tl;dr
- A group of neighbors led by Rachel Deussom is dedicating their time and skills to create murals in front of Langdon Rec Center and in front of Woodridge Library under DDOT’s Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program, which actively encourages such installations
- These activations have a number of benefits, including placemaking and safety improvements
- I’m seeking ANC 5C support for both the public space permitting, as well as ANC 5C funding for materials to actuate the murals
- Opposition from Woodridge Civic and resulting hesitation from at least four other 5C Commissioners has so far presented a hurdle to securing that support and funding
- A survey on the initial drafts received 122 responses and the design team is actively working to integrate the feedback ahead of a second feedback survey and a 5C07 SMD meeting
- I’ve made and widely distributed/posted a flyer to raise awareness with a QR code directing here; you can help distribute!
April 2nd 5C07 SMD meeting info
Responsive to a fellow 5C Commissioner’s request, I’ll be holding an “SMD meeting” on this topic ahead of the April 10th ANC 5C meeting.
Single-Member District meetings are:
- optional outreach efforts by Commissioners with their immediate constituents
- historically a cultural norm in central Ward 5, though unheard-of in much of DC
- not a venue for any official actions
connection details
The meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, all virtual over Zoom
(link details and meeting protocol coming soon)
An outreach flyer noting the SMD meeting posted at the library mural site
locations
The proposal is to paint “Closed Roadway” murals in two locations. The project would add paint to the asphalt within permissible areas per DDOT’s standards, and would not permanently alter the existing installations in any physical way beyond paint on asphalt.
in front of Langdon Rec Center
The Langdon Park Community Center is located at 2901 20th St NE, fronting 20th St NE where it bisects Langdon Park (also known in whole or part as Chuck Brown Memorial Park).
The Langdon Park Crossing, a raised crosswalk with curb extension and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons
As of April 2024, a raised crosswalk surrounded by flexpost curb extension connects Langdon Park across 20th St NE here. My own advocacy for this improvement dates back to years before I was Commissioner, though I’ve spoken neighbors fighting for vertical mitigations here for decades. The urgency was highlighted after a February 2023 crash here killed 22-year-old Andy Cariño.
in front of Woodridge Library
Woodridge Library is located at 1801 Hamlin St NE, at the confluence of Rhode Island Ave NE, 18th St NE, two disjoint fragments of Hamlin St NE, and several vestigial fragments of Queens Chapel Rd NE (most of which became part of 18th St NE).
As of September 2024, a curb extension established by a combination of flexposts and “Qwick Kurb” on the Hamlin St NE crosswalk closest to the library hardens driver turns off Rhode Island Ave NE and protects this crosswalk from parking encroachment.
The Woodridge Library curb extension
My own advocacy for this improvement dates back to at least 2022, before I was Commissioner, but the problems with this vestigial connector have long been known and thought about. During the library reconstruction planning in 2012, there was a proposal to extend the library plaza into this roadway segment, though sufficient coordination with DDOT was later deemed infeasible.
A September 2012 concept for a Hamlin Street Plaza from Woodridge Library reconstruction planning
version 1.0 designs
The initial designs were first made available in late February 2024, and an accompanying survey yielded 122 responses, including many pieces of constructive and concurring advice advice.
Langdon Rec mural concept, version 1
The rec center designs honor Chuck Brown, to whom there is a memorial nearby. The library designs honor community-selected books.
Woodridge Library mural concept, version 1
version 1.2 designs
A version 1.2 set of designs were shared with the design volunteering team ahead of two Design Review meetings held on March 27th (virtual) and March 29th (hybrid at Woodridge Library).
version 2.0 designs
The goal is for another round of surveys to be conducted for the pending version 2.0 designs.
