Tag Archives: Lamond Riggs Library

ANC 5A Meeting Wrapup

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , , ,

The June 25 ANC 5A meeting was the last meeting before the summer break. Meetings resume in September.

Crime

A report from Commander Kim Missouri: There has been an increase in thefts from autos, burglaries, robberies (mostly phones), and stolen autos. The police have determined that recent gun incidents involve a back and forth between juveniles from North Michigan Park and Riggs Park. They have identified one person of interest and they are continuing to focus on juvenile curfew enforcement, particularly around the metro station. Common tips to prevent crime:  lock doors/windows, do not leave valuables in cars, be aware of surroundings when walking, and call 911 if you see anything suspicious or out of place. You can anonymously text crime tips to 50411.

Lamond Riggs Library

A committee chaired by Commissioner Angel Alston has been formed to ensure that Lamond Riggs Library remains and is renovated at its current location. Recall that the Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten project is a multiphase development and one of the later phases contemplates the construction of a new neighborhood library. Also recall there was supposed to be funding in the budget for renovating the library. It turns out that money would actually come from selling the library to the developer so that the developer can then build a new one. The sale would have to be approved through the surplus process. Assurances have been made by a couple of elected officials that the library will not be sold, but the commission and residents want to make sure they stay on top of things. The committee will meet again in September. Contact Commissioner Alston for more information.

School Boundary Redrawing Proposal

With respect to the redrawing of the school boundaries, the commission voted to adopt a resolution stating the focus should really be on ensuring a quality, matter of right K-12 education for every student.

Renaming of Gym at North Michigan Park Recreation Center

The Mayor’s Office will likely forego renaming the gym at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center after Medric Mills, the gentleman who tragically passed away across the street from a firehouse on Rhode Island Avenue NE. Mr. Mills was a 46-year employee of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and DPR thought it would be a fitting honor to name the gym after him. NMP residents and commissioners were not alerted of DPR’s proposal ahead of time and expressed their belief that Mr. Mills, a resident of Riggs Park, should be honored in a different manner.

Recap of ANC 5A meeting: Zoning, Library, Fort Totten metro station

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Totten Metro Development, Lamond Riggs Library, Neighborhood Development, Transportation and tagged with , , ,

Highlights from the January 29th ANC 5A public meeting:

Miscellaneous items

  • The commission elected the same slate of officers.
  • The commission is looking for an office assistant available to work around 20 hours per week.  Direct inquiries and leads to your commissioner.
  • Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie said that the Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation report is still under review, but he hopes that the task force can have that out to the public in the next couple of months.
  • Art Place at Fort Totten:  The Cafritz team will likely have to file for a PUD extension.
  • Path between Gallatin & Galloway Street NE:  Expect notice of a meeting for SMD 5A08 regarding the National Park Service environment study.
  • Hotel:  Developers presented on a new Marriott brand hotel proposed for a site at Michigan Avenue NE and Irving Street NE.  A parking lot currently sits at this site.  The area was part of ANC 5C prior to revision of the ANC boundaries.  Now it is in ANC 5A.  The developers believe the area, with several hospitals and universities, will be well-served by a hotel and they plan to provide discounted community rates on rooms and hotel facilities.  They also emphasized the importance of hiring from the community.
  • McMillan Sand Filtration Site:  The commission plans to draft a resolution in support of ANC 5E’s resolution on the first phase of the McMillan project.

Zoning

The ANC plans to draft a resolution requesting more time to review the zoning update.  The Ward 5 hearing on the zoning update is 9:00 am on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Dunbar High School.  The Ward 4 hearing is at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Wilson High School.  The Office of Zoning will accept written testimony after today’s deadline for written submission, but might not have time to review it before scheduled hearings.  Individuals can also testify in person.  Early sign up is encouraged since testimony will take place on a first come, first serve basis.  Instructions and more information are available on Zoning’s site.

Lamond Riggs Library

The ANC plans to draft a resolution requesting the full modernization and renovation of Lamond Riggs Library at its current location.  Recall that the Cafritz project potentially includes a new, state-of-the art neighborhood library in a later phase of the development.  However, since there is no indication of when the project will actually break ground on the first phase, the ANC believes it does not make sense to make the update of the library contingent on the Cafritz project.  Recall from this post that the FY 2014 budget included zero funding for renovating the library, but there is proposed funding for FY 2015 & 2016.  The budget summary noted that DC’s chief librarian was in communication with the Cafritz team about the libary.  We look forward to seeing the resolution the commission draws up at a future meeting.    

WMATA Joint Development for Fort Totten Metro Station

Stan Wall, WMATA’s real estate development director, presented on WMATA’s joint soliciation for proposed development of the park-and-ride lot (west parcel) at Fort Totten metro station.  As mentioned in previous posts, WMATA anticipates that this project will be all or primarily residential, with possibly a very small retail component.  Below is a 4 pager that was distributed at the meeting showing conceptual designs of circulation pattern, massing, potential development concepts, and a timeline for the project.  A developer can propose a concept not shown as long as it meets the requirements in the solicitation. 

Mr. Wall said that WMATA’s chief concerns with this project are that it enhance the community and have good placemaking and design elements.  He noted that Aventine Fort Totten (and even Rhode Island Row), while transit-oriented in the sense that they abut a metro station, are not so great in terms of looking like they fit, enhancing the community, or having good placemaking elements.  In addition, with this project, they hope to add more eyes to the street around First Place NE, thereby making it safer for those accessing the station from west of the tracks. 

WMATA plans to hold community meetings after proposals have been submitted.  They plan to have boards for each proposal so that residents can say which elements of each they like.  That way, WMATA can work with the developer they ultimately select to incorporate certain things the community found favorable even if those elements were not originally in the proposal.  

Submissions are due March 7, 2014.  The total time for selection of a developer and negotiating an agreement is expected to be one year.  If the project needs to go through the planned unit development (PUD) process (for example if the developer wants to do something not currently permitted under zoning laws), then expect additional time.  All told, the project is expected to be completed in the 2017-2018 timeframe. 

For those interested in learning more about the project before the community forums begin, it’s worth taking a look at the 13 pages from the solicitation pertaining just to Fort Totten station: Full WMATA Fort Totten Development Section (source:  WMATA Joint Development Solicition November 2013 (pdf)).

Riggs Park shoutout in WaPo

Posted by nextstoprp in Neighborhood Profile and tagged with , , , ,

A Washington Post article includes Riggs Park in a list of neighborhoods that are good alternatives to more popular, expensive neighborhoods for homebuyers in DC.  Along with Riggs Park, the article lists Petworth, Takoma, SW Waterfront, Brookland, Woodridge, and Hillcrest.  I am never quite sure what to make of articles like this.  Nevertheless, it is true that Riggs Park is a great neighborhood in a pretty good location.

When I was in the market 3 years ago, I considered most of the neighborhoods listed in the article, eventually narrowing my search to Brookland and Riggs Park.  One of the major draws of Riggs Park is the metro access.  I can walk to Fort Totten metro station in less than 10 minutes and get on the red, yellow, or green line, or hop on one of several buses at the station.  In fact, I finally sold my car earlier this year because (a) I do not like driving or car maintenance; (b) I was not driving much at all; and (c) it is easy enough to get to all the things I need and want without a car.  I walk about one mile to the Giant on Eastern Ave or the 1.5 miles to Yes! Organic Market in Brookland for groceries.  Occasionally I walk the couple of miles to the Takoma Park farmers market.  I walk/bike to Brookland or metro to Takoma for dance classes.  I can walk to Lamond Riggs neighborhood library in less than 10 minutes for books and movies.  And getting to work downtown takes 30 minutes door to door.

Developments in the neighborhood will add retail and restaurants to the mix in the next few years.  The neighborhood is also home to Food & Friends and the Backus campus of UDC-CC.  There is a neighborhood recreation center (Riggs LaSalle).  Crime is relatively low and neighbors are super friendly.

As the article noted, many of the homes in the neighborhood are semi-detached.  However, there are detached single family homes available that of course cost a bit more.  The new Hampshires development at 6000 New Hampshire Ave NE added several single family homes about one mile from Fort Totten metro station.  The development is also bringing new townhomes to the area (grand opening this Sat. from 12 pm to 2:30 pm).

Of the neighborhoods listed, Riggs Park is probably the most affordable, partially owing to a lack of amenities as compared to some of the other areas.  Proximity to Petworth, Brookland, and Takoma helps to mitigate the lack of amenities a bit.  Semi-detached homes with at least 3 bedrooms/1.5 bathrooms and a decent backyard can still be had for under $300,000.  Renovated semi-detached homes are now selling for over $300,000.  Newly constructed homes at the Hampshires are listed in the $500,000 range for townhomes and upwards of $600,000 for the detached homes.  Prices are up, but one can still manage to get a solid home in an established neighborhood without breaking the bank.

Ward 5 budget townhall April 10 & Lamond Riggs neighborhood library

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Council, Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , , ,

Mayor Gray will host a budget townhall with a focus on Ward 5 on April 10, 2013 at Luke C. Moore Academy (1001 Monroe St. NE) at 6:30 pm.  In his press release on the mayor’s budget, Councilmember McDuffie said that he would like to see money allocated for the modernization of Lamond Riggs library.  The mayor’s proposed budget does not include any money for modernizing Lamond Riggs library, but it does provide money so that all DC public libraries will be open 7 days per week.

Updated  3/29/2013

The mayor’s proposed FY 2014 budget includes a line item for renovating the Lamond Riggs library (pdf), with full funding estimated at over $18 million.  It notes that the library is 45 years old and is energy inefficient.  The spec calls for the library to be substantially renovated “to create a new 21st century state-of-the-art LEED Silver Rated vacility.”  The budget includes zero FY 2014 funding for renovating the library, but includes proposed funding for FY 2015 & FY 2016.  It notes that Cafritz’s development (Art Place at Fort Totten) includes a spec in a (much) later phase to build a new library for the neighborhood as part of the Art Place development.  The document states DCPL is still involved in discussions with Cafritz about this.  An older budget timeline projected that the design for a renovated library would be completed by October 2011, with construction starting in Jan 2012 and completed by June 2018.  Of course none of those milestones was met and it’s unclear at this point if Cafritz’s proposal is the reason for the delay.

Free tax preparation assistance from AARP Foundation at Lamond Riggs neighborhood library

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , ,

The AARP Foundation is offering free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with a focus on those 60 and older.  In our area, this service will be available at the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood library.  Visit the foundation website here for more information about this service, to find out what documents to take, and to find other service locations in the city.  Let your neighbors and family know.