Humberto Phillips is a jovial and witty entrepreneur in Riggs Park. Starting in 2007, he established Troka Insurance, a small business tucked away close to the metro tracks at 212 Riggs Road NE. For this next edition of Next Stop Neighbors, I stopped in recently to get to know him better.
We’ll hear all about his insurance company, services provided in English and Spanish, as well as briefly touch on how The Parks Main Street and the business can work closely together and continue strengthening the character of the community. Did you know that he leads an intern program to get folks licensed in the field? What about his service in the military? His fondness for ties and jeans? This and more can be learned when tuning into this installment. Enjoy! Click here to listen to the conversation (running time: 11 minutes)
Troka Insurance owner Humberto Phillips (l) and David Kosub (r)
Background on Next Stop Neighbors:
Welcome to Next
Stop Neighbors where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces
and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this
podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their
perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the
small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying
to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the
neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50
years, we all have a story to tell. We welcome recommendations and, better yet,
your own 10-minute interviews too!
Can’t get enough Next Stop Neighbors? Check
out these past conversations:
We previously reported that in fall 2020, Rocketship plans to open a new campus at 5450 3rd Street NE (near 3rd Street and Kennedy Street NE near Fort Totten metro station). Over the weekend, flyers were distributed to nearby homes with information on upcoming community engagement meetings. The first is tomorrow July 30 at Lamond-Riggs Library at 5:30 pm. If you have any questions about plans for the new school, these meetings would be a good opportunity to meet the leadership and have your questions answered.
July 30, 2019 5:30 pm-7:00 pm Lamond-Riggs Library 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE
August 1, 2019 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Culture Coffee Too 300 Riggs Road NE
August 8, 2019 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Library Tavern 5420 3rd Street NW
August 9, 2019 5:30 pm-7:00 pm North Michigan Park Recreation Center 1333 Emerson Street NE
This program will be especially useful to senior residents.
All Hands on Tech (Ward 5)
Who: Connect.DC and OCTOHelps What: All Hands on Tech Initiative When: Saturday, August 17, 11:00 am-2:00 pm Where: Lamond-Riggs Neigborhood Library (5401 South Dakota Ave NE)
Description: Connect.DC created The All Hands on Tech initiative in partnership with OCTOHelps to provide FREE technical support to District residents. One of the most important things a person needs to fully access technology is a functioning computer. Unfortunately, the cost of computer repair is too high for many District residents. Whether you have a laptop with a virus or don’t understand how to use your smartphone, OCTO is here to help.
Lt. Patrick Schaut of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fourth District PSA 406 graciously agreed to participate in a walk through within our community. During this opportunity, we will get to meet and speak directly with Lt. Schaut, who serves our community, as well as voice any concerns we may have regarding Riggs Park, all while getting some fresh air and moderate exercise too.
What: Community Walk Through with Lt. Patrick Schaut When: Thursday, August 8, 2019, at 6:30pm Where: Meet outside the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library (5401 South Dakota Ave NE) Who: Riggs Park residents primarily but other neighbors are welcome
The route is still to be determined but will stay mostly within the boundaries of Riggs Park. Please be prompt as the walk will begin around 6:30 pm and will likely last an hour.
Look forward to seeing other neighbors walking out and about with us.
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is holding focus group sessions for its Bertie Backus farmstand and Bertie Backus Food Hub operations. The food hub is located in the neighborhood on the campus of UDC-CC Backus at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. It has several components, including a farmstand, aquaponics and hydroponics system, community garden, compost collection, native plant nursery, and demonstration kitchen.
The farmstand is looking for farmstand shoppers, non-shoppers, and policymakers to participate in in a farmstand focus group. If you are interested in participating please complete and return the application to Eric Horner at eric.horner@udc.edu. Refreshments will be provided.
Farmstand focus group dates: July 25, 2019 6:00 pm-8:00 pm UDC Bertie Backus Campus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE)
July 27, 2019 9:30 am-11:30 am Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)
If you are interested in sharing ideas about the Bertie Backus Food Hub in general, please register for the focus group being held on July 26.
Bertie Backus Food Hub Focus Group July 26, 2019 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)
Bertie Backus Community Garden Plots
There are still plots available to Ward 5 residents at the Bertie Backus Community Garden located at the Bertie Backus Food Hub. Please contact Renee Belis at renee.bellis@udc.edu for more information.
Volunteer at the Bertie Backus Native Plant Nursery
Volunteers are being accepted to help out at the native plant nursery at the Bertie Backus Food Hub on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please contact Renee Belis at renee.bellis@udc.edu for more information.
Sell Your Stuff and Find New Treasures! Sign up to participate in the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Yard Sale happening on Saturday, August 17.
Join neighbors in hosting a neighborhood-wide yard side. Each participating homeowner will host a sale in their own yard. The neighborhood yard sale will be promoted by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and a map of participating households will be posted on LRCA’s social media pages–that’s @lrcadc on facebook and twitter. Banners and signs will be posted throughout the neighborhood.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, email your home address to LRCAYardSale@gmail.com or call 202-529-1729.
The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) welcomes you to share your comments, concerns, and suggestions about our Urban Food Hubs as we look to improve our programs. We are holding community listening sessions at each of our Urban Food Hubs in Wards 3, 5, 7, and 8 on July 24, 26, 29, and 31.
Each listening session is an open forum and we welcome all stakeholders – including ANC members, government agencies, non-profit organizations, volunteers, and workshop participants – to provide feedback about programming at each site and how we can improve to better serve our communities. Please register for a listening session at the urban food hub(s) you frequent the most. CAUSES looks forward to these sessions, the opportunity to listen, and bring our communities together.
Gearin’ Up Bike Repair Pop Up Lamond-Riggs Library 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE July 22, 2019 5:00 pm
Need to dust off that bike sitting in the garage? Gotta fix that flat tire? Visit Gearin’ Up Bicycles at a neighborhood library near you to receive free basic bike repair and maintenance. Limit one adult bicycle or two children’s bicycles per customer. For a complete list of Gearin’ Up Bike Repair Pop Up dates and locations at DC Public Libraries click here.
Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Music by Pebble to Pearl (funk, rock, blues) Food by CapMac food truck Bring a lawn chair for seating. Sponsored by The Modern at Art Place & On Tap Magazine.
July 13
Bertie Backus Farmstand UDC-CC Backus 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Veronica Cooper has become a strong force in Riggs Park, bringing us all together for coffee, cocktails, conversation, and community. In this edition of Next Stop Neighbors, we venture into Culture Coffee Too, located at 300 Riggs Road NE, and meet Ms. V. We’ll hear about the concept behind her local small business, what’s next, and her fondness for the student dancers from the Davis Center who performed outside Culture Coffee at the 2nd Annual Riggs Park Art Crawl. And, do you know what she did before starting the coffee shop? Maybe what her favorite thing to make for her customers? The story behind the table in the photo? Well, you will know that and more after listening to our conversation. Cheers!
Welcome to Next
Stop Neighbors where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces
and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this
podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their
perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the
small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying
to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the
neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50
years, we all have a story to tell. We welcome recommendations and, better yet,
your own 10-minute interviews too!
Can’t get enough Next Stop Neighbors?
Check out these past conversations:
The community playground, tot lot, and basketball court at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE) are open again after several years of being closed to the community. The splash park is functioning as well. These are community spaces, and we as a community need to make sure they are being used for community purposes. Employees from the mayor’s office and DPR staff have done a good job addressing issues regarding individuals using the rec center for antisocial, non-community purposes. If there are any issues with accessing the playground or if any public safety concerns arise, please let the rec center staff know.
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has set up a satellite office at Luke C. Moore High School, located at 1001 Monroe Street NE. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday each week from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This week the office will be open on Friday July 5 instead of Thursday July 4. Staff will be available by appointment only. Book online at https://calendly.com/ward5.
Like many other families starting off with their first home, one of the reasons my family set our sights to purchase here in Riggs Park was its affordability in comparison to other neighborhoods across the city. Now, after being here for a couple years, I have wondered how home sales have changed over time for our little community tucked away in upper northeast Washington D.C. That meant I needed some data, and we all know I love me some numbers. (See here on Fort Totten metro ridership, here on crime, and here on the 2018 elections results).
I reached out to Harrison Beacher to help me address this burning data desire. He is a managing partner with the Coalition Properties Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties. Not only is he a former homeowner and current property owner in Riggs Park, he previously served on the board of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) and is familiar with the neighborhood. His company also donated funds to defray costs to print the monthly LRCA newsletter too. Mr. Beacher and his lead buyer specialist Isaiah Hazward, ran a couple reports from the multiple listing service on home sales for me and I’d like to share some of the findings here with the community.
As shown in Figure 1, home sales in Riggs Park have steadily climbed from 88 properties in 2014 to 108 in 2018. The vast majority of homes sold in 2018 ranged in age from 60 to 72 years, with five less than 45 years old and two that were 75 years old (data not shown).
Figure 1 shows a line graph of properties sold in Riggs Park from 2014 to 2018
As of mid-June 2019, 47 homes were sold this year in Riggs Park. This is a slower pace than in 2018, with 7.8 homes sold per month on average in 2019 compared to 9 homes per month in 2018. A follow-up post will be shared after the final 2019 numbers are available.
Moving on, Figure 2 displays average (blue line) and median (orange line) closed sale prices for homes in our neighborhood between 2014 and 2019. Averages represent total closed sale prices for all properties divided by the total number of properties. Median closed sale prices are also shown to get a sense of home sales without potential outlier property sales skewing the overall distribution.
We can see that average home sold prices have risen from $342,000 in 2014 to $505,000 in 2019. Median sold prices also rose from $339,000 to $508,000 over the same time period. Mr. Beacher noted to me that “the overall pricing trends really do tell the story of how attractive our . . . single-family homes are in the DC housing landscape.” He went on to add that “we are still below the city median price of around $575,000.”
Figure 2 shows a line graph depicting average (blue line) or median (orange line) sold price in Riggs Park from 2014 to 2019.
Finally, the table below shows the lowest and highest sold price for properties in Riggs Park between 2014 and 2018 as well as by mid-June 2019.
Year
Low
High
2014
$200,000
$519,900
2015
$223,500
$650,000
2016
$275,000
$750,000
2017
$249,000
$759,000
2018
$287,000
$930,000
2019
$300,000
$840,000
Mr. Beacher informed me that the homogenous nature of our housing stock further highlights the “value opportunity” of our neighborhood. This stock represents primarily single family, 3 bedroom semi-detached homes. He added that “median sold price for attached, 3 bedroom townhomes in DC was approximately $662,000 in 2018 and [is] $697,000 in 2019 to date. Simply put, we have a lot of the type of homes that buyers in DC want, at a great value opportunity compared to the same kind of house in the majority of the rest of the city.”
Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series featuring music by Allthebestkids and Carnivore BBQ food truck. 6:00 pm, corner of South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE. Bring a lawn chair for seating
June 29, 2019
DDOT Rock Creek East I Livability Pop-up: Share your views on how to make the transportation network safer and more accessible. Study area is defined by Rock Creek and the Maryland border to the West, Eastern Avenue to the North, New Hampshire Avenue NE and the Red Line Metrorail tracks to the East, and Military Road NW, Missouri Avenue NW, and Riggs Road NE to the South. 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Safeway, 6500 Piney Branch Road NW
Explore! Jumpin’ July Community Festival featuring petting zoo, music show, science show, coloring, storytelling, face painting, and more. 10:00 am-1:30 pm, The Modern at Art Place, 400 Galloway Street NE
Art met life, or at least neighbors and businesses in upper Northeast Washington D.C., as artists and artisans created art to depict local small businesses and engage the community at the 2nd Annual Riggs Park Art Crawl. Originally created and sponsored last year by Veronica “Ms. V.” Cooper, owner of local small business Culture Coffee Too, and muralist and creative director Jay Hudson, this year, The Parks Main Street and Culture Coffee Too partnered on the event, held on June 14 and 15, 2019.
The Parks Main Street, formerly known as the South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road Main Street, is the newest member of the District’s Main Street program aimed at retaining, revitalizing and recruiting small businesses in traditional historic business districts across the city. The Parks Main Street is a community-based organization that utilizes public-private partnerships and community volunteers to build on neighborhood assets and implement strategies to support and improve the business corridors in the Riggs Park and Manor Park neighborhoods.
The 2019 event kicked off on Friday June 14 with artisans stationed at Culture Coffee Too presenting their creations, such as jewelry, for sale. In the evening, a lively discussion was held during an artist panel at the Bilingual School located on Riggs Road NE.
On Saturday June 15, live painting by artists was a howling success under the gaze of the silver wolf sculpture located at the intersection of South Dakota Ave NE and Ingraham St NE.
Sculpture at the Modern at Art Place
This is where the Modern at Art Place apartment community resides and is also the future site of the famed arts collective Meow Wolf, a children’s museum, and a Family Entertainment Zone. In addition to this site, painters were stationed at a total of 10 participating small businesses in the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE corridor. When the paint dried, the muralists then handed off their completed masterpieces to the small business who inspired them, which we can also enjoy as a community for a long time to come.
Let’s meet
some of the artists who shared their art and views about the Art Crawl now.
Nessar Jahanbin
Artist Nessar Jahabin creating a piece for T-Mobile
“I like painting natural and organic imagery,” says Nessar Jahanbin, also known as JAH One. He created a flower bud suspended in a dewdrop to represent the T-Mobile Store at 5210 South Dakota Avenue NE. Using the company’s logo colors and a creative vibe inspired by graffiti street artists, the muralist deftly free formed the image, twisting and turning aerosol spray paint cans with a finesse usually reserved for paintbrushes.
Trained in the fine arts and a painter since childhood, this was Nessar’s first year participating in the Riggs Park Art Crawl. His T-Mobile inspired piece paid homage to the environment and graffiti street artists like Jay Hudson.
“It’s important to remind people about the artwork that comes from graffiti,” he says of the art form. “People appreciate murals but look down on street graffiti because what they generally see are tags and letters written on walls. They never get to see the beautiful art hidden away in places under bridges, or understand there is no way I could have done this (mural) without learning graffiti.”
Painting
letters with spray paint and then learning to manipulate their shapes and textures
to create new images inspires Nessar’s career as a muralist who shares stories and history on city walls.
“We live
in a society where people want instant gratification,” he says. “But spray
painting takes time” to record the times of our lives.
Orange Clockwork
Piece created by artist Orange Clockwork for Shining Stars Pediatric Dentistry
The mocking feline from Alice in Wonderland found a place on South Dakota Avenue during the 2nd Annual Riggs Park Art Crawl. “When I got here they told me the business I was to represent was the dentist office,” Shining Stars Pediatric Dentistry, located at 435 Ingraham Street NE.
The camera-shy
aerosol artist calling himself “Orange Clockwork” says he focused on “creating a kid friendly street
scape, something with a big smile,” to present the message “stay fresh,” adding
stars to make it pop. “That’s how I came up with the Cheshire Cat.”
J’nell Jordan
Artist J’nell Jordan working on a piece for Ramdass Pharmacy
“I love people and figurative work; a smile, body language,” says artist J’nell Jordan, a newcomer to the Art Crawl thanks to muralist Jay Hudson, who helped recruit the participating artists.
Painting for more than a decade, the Northern Virginia
native said she moved to the District five years ago after studying art at Adelphi
University in New York. She represented Ramdass
Pharmacy, located at 475 Ingraham Street NE, creating a piece
depicting a child clutching a lollipop and the hand of an adult to convey her
message of a friendly, neighborhood community. Learn more about Dr. Ramdass and
his pharmacy by listening to a podcast here
with David Kosub, Vice Chair of The Parks Main Street.
“It’s nice to do something in your own neighborhood and have
art uplift the businesses and get people involved.”
Matt Riegner
Artist Matt Riegner in front of his piece for the Modern at Art Place
“Originally
I had some grandiose ideas” of how to interpret the Modern
at Art Place apartment
community, says muralist Matt Riegner. See how grandiose
his work can be. Eventually the elegant simplicity of the building’s logo won
out, inspiring Matt to create a bold, abstract art piece.
“The arts scene in DC has blossomed and grown dramatically
over the past 10 years,” he says. “It comes and goes with who is in office,
idea exchanges, and social media.”
Recruited by Jay Hudson for the project, Matt said he has worked on
projects with the legendary street artist for the past seven years.
“The arts draw attention. Attention brings money. Money
brings development,” he mused. “I think DC has done a good job of defining the
District’s art culture. They’re using the arts in a constructive way that I
think people can appreciate and engage.”
Rhythm Bowers
Artist Rhythm Bowers working on her piece for Riggs Dry Cleaner
Even mystical, purple-hued, fairylike beings need their garments dry-cleaned. At least that’s the playful message Rhythm Bowers, a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, wanted to communicate while painting her animated street art outside Riggs Dry Cleaner at 5585 South Dakota Avenue NE.
“The Art
Crawl has been amazing,” she said of her debut experience with the second annual
event. “I’ve been wanting to paint outside and do something like this for a
while.”
“I feel it
will give my work more publicity and, hopefully, bring my pop culture style
into the city. It’s nice seeing art in
the city that has an animated style, like the art I create.”
Will Watson
Artist Will Watson in front of his work for Riggs Wine & Liquor
“I didn’t
know how to represent a liquor store in a positive light, admits Will
Watson
The recent graduate of a MFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art represented Riggs Wine & Liquor at 5581 South Dakota Avenue NE. He rose to the challenge, using spray paint to create an image of friendship and celebration.
“I wanted
to show something that wouldn’t encourage alcohol abuse but light heartedness
and fun, with a diverse group of colors. Cheers to friends,” says Will. “I hope
the work ends up in a place where people can look at it and smile.”
The young artist says his first time participating in the Art Crawl resulted from his patronage of the Art Crawl’s co-sponsor, Culture Coffee Too.
“I come to Culture Coffee Too often for lunch. I overheard Jay Hudson and [Edwin
Washington, (the Executive Director of The
Parks Main Street)] planning this event and I slipped them my business card.”
*Joann Stevens is a board member of The Parks Main Street. Edwin Washington is the executive director of The Parks Main Street. To learn about sponsorship and engagement opportunities, contact Edwin Washington at (202) 774-5542 or info@theparksmainstreet.org.
ANC 5A packed the agenda for its meeting on June 26, 2019, the final meeting before the summer break. Isaiah Burroughs, who previously represented ANC 5A04, which covers Catholic University, has resigned because he graduated from Catholic in May. All other comissioners were present: Frank Wilds (5A01), Grace Lewis (5A02), Emily Lucio Singer (5A03), Ronnie Edwards (5A05), Jamaal Lampkins (5A06), Sandi Washington (5A07), and Gordon Fletcher (5A08).
ANC Business
Commissioners voted for Commissioner Singer (5A03) to replace Mr. Burroughs as the new secretary for the ANC.
The ANC wants to purchase “Do Not Litter” signs. Resident input on the issue was mixed, but it appears that the ANC is going to move ahead with the purchase. They are still researching the cost.
Lt. Patrick Schaut is new to MPD’s Fourth District. The best way to reach him is by email at patrick.schaut@dc.gov. Usual report: You can report tips anonymously via text at 50411. Take advantage of the camera voucher/rebate program. If you are buying and selling online, arrange pickup at a police station to be safe. The McDonald’s in the 4900 block of South Dakota Avenue NE was robbed in the early morning hours earlier this week.
Councilmember McDuffie Satellite Office at Luke C. Moore
Next week, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie will open a satellite office at Luke C. Moore High School, located at 1001 Monroe Street NE. The satellite office will be open Tuesday and Thursday each week from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (except next week when the office will be open on Friday July 5 instead of Thursday July 4). It will be staffed by Kelley Cislo, Silas Grant, and Jonathan McNair. If you have any issues, drop in. The office plans to set up a calendar so that residents can reserve 30-minute time slots.
Rocketship Fort Totten
The big presentation for the evening came from a team that is planning to open a Rocketship public charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in two older warehouse buildings owned by the Cafritz Foundation near Fort Totten metro (5450 3rd Street NE) in fall 2020. Some background: Recall we previously shared that the Cafritz Foundation intended to lease two older warehouse buildings located at 3rd and Kennedy Street NE to City Arts and Prep Public Charter School, which was then located in Edgewood. I only learned that information when I looked at the zoning case file for Art Place at Fort Totten and noticed a letter from the Foundation’s previous counsel asking the Zoning Administrator for confirmation that the developer could lease the two warehouse buildings to a charter school as a matter of right. I asked for updates about the charter school, did not get any, and was eventually told that City Arts was being shut down and that the Foundation was in negotiations to lease to a different school. City Arts did in fact close at the end of the 2018-2019 program year. Now, the Foundation is finalizing a lease with Rocketship, which is a national network of public charter schools that started out in California. The school is known for embracing “blended learning,” which incorporates online learning into the curriculum.
The school plans to open in phases, occupying one building in fall 2020 and eventually the second one in fall 2021. It will focus on STEAM, robotics, and foreign language. Rocketship partners with AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School to serve pre-kindergarten (PK3 and PK4) students at its locations, so the Fort Totten location will serve those grades as well. From what I recall of the presentation, their target enrollment for fall 2020 is 100 Rocketship students and 50 AppleTree students. They hope to eventually grow to 400 students. It is worth taking a look at the presentation to see what they are proposing for the Fort Totten location.
I asked the team about Rocketship’s failure to launch in Ward 5 last year, which was widelyreported in local media. When I asked what has changed between last year and this year such that they believe they will successfully get off the ground at the Fort Totten location, they explained that there is new leadership leading the effort this time around. They also said the previous location they were seeking in Brookland was only going to be a temporary location while they looked for permanent space. Accordingly, they said their enrollment numbers were lower than they wanted, so they decided not to open and to focus on finding a permanent space. That explanation pretty much tracks what they said in their public statement last year. They plan to have a 35-year lease at the Fort Totten location so they are definitely committed to being part of the community for a long time.
They said Rocketship’s model is to open quality schools in underserved areas. There are three charter schools around the corner from the Fort Totten location, with another three or four public charter or traditional public elementary schools within a mile radius of the Fort Totten location. Rocketship currently operates two schools in DC, Rise Academy in Ward 7 and Legacy Prep in Ward 8.
The ANC meeting was the first stop on their community engagement tour, so look out for more community meetings after the summer break. By that point, their traffic study should be completed or just about, and the school will have a formal presentation on the design and other aspects of the school.
Rocketship design presentation
Wesley Housing
Wesley Housing representatives were back before the commission to share the concerns they have heard from the Fort Totten community about the proposal to replace an existing apartment building on a triangular island at Hawaii Avenue NE, Rock Creek Church Road NW, and Allison Street NW with a new building. The new building will consist of all income-restricted units just as the existing one. The existing building has 34 units, and Wesley initially planned 78 units in the new one. Some residents in that area feel that is too many. The existing building does not have any three-bedroom units. The planned building will have three-bedroom units and a decent number of two-bedroom units. District officials and residents always talk about the lack of affordable family size units in DC so this project will address that need.
Residents apparently also have concerns about the height of the proposed building. The existing building is three stories. The new one is planned to be five stories, with the fifth story set back. Residents have also asked if the developer can increase the number of the planned 12 parking spaces, which is the minimum required for the site. The current site does not have any parking spaces. Residents have also asked the developer to work out where the building’s entrance will be located because of concern that ride-hail vehicles will drop off residents and impede the flow of traffic on Hawaii, where the proposed entrance is located. Over the summer, the developer will continue to meet with the Fort Totten Civic Association and Commissioner Sandi Washington (5A07) to seek resolution on these issues before the Zoning Commission hearing, which is scheduled for September 16.
Due to the closure of Providence Hospital, Carroll Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will begin operating as an affiliate of Ascension Living. Services will remain the same, but they do plan to renovate part of the nursing home facilities.
The urgent care facility at Providence will open July 9 in the former emergency department. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for August 2. Business hours will be 8:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekdays and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekends (including Sunday). Follow updates on the planned healthy village at www.providencehealthyvillage.org. Share feedback at communityrelationsdc@ascension.org.
Verizon
Verizon plans to install small cells (Class B installation) throughout the District to support its new 5G technology. One will be located near Riggs Road NE and Blair Street NE.
Aggregate Industries
Aggregate Industries has operated in Fort Totten since 1957. The company has a corporate giving policy for giving away concrete to worthy projects, such as installing handicap access ramps at homes for residents in need. If you have any ideas in mind, please contact them.
Student Seeking Interviews About Providence Hospital Closure
Blake Coleman, a 16-year-old student in the neighborhood, is seeking to interview residents about the impact of Providence Hospital’s closure. Contact her at bcoleman@cathedral.org.
DC MicroTransit
DC is operating a new shared shuttle service called DC MicroTransit in parts of Northeast and Northwest DC thanks to a federal grant. The original boundaries have expanded since the launch of the service earlier this month. New boundaries: Georgia Avenue (west), Florida Avenue (south), Eastern Avenue (east), and Bladensburg Road (south). Service is free until September 30, 2019. After that each ride will cost $3.00. Download the MicroTransit app or call (202) 398-0500.
Free Summer Meals
DC is offering free summer meals at neighborhood libraries and recreation centers throughout DC.
Bus Bay Reassignment: Routes E2 and E4 at Fort Totten Station, June 23
Advisory Effective: 6/22/19 – 7/31/19 Effective: Sunday, June 23, 2019
Routes Affected: E2, E4
In response to customer requests, routes E2 and E4 will be assigned to new bus bays at Fort Totten Station beginning, Sunday, June 23.
E2 Ivy City-Fort Totten southbound toward Ivy City E4 Military Road-Crosstown eastbound toward Riggs Park • Current Bus Bay Assignment: Bus Bay G – Stop ID 1003439 • New Bus Bay Assignment: Bus Bay D – Stop ID 1003237
Be sure to visit the Bertie Backus farmstand tomorrow. The farm stand appears at UDC-CC Backus (5171) 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, June through November.
The following lines strive to remember where we were, how we felt, and what has happened since the Fort Totten metro train accident ten years ago. Though not meant as a singular story, this is more so a collective communal story woven together with memories shared from neighbors, news coverage, quotes from surviving family members, and a walk through Legacy Memorial Park.
June 22, 2009 Rush hour Sitting on a red line train Don’t remember how long it took me to get home Don’t remember the alternate route I took I do remember the delay and wondering why is this happening I just wanted to come home from work
When above ground and with access to the radio I was like, “Oh my” That’s when I heard the commotion about the crash And also Feeling selfish for those earlier thoughts
Curiosity leading me to the FIRE-EMS staging area Realizing how bad the accident was Just imagine being on the scene and imagine what you may have witnessed
Doolittle, DuBose, and Fernandez Hawkins, King, and McMillan Wherley, Wherley, and Williams Nine lives lost Many others injured
Every day, we can commemorate this tragedy Through a plaque on a metro station pillar We recognize “those whole lives that were forever changed” And also understand what the first responders experienced Coming to “our aid in our time of greatest need”
Through a nearby memorial park While ringing with the sound of children playing Mere steps from where a community grows together We are also encouraged to meditate, remember, reflect, and hope
Words are found etched in stone “The space inhabits the hearts of nine uncommon Souls. They were put here to leave eternal love. In stillness…embrace love, peace, courage, and strength.”
The saga that is the Fort Totten South project, a mixed-use townhouse development proposed by a partnership of EYA and JBG Smith for the southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE, moved forward on Tuesday June 18 when the DC Council approved the closure of the slip lanes at South Dakota and Riggs that took place in 2011.
This project was actually supposed to break ground some time ago but it was held up by a bureaucratic snafu. The project dates back to at least 2006. We have been reporting on this since 2014 (the blog was created in December 2013), so this project has been around in some form or fashion for a long time. You can read posts about the project here, here, here, and here.
In 2011, DDOT reconfigured the intersection at South Dakota and Riggs into a standard four corner intersection by closing two slip lanes at the southeast and southwest corners of South Dakota & Riggs. Development of Fort Totten South was predicated on that closure and the creation of a contiguous parcel of land for the development. Closing the slip lanes technically constituted a road closure, and road closures require Council (and Congressional) approval.
Part of the land to be developed for the project belonged to the District (known as the Fort Totten triangle). The above image shows the southeast corner of South Dakota & Riggs where the District parcel was located and the adjacent parcel owned by developer JBG Smith/EYA. A slip lane used to separate the two sites before the intersection was reconfigured by closing the slip lane. Previously the site was to be developed by a partnership of JBG and Lowe Enterprises as multifamily rental units. JBG Smith formed a new partnership with EYA to develop townhomes instead. Over a period of years, the District and the developer negotiated a purchase price, eventually coming to agreement on the final purchase price in 2016. When it came time to officially close the deal and prepare to break ground, officials realized that the Council had not approved the closure of the slip lanes (the road closure) when it actually happened back in 2011. That part of the process just fell through the cracks for whatever reason. Legislation was repeatedly introduced over the ensuing years to approve the closure. Now after the Council’s Tuesday vote approving the emergency legislation to close the slip lanes, it looks like financial closing on the sale of the District parcel can take place in the next few months and the project can finally break ground.
In the interim, the developer has tweaked the project. Recall that the original plans called for 160 townhomes, the majority at grade and around 65 stacked townhomes above a podium with retail on the ground floor. Now, the developer is proposing to replace the stacked townhomes on the podium with around 60 to 80 rental units for seniors, with the goal of providing as much affordable senior housing as possible. At grade, there will still be around 90 traditional townhomes. Retail square footage remains the same, sufficient for about seven retail spaces. Not clear what prompted this latest change, but given the ever-present concern in the community about seniors, this seems like it will be a welcome change.
The developer hopes to break ground by the fall and certainly no later than the end of the year.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 