neighborhood news
Menkiti Breaks Ground on Project in Historic Anacostia
The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc. in partnership as MLK Gateway Partners LLC (MGP) broke ground on the first phase of their MLK Gateway project. Located at the corner of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, MLK Gateway will become a catalytic commercial center for historic Anacostia. Phase One features the restoration of 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail as well as 20,000 square feet of newly built office space. The project is anchored by Enlightened Inc., an award-winning minority-owned information technology and cybersecurity firm that will relocate its nearly 150 district-based employees to a new headquarters in the project. The building’s design and incorporates existing historic facades to provide a rich backdrop for new vibrant street-fronting retail. Phase Two of the project will include construction of a new building at 19091913 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE with street-level retail and multistory office space above.
Free Tax Help
Through April 15, meet with a qualified AARP tax aide to help answer your tax questions and prepare your 2019 income tax filing. Get free help on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Bellevue Library; on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anacostia Library; on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Capital View Library; and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Francis Gregory Library. For more information and to find other sites offering tax assistance, visit dclibrary.org/incometax.
Longtime Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) member Vernard R. Gray passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Cuba.
Benning Streetcar Project Open House
Bo Menkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined at Jan. 8’s groundbreaking by Enlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D), Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D), Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio and community members. Photo: Andre Russell
Mayoral Budget Engagement Forums
Share values, priorities and ideas with Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) to aid her in the development of her FY21 budget. On Feb. 10 at noon, there is a Senior Budget Engagement Telephone Town Hall. To RSVP, call 202-442-8150. There are Budget Engagement Forums on Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Edgewood Rec Center, 301 Franklin St. NE; Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m., at UDC Student Center, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW; and Feb. 22, 11 a.m., at Kenilworth Rec Center, 4321 Ord St, NE. For more information and to RSVP, visit 2020BudgetForums.eventbrite.com.
Maximize Social Security
On Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Francis A. Gregory Library, attend a complimentary seminar to learn potential strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits. Find out about eligibility, timing benefits and other factors. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave., SE. dclibrary.org/francis. 32
EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will hold an open house on Feb. 20, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at River Terrace Education Campus, 405 Anacostia Ave. NE, for the Benning Road Reconstruction and Streetcar Project. As part of the ongoing Benning Road and Bridges Transportation Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA), DDOT has initiated this preliminary design project aimed at improving the Benning Road corridor to safely and efficiently accommodate all modes of transportation. The project also will study potential modifications of the DC-295 and Benning Road interchange. At the open house, DDOT staff will provide an update on the project, present the DC-295 and Benning Road interchange preferred options and solicit public input. For more information, visit https://www.benningproject.com/.
Park Cleanups
On Jan. 12, 140 members of the World Mission Society Church of God converged on Ft. Stanton Park and removed 6,000 pounds of trash from the area around 2709 Bruce Place, including 161 large trash bags, 91 tires and over 500 pounds of scrap metal. On Dr. Martin Luther King Day, a contingent of Ward 8 Woods volunteers gave out 150 reusable grocery bags at the annual Ward 8. On the first Saturday of every month, help remove trash and invasive plants from Fort Stanton Park, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet in front of the Ft. Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear work boots and durable pants. Bring a water bottle-refills provided. Documentation of community service hours will be provided upon request. Ward 8 Woods also holds Shepherd Parkway clean-ups every sec-
Vernard R. Gray, 1941–2020
Longtime Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) member Vernard R. Gray was a visionary curator, art collector, photographer, Jazz fan, videographer/filmmaker and fashion designer. He is best known as owner of the Miya Gallery (1976-2001), the District’s first Afrocentric gallery, named for his daughter. A native Washingtonian, he promoted the current “Made in East River” initiative which encourages DC government to allow use of vacant city-owned properties for cultural use, including food-producing greenhouses! He and the ACC collaborated for several years on events and projects to promote Jazz in DC--particularly east of the river.
