Category Archives: Community News
New York Ave. Streetscape & Trail Project Public Meeting 2/23/2017
Its of critical importance that all residents who live adjacent to New York Avenue come out to give their input on the Streetscape and trail plan. This plan needs to be resident driven and not developer driven and we must be sure to hold DDOT accountable to not only planting trees but addressing the timing of lights, safe access by existing residents, multi-modal infrastructure, and connectivity not only to new developments but to the adjacent existing communities. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, New York Ave belongs to all of us and its important that all of our voices are heard, considered and included. The announcement is below.
From the DDOT Website:
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invites you to a public meeting on Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 6 pm through 8 pm to discuss the New York Avenue Streetscape and Trail Project.
A brief presentation about the project will be given by staff at 6:30 pm. The purpose of this project is to develop design solutions for a streetscape and trail that target multimodal, safety and aesthetic improvements along New York Avenue NE. DDOT will introduce the project and gather comments from the community at this public meeting.
What: New York Avenue Streetscape and Trail Public Meeting
When: Thursday, February 23, 2017, 6 pm to 8 pm (a brief presentation at 6:30 pm)
Where: Gallaudet University, I. King Jordan Student Academic Center – SAC, 800 Florida Avenue, NW
Transit: Metro – NoMa -Gallaudet Metro Station (Red Line); Metro Bus: 90, 92
For more information about the public meeting, please contact Katherine Youngbluth atkatherine.youngbluth@dc.gov or Michael Alvino at michael.alvino@dc.gov.
Petsmart to Host First Puppy Love Party @ the Fort Lincoln Store!
Come party with Party with Petsmart on Saturday February 11, 2017!!!! There will be Adoptable dogs and cats from @City Dogs Rescue, games, prizes, raffles, SMOOCH A POOCH kissing photo booth, giveaways, free bark bar, human snacks, caricature drawings and much more. They will have a “bone guess” jar game! The pet parents who comes closest to guessing the number of cookies in the jar will get to take the treats home! Our bark bar will have a variety of doggie snacks so your pups will get to sample an assortment of snacks!!
Feel free to bring your leashed pets and two legged children are welcome as well!
A few lucky participants could even win a $5 or $10 gift card or our “doggie basket” raffle!!!
City Dogs/City Kitties will have adorable dogs and cats that are in need of a furrrever home! Come by for a great time and maybe even add a new addition to the family!
RSVP for the event using the link below. The store is located in the Shops at Dakota Crossing!
https://www.facebook.com/events/814941825321284/?notif_t=plan_user_invited¬if_id=1485885147605388
New Retail Opening Dates in Fort Lincoln at the Shops at Dakota Crossing
Finally, The shops at Dakota Crossing is nearing completion, however there are still two parcels to be constructed which includes the proposed “Upscale” TGI Friday’s site across from Costco and the planned bank parcel site across from Lowes. Neither are finalized at this time.
So let’s cut to the chase, below are the”planned”spring openings for the Shops At Dakota Crossing
T-Mobile – 3/1/2017
Five Below – 3/3/17
Visionworks – 4/1/2017
Starbucks – 4/24/2017
Panda Express – 4/24/2017
Jersey Mikes – 6/1/2017
This list only represents approximately 1/3 of the available community based retail offerings, there are more options to come. Please note that I can only report openings as the information becomes availble in relevance to updating the community on openings.
ANC 5C – “TED Talk #1” Negotiating With Developers
As requested I have attached my presentation from tonight’s ANC 5C Meeting titled, “What are community benefits.” It is intended to serve as a guide to identifying the elements of strong & weak community benefits when negotiating with Developers.
$250 Gift cards at Pet Smart Grand Opening in Fort Lincoln
Pet Smart’s grand opening is set for this Saturday, October 29th 2016 at 9:00 am. in the Shops at Dakota Crossing in Fort Lincoln There are lots of prizes and give-a-ways including:
A Raffle for (3) $250 Dollar Gift Cards (Dog Owner, Cat Owner, Other Pet Owner)
Tee Shirts
Door Busters for the First 50 Customers
Promotional Gift Cards and much more.
The store officially opens today with limited services and hours. Pet Smart is the 4th retailer to open at the Shops at Dakota in large parcel shops. See you this Saturday!
Fort Lincoln Day September 17,2016!
DICK’s Now Hiring for new D.C. Store in Fort Lincoln!
Dick’s Sporting Goods is now hiring for positions at it’s new store in the Shops @ Dakota Crossing Shopping Center in Fort Lincoln.
Come out this Friday to the Hiring Information Session and hear first hand from the Store’s General Manager on what positions are available, apply online for open job positions and schedule your interview.
Computers will be available to complete applications at this event for two hours. Please come early and prepared. You can also complete applications online from anywhere and schedule your interview at: dicksSportingGoods.jobs/newstores. The hiring information session is not required but recommended.
Need help with your resume or need interview preparations? The DC Department of Employment Services may be able to help. Visit their website at DOES.dc.gov
Better WMATA Engagement Results in More Bus Options in Fort Lincoln
Last year I testified at WMATA’s Public Hearing mostly in disbelief that the only options for fixing our bus ridership was to cut the B8/B9 and re-route the H6 to service the shopping center. There was no consideration for upcoming development, changing community demographics or proximity to basic services; just a focus on return on investment which for Fort Lincoln can’t be the determining factor with the large concentration of senior residents.
However, this year was different, there was better coordination with WMATA and more residents from the community at the table to discuss their riding habits. Although the B8/B9 is proposed to be cut again, there are a few new options which may increase ridership, continue service to Colmar Manor and finally gain access to Ivy City.
The screenshot below describes the extent of the changes. The link to the entire document is here. 071416_3APublicHearing2016BusSOGO
Virginia plans to de-rail Development in Union Market & Ivy City
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter rail service linking the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia and has plans to expand/relocate it’s rail-car storage capacity as an apparent result of the Union Station Expansion. VRE plans to do this by reactivating abandoned railroad through Union Market and creating a new storage yard on New York Ave. from 4th street to 16th street. See pictures below:
VRE’s plan would expand into a developing community absent of considering the obvious impact not only to the residents of this community but to the community development efforts and livability factor of such a facility. These rails have been abandoned for decades and New York Ave. is becoming a residential and retail destination which will connect many of the communities from NOMA to Fort Lincoln. Today, there is an existing 70 foot buffer between Amtrak Trains & New York Ave, which is used in part by Douglas Development as well as the planned trail connection along New York Ave. which will bring safe multimodal infrastructure to the community. Removing that buffer and storing idling diesel powered trains up to the curb is infuriating and is clearly a lack of engagement and care for the lives of people who live in this community. Moreover, Virginia has much more space to store trains within its own state lines and close Proximity of D.C. but of coarse they wouldn’t dare dump on their own development projects. VRE could easily store their trains at the proposed Long Bridge Park Pool Site which still hasn’t broken ground or in Potomac Yards where they have decommissioned that entire rail yard and is redeveloping.
In addition to the numerous and obvious environmental & health issues that stem from idling trains within close proximity to District residents, this plan would significantly alter, or even in some cases halt or eliminate projects that are driving economic development for the overall community and addressing livability concerns along New York Ave which includes:
Market Terminal in Union Market
Ivy City
The planned N.Y. Ave. Trail Project
Hecht’s Warehouse District Development
The planned New City DC Development
Future Transportation Plans Along NY Ave.
As you can see in the picture below, the The proposed train storage yard extends beyond Montana Avenue.
Where is VRE in the Process?
In May of this year, VRE released it’s solicitation to establish a Contract with one (1) qualified and experienced firm to provide environmental documentation, public outreach and participation, real estate acquisition, urban design, survey, geotechnical investigation and engineering design services for a midday storage facility for rolling stock operated by Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Proposals were due on the 13th of June. It is important that as more information about this project becomes available that we align ourselves with the residents and leadership of the impacted areas and do our part to make light of this potential travesty. The link to the Conceptual Engineering Documents by VRE is below.
Attachment_U.1_Conceptual_Design_Docs
Gateway To The City DC 