Save the Date! DDOT Public Meetings for RIA Streetscape Improvements
We’ve been talking about it for a while, and after delays on new contract awards during the Federal Government shut-down, DDOT has finally announced the first date for public meetings to get community input about streetscape improvements to Rhode Island Avenue. On December 11th, DDOT will host the first of several public meetings to solicit your input on what types of streetscape improvements are needed on Rhode Island Avenue NE. The phrase “streetscape” refers to improvements in the physical appearance and condition of RIA – including options for improved lighting for pedestrian safety, better crosswalks, more trees, decorative sidewalks, benches, planters, etc. The RIA corridor is YOUR neighborhood commercial corridor, and YOUR input will provide the direction that DDOT takes for improving the safety and appearance of the Avenue. The time and location for the Dec. 11 meeting are still to be determined, so save the date and stay tuned for more...
Read MoreKAAOS Gym – Coming Soon to RIA!
Check out this coverage from ElevationDC on the newest business to join the RIA family! Post by Elevation...
Read MoreRIA/Baltimore Ave Bus Route Improvements: Another Round of Input Needed
At public meetings over the summer and fall, the community gave WMATA lots of feedback about improvements needed to the bus lines serving the Route 1 corridor of Rhode Island and Baltimore Avenues. In the latest public meetings, held earlier this week, WMATA representatives presented a series of possible improvements, and asked for community feedback. The most significant proposed improvements, directly impacting commuters along the corridor by providing direct routes to downtown DC. One of these options is to create a regular route (82) that runs from Mt. Rainier all the way to Foggy Bottom in DC. Check out the proposed map: Another option is to create a limited-stop express service from College Park to McPherson Square during rush hours. Check out all of the options at the WMATA Metrobus Studies website. Even though the public meetings phase is over, WMATA still wants to hear from you – particularly if you weren’t able to make it to the meetings. Take a minute to fill out the most recent WMATA survey to share your opinion about which of the line improvements are most important to you. After WMATA compiles all of your feedback, they will make final recommendations for changes to the bus routes. At that point, it will be up to the DC Council to provide funding to implement the changes. According to WMATA representative Douglas Stallworth, new routes, such as the proposed 82 extension would cost in the range of $2.5 million for seven days a week service. The limited-stop, rush hour only service option between Mt. Rainier and Franklin Square would cost about $1.2 million and on to College Park at least $1.5 million. Stallworth further noted that the cost figures are estimates based on similar services implemented by the Transit Authority, and final costs for the recommended service improvements will not be available until January 2014. Both of these routes would have the potential to significantly reduce rush hour traffic and provide much easier transportation options, with reduced transfer and travel times, for everyone along the corridor. Please take a moment to fill out the survey, then let the DC Council and the Mayor know that this is a priority for reducing traffic and improving transportation options for all community members along the RIA corridor. (Edited 11/16/2013, 1:10 p.m., to reflect corrected cost figures – our apologies for any inconvenience. –...
Read MoreMore RIA Development Coverage
After last week’s announcement of 7 new Great Streets grants being awarded to RIA businesses, we are thrilled to see an increase in press coverage for our community’s commercial district. The latest is a series of articles by ElevationDC, a weekly online magazine that focuses on “the people, ideas, neighborhoods, companies and institutions that make D.C. great.” They have written several articles about Ward 5 businesses, and about the RIA corridor in particular. Yesterday, ElevationDC posted an article about DC Dragons/Dancarate. The article includes a profile of the business and its owners, as well as the facade improvements they planning to make with their Great Streets grant. Next up, the future restaurant, The Public Option, gets profiled (and FoRIA gets a nice shout-out!). Check out the article and this Facebook post: Post by Elevation...
Read MoreMore Good Food Headed to RIA
Ready for another dining option on Rhode Island Avenue NE? Looks like Bergami’s Pizza is headed our way, and will be opening at Rhode Island Row sometime next spring. Owner Mark Bergami is from New Haven, so he’ll be bringing that extra New Haven pizza magic to RIA. Check out the Washington City Paper article for more details, and check out the menu, below. It looks like they’ll have both gluten-free and carb-free pizza crusts, in addition to the regular favorites....
Read MoreNewest RIA Business Gets Press Coverage
Today marks the day that Woodridge finally gets seriously caffeinated – and the press is buzzing! Zeke’s Coffee of DC is celebrating their Grand Opening today, and several local news organizations, including the Washington Business Journal, the CityPaper and the Washington Post have already published articles about the Baltimore-based coffee roastery, with emphasis on their business model and plans for their new DC location. John Kepner, the owner of the DC location of Zeke’s, lives in the area. According to Kepner, Zeke’s (named after his uncle and the founder of Zeke’s Coffee) will be serving cups of coffee for the reasonable prices of $1.50 for a 12 oz. cup and $2.50 for a 16 oz cup. But don’t go expecting espresso or fancy foamy coffee drinks – this is strictly brewed or pour-over purity. They will even host coffee tasting “labs” in the future, sampling many of the varieties they roast from mostly organically-grown, fair trade beans. The shop will feature wi-fi and some seating, and Kepner hopes to expand to include outdoor seating soon. But this is only part of what will be happening at 2300 Rhode Island Avenue. You’ll also be able to purchase bags of freshly roasted beans to take home. It’s the small batch roasting that put Zeke’s on the map, and they will use this new location to supply their DC-area wholesale clients as well as their legions of loyal farmers market customers. Today’s event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting tomorrow, the shop hours for November will be Wednesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They’ve even promised some pastries on the weekends. So get ready, folks – I suspect that with all of this good coffee flowing on RIA, we’re all about to get a whole lot more productive in our daily...
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