Takoma (Commissioner Bromaghim – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)

13. Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, March 22, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Jocelynn Johnson (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 (vacant); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

February 18: ANC 5A01 SMD Meeting with ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie, Sr. (5A01) will hold his first single member district meeting (SMD) this Thursday, February 18, at 6:30 pm. The meeting will address the increase in gun related crimes in the SMD. Send any questions to Commissioner McDuffie at 5A01@anc.dc.gov.

Agenda below

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ANC 5A01 Community Meeting 

Thursday Feb 18, 2021 6:30-7:30PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82566072676?pwd=UUxmbDlZbGVkcGNoUUNNNWdGMVVQZz09

Meeting ID: 825 6607 2676 

Passcode: 401487 

Dial by your location    1 301 715 8592 

Meeting ID: 825 6607 2676 

Passcode: 401487 

AGENDA  

  1. Welcome & Opening Remarks 
  2. Councilmember McDuffie’s Office 
  3. Fourth District Metropolitan Police Department 
  4. The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement  
  5. Community Q & A 
  6. Closing Remarks/Next Steps 

     

    *Please make sure you are on the call in plenty of time for your presentation. 

    *To stay within an hour, please try to limit your questions so everyone can be heard. Any unanswered concerns can be forwarded to 5A01@anc.dc.gov 

Riggs-LaSalle Rec Playground Progress

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

A neighbor passed along photos of installation of the new playground at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE). The playground will be located on the Nicholson Street side of the rec. Looks like the playground equipment is on site. Benches, drinking fountain, surface, and plantings are still to come. This will be a nice treat for families to enjoy when the weather turns this spring.

Photo credit: Gavin Baker
Photo credit: Gavin Baker

Daycare Construction

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

As noted in this post, Love & Care Child Development Center expects to open soon at The Modern at Art Place on Galloway Street NE. The daycare applied for a certificate of occupancy on January 12, 2021. Residents might have seen construction taking place outside the building this week. I have been told that is being done to install a wheelchair access ramp for the daycare center.

Installation of wheelchair ramp at 402 Galloway Street NE

Lamond Recreation Center will be Coronavirus Vaccination Site

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

Today, District officials announced that the District will begin using Lamond Recreation Center for coronavirus vaccine administration for individuals booking appointments through the city’s portal at vaccinate.dc.gov. Expect to see increased activity around that area next week.

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From the press release:

DC Health Announces that Approximately 2,500 Vaccination Appointments Will Become Available to Residents in Priority Zip Codes on Thursday, February 11

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

(Washington, DC) – Today, DC Health announced that on Thursday, February 11 at 9:00 am, approximately 2,500 vaccination appointments will be made available to DC residents who live in priority zip codes and are 65 years old or older and/or work in a health care setting.

The priority zip codes are focused in Wards 5, 7, and 8 and include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593. Priority zip codes include areas of the city where residents are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including number of cases and mortality rate. Wards 5, 7, and 8 are being prioritized because they have the lowest percentages of residents who are 65 and older who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

On Friday, February 12 at 9 am, DC Health will make approximately 2,500 additional appointments available for all District residents who are 65 years of age and older and/or health care workers in DC.

To date, more than 1 in 3 DC seniors have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Additionally, due to increased vaccination operations and a need for more space, beginning Monday, February 15, the District will begin using the Lamond Recreation Center instead of the Hattie Holmes Wellness Center. Beginning with this Thursday’s appointment release, appointments beginning on Tuesday, February 16 will be booked at the Lamond Recreation Center. DC Health will work with Safeway to notify all individuals currently scheduled for second doses at Hattie Holmes of the change, and signage and personnel will also be on site at Hattie Holmes to assist with the transition.

The following populations are now receiving the vaccine in Washington, DC: individuals who work in health care settings; members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; residents of long-term and intermediate care facilities and residents of community residential facilities/group homes; DC residents who are 65 years old and older; individuals experiencing homelessness; members of the Metropolitan Police Department; Continuity of District Government personnel; Department of Corrections employees and residents; teachers and staff who are, or will be, working in person at a traditional or public charter school; and child care workers and teachers and staff at independent schools in DC.

Updates to the vaccinate.dc.gov Portal and Coronavirus Call Center

DC Health and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer continue working together, using feedback from the community, to improve the process of booking a vaccination appointment through vaccinate.dc.gov and the Coronavirus Call Center.

Improvements going into effect tomorrow include:

  • The Call Center will have access to a dedicated supply of appointments to ensure that more residents who are only able to book an appointment by phone are successfully able to do so.
  • Regardless of whether they booked their appointment online or over the phone, residents will now be able to call the Call Center to confirm their appointments or have their confirmation resent to their email.
  • A new “Book Appointment” button will decrease confusion when users are selecting a vaccination site; previously, users would need to click on the site name, but that was not clear in the instructions. This new button is screen reader accessible and clarifies any confusion on how to select a site to book an appointment.
  • The instructions for booking an appointment are now within a highly visible “border box” that highlights their visibility.
  • The portal now clarifies that the user must consider their time zone when selecting an appointment; this will help users who do not live in DC, but are helping book an appointment for a family member who is a DC resident. The confirmation email will show the appointment in Eastern Standard Time.

On Thursday morning, more than 230 call takers will be available to help residents make appointments over the phone. It is still recommended that residents with internet access use the vaccinate.dc.gov portal to make an appointment.

Neighborhood Shootings

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

There was yet another shooting in the neighborhood. This time around 10:30 am today near Hamilton Street NE and Ingraham Street NE. Last week, there were shootings literally four days in a row near Jefferson Street NE. They took a break for the snowstorm and started again after the snowstorm. Meetings are happening, but neither MPD nor DC officials are going to say publicly exactly what they are doing to address this very real public health and safety threat. Nor do they have a clear public answer for why there is this recent spike in shootings, providing answers such as individuals being released from prison who are being targeted by violence or individuals who have committed offenses such as robberies who are now being targeted in retaliation, but they are not going to give details on investigations in any public setting.

What they will say publicly is that they strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the city’s private security rebate program to receive reimbursement for the purchase and installation of security cameras on homes. Residents receiving public assistance may receive a voucher for purchase and installation of cameras. In addition, eligible seniors and persons with disabilities may receive private security cameras at no charge through the DC Department of Aging and Community Living.

Residents can text tips to MPD at 50411.

And residents should feel free to express their concerns and suggestions for addressing this issue to DC officials:

Mayor Bowser Chief of Staff John Falcicchio – john.falcicchio@dc.gov
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie – kenyan.mcduffie@dccouncil.us
Acting Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice Christopher Geldhart – christopher.geldart@dc.gov with a copy to community outreach specialist Jasmin Benab at jasmin.benab@dc.gov
Interim MPD Chief Robert Contee – robert.contee@dc.gov

Hopefully we as a neighborhood can get a handle on these now daily shootings being perpetrated by known individuals to the community.

Reminder February 8: DPR Ward 5 Parks & Rec Meeting; Complete the Citywide Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

DPR Ready2Play Ward 5 Virtual Meeting
Monday, February 8, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm RSVP

Monday, February 8, is your opportunity to discuss the particular parks and rec centers in Ward 5 that you would like to see prioritized for future capital improvements and to share your ideas on the types of recreational programming, park design, and priorities you would like to see addressed in the Ready2Play plan. The District Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) will share findings from its recent Ready2Play Citywide Survey and senior staff from DPR will be on hand to hear suggestions. This is our chance to let DPR know that we would like to see collaboration with National Park Service to get a trail at Fort Circle Park at South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. This is also our chance to let DPR know that we would like to see the green space in front of Food & Friends on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE preserved for community recreation space. We have the ability to work with stakeholders and developers to develop a vision for both spaces.

ALSO, DPR is reopening the citywide survey in order to get more input from more residents. So, if you missed filling it out the first time around, now is your chance to tell DC officials your ideas for parks and recreation centers in the District. Go ahead and let DC officials know you’d like to see a trail and other context-respectful amenities at Fort Circle Park. Let them know that you’d like to see the green space in front of Food & Friends programmed for community space such as an art park or history park or any number of things. Remind them that these requests are outlined in the neighborhood’s area development plan. Want to see more amenities in Riggs Park, such as tennis courts, or a pool, or a skate park? Let DPR know. Complete the survey at https://ready2playdc.com/citywide-survey by March 1, 2021.

Neighborhood Eats

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Neighborhood breweries continue to provide food options in this neighborhood with very few.

Hellbender Weekend Hours

Hellbender Brewing Company (5788 2nd Street NE) currently has a regular lineup featuring Grassfed Griddle on Thursdays, Timber Pizza on Fridays and Saturdays, and We Rise Bread Company on Sundays. You can stay warm at one of the outdoor tables with firepits and newly installed patio heaters nearby. Or stop by and order your food to go.

In Lamond, 3 Stars Brewing Company (6400 Chillum Place NW) has teamed up with Rose’s Luxury for pickup options. In addition, you can find a rotating cast of popup options.

And as always, our neighborhood coffee shop Culture Coffee Too (300 Riggs Road NE) is open Tuesday through Saturday for coffee, tea, and sandwiches.

DC Smart Street Lighting: Solving the Digital Divide

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

By Robert Oliver (Contributor)

Did you know that the District of Columbia government has been working on dramatically increasing access to free W-Fi since January 2017? This work is being done through the DC Smart Street Lighting program to replace approximately 75,000 streetlights bulbs with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). This project also includes “installing wireless access points across the District, improving the DC-NET Wi-Fi program.” More detailed information on the Smart Street Program can be found here.

On January 24, 2017, the District of Columbia government hosted an industry forum to discuss the concept of the Smart Street Lighting program. The information flyer is available here. Today, the program is still ongoing. However, the capacity of DC-Net has been increased with the installation of new wireless access hubs throughout the city.  DC-Net now offers an online map of its free Wi-Fi network.  By just entering your address, you can see the Wi-Fi access hubs nearest you. 

While the digital divide still exists, DC-Net has made free Wi-Fi more accessible through the DC Smart Street Lighting program.

DC Net Public Wifi Map

Mayor Office Budget Engagement Forums

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 4, Ward 5

Mayor Muriel Bowser is holding four budget engagement forums this month, including one specifically for seniors. For more information, visit budget.dc.gov.

I attended one of these exercises several years ago. I think it was informative insofar as providing a snapshot of how resources are allocated in the budget and how budget decisions get made. The pandemic presents a huge challenge, so it will be interesting to see what the mayor’s budget ends up looking like.

In addition, remember to fill out Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Ward 5 budget survey by February 19 to provide input on his budget requests to the mayor.