Fort Lincoln ANC Newsletter
April 19, 2021
Neighbors,

This month's newsletter from your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Fort Lincoln (ANC 5C03) discusses the Commodore Community Cleanup event on Saturday, April 24; local Covid updates; new restaurants at the Fort Lincoln shopping center; crime safety; and school openings.

All the best,
Pierre
Local Covid Updates
Fort Lincoln residents pictured above getting their vaccine shots.
Vaccines

All DC residents 16 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in DC. All DC residents can pre-register for a vaccination appointment by going to vaccinate.dc.gov or calling 1-855-363-0333. Once pre-registered, you will be contacted via email/text/phone when it's your turn book an appointment.

Beginning April 19, DC residents who are 65 and older will be able to get vaccinated without an appointment at walk-up sites across DC. Each site will be able to accommodate up to 30 walk-in appointments each day.

The Ward 5 locations include: Langdon at 2901 20th Street, NE; and Turkey Thicket at 1100 Michigan Ave NE.

  • Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Mon-Fri, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Lamond Recreation Center, Wed-Sat, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Langdon Park Community Center, Mon-Thurs, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, Tues/Wed/Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Arena Stage, Thurs-Sun, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Rosedale Recreation Center, Mon/Thurs/Fri/Sat, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Kenilworth Recreation Center, Tues/Wed/Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Wed/Thurs, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Entertainment & Sports Arena, Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Fort Stanton Recreation Center, Mon-Thurs, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Covid Testing

DC is now offering free at-home COVID-19 testing kits at 16 locations around the District. The closed location is Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin St. NE). You can pick up a test between 10 am and 6 pm Monday thru Friday. More information is available at testyourself.dc.gov.

Financial Assistance

Below is information regarding the Stay DC Program. Applicants can call 833-4-STAYDC from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Quickway Opens and Mezeh is Coming Soon
The Quickway Japanese Hibachi restaurant opened recently at the shopping center in Fort Lincoln. Mezeh Mediterranean Grill is on the way and will be located near the UPS Store and Tropical Smoothie. And, as previously mentioned, the Hook & Reel sit-down restaurant will fill the open space between Starbucks and Chipotle. In sum, with the construction and permitting processes taking place, the shopping center is less than a year away from full capacity!

I was reflecting on how a year ago, the shopping center parking lot was a ghost town. Now, the shopping center is booming again. We are fortunate, as many shopping centers across the city and country lost businesses due to the pandemic. So when you consider where to eat, buy groceries, buy home equipment, or buy clothes, I encourage you to first consider whether a store at your local shopping center has what you're looking for.
Commodore Drive and Eastern Avenue Updates
Once the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) finishes post-winter pothole-filling activities across the city in April, DDOT will turn to other traffic safety matters. I've been told that DDOT will return to Fort Lincoln in May to finish marking and paving the speed tables along Commodore J. Barney Drive.

Separately, some of you may have noticed construction along Eastern Ave near the open green space on the north side of Fort Lincoln. Pepco recently completed a project to replace underground power lines. The residents affected received notification. And the road will be repaved in the coming weeks.
Crime Safety
I will not sugarcoat it. We've had significant challenges with safety at The Jamison apartment building. And a few weeks ago, there was a shooting in front of the building. Over the course of many months -- and particularly after the recent shooting -- there have been a number of meetings involving property ownership, residents of the The Jamison and The Reserves HOA, the police department, and Councilmember McDuffie's office.

In light of the shooting, I believe The Jamison management and ownership team is taking the matter seriously and acting with urgency to enhance security measures. These measures include significant upgrades to the video surveillance system and the way the building coordinates with law enforcement. In addition, the apartment building has increased security guard coverage to 24/7 coverage and went from 1 guard to 2 security guards. As part of the process, there's been a discussion about quality, not just quantity, of the security processionals, and also detailed discussions about ensuring security personnel are roaming the interior and exterior of the building.

Separately, the police have ongoing investigations into certain persons who either live in the building or have some affiliation to a resident living there. In a number of incidents, the individuals did not appear to be residents of the building.

There will be additional touchpoint meetings to discuss progress at The Jamison in the coming weeks. If you have thoughts or information to share, feel free to contact me. I believe we're going to move in the right direction, but it will take some time to turn the situation around.
Public School Update
DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson issued a newsletter offering a blistering rebuke of the public school budget process. The pandemic has prompted many parents, including myself, to try and better understand the education system. Chair Mendelson's newsletter provides an interesting perspective.

Also, as many residents may have learned, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee recently announced that DC Public Schools will "fully reopen with in-person learning for all students, every day in the fall for the 2021-2022 School Year." 
Pierre Hines
Commissioner, ANC 5C03
(202) 556-3481
5C03@anc.dc.gov