I am a resident of the Woodridge community, but like you, am concerned with the redevelopment of Rhode Island Avenue NE. I created this blog to be a source for residents to either find information or share information about redevelopment or happenings along Rhode Island Ave NE.
If you have any comments about what you hear about issues on any topic or want to email me directly, email me at pyramus12@yahoo.com.
rhodeislandavene.com 
You should add a blogroll to other neighborhood blogs and hopefully they will link back to yours and drive traffic.
Did you see there is a Papa Johns opening up near Montana Avenue? I have no excitement about Papa Johns, but at least there is a big commercial store opening up in our neighborhood! This brings some hope as I was starting to lose some.
thanks for this!! I posted a note about it based on your email!
I just wanted to let you know that I think this blog is a great idea – I recently moved into the area, and I’m looking at purchasing a place within the next few years. Although there are things about the Woodridge/RIA area that I love (architecture, suburban feel, lawns!), the lack of anything to do directly in the area had me assuming that I’d have to move out when it came time to purchase. Although I suppose I could just become a connoisseur of local liquor stores, but I think some great restaurants, coffee shops, and stores would be a little more inviting for the long run. I will bookmark your blog, and hopefully that will let me know about any meetings or opportunities to be involved in the community and active in the redevelopment efforts.
Hi Elizabeth,
Keep up to date on what is coming. RI Ave has so much potential, and when you are ready to buy, let me know, I have a FANTASTIC realtor.
I’ve been a resident of Ward 5 since 1997. Unfortunately, I have seen very little improvement along Rhode Istand Ave, with respect to its redevelopment. Mayor Fenty emailed me personally, stating that projects would begin TWO YEARS AGO…….Nothing happened. Ward 5 is a depressing, and very neglected community. We need and DESERVE reputable retail stores along the Ave….extending far beyond 12th street. Liquior stores, night clubs, cheap motels, and halfway houses all breed a formula for disaster. What goes into a community can (and will) affect what comes out of it. To illustrate, some stores along the Ave have been “adorned” with new gang-related graffiti. Just check out the new “artwork” on the walls of Family Dollar on 23rd and Rhode Island. Ward 5 had been in a state of emergency for years. When will we SEE CHANGE? And, what more can we, as a community, do to to facilitate this needed change?
Well it takes being the squeaky wheel. More and more residents in Ward 5 need to make a stand and start demanding redevelopment and attention. Everything is getting pushed on Ward 5 (crap stuff) because noone speaks up here.
Pertaining to this information:
The Grand Master of King Solomon Grand is Robert J. Newby of New York
The Deputy Grand Masster is Benjamin Amara out of Baltimore a former suspended member of Baltimore Lodge.
The Promoter of these illegal sanction events was the son of Sister Silvia Jarrett the fiancee of the Grand Master Robert J. Newby in which the claimed to be the Step-son.
What do you think about the Forman Mills on 4th & RI Ave? I was really hoping something better and much less obnoxious would have taken over the space vacated by National Wholesale Liquidators.
Disappointed that is the best we can attract! They needed to revamp that shopping center, raze it and rebuild it to attract better.
Very nice and readable blog. My partner and I have been single-family home owners on Franklin St. just at the tip of Langdon Park since 2000. We enjoy the few offersings there are in our neck of NE, mourn the loss over time of sit down restaurants such as Bubba’s Muskogee, but feel a little undirectly affected by development, congestion, and density concerns of Brookland proper, though we’ve recently joined the BrooklandGLBT and Brookland email communities.
Thank you for the fine work on the proposed redevelopment. I will be sure to return to this site as events unfold. I appreciate your interest and attention to this very important quality-of-life issue.
I’ll admit, I’ve been doing my grocery shopping while visiting family in Virginia the last couple of months, so I was at first disappointed to see the state of the Giant at the metro station. I thought it was really going downhill. Then I realized they’re renovating it! Could this be a sign of better things to come?
Hi Elizabeth,
I was in there also recently. They do appear to be changing it up a bit. I was in the Giant store in McLean, VA yesterday and noticed that they are also changing the layout of the store, so I think this may be their company-wide revisions to go up against Harris Teeter, etc.
Yes, I’ve been in some of the newer ones, probably back in Fredericksburg. I just hate the changes they make to the health/beauty section. Absolutely pitiful signage. On another grocery note, rumor from the checker in Safeway that they are closing March 6. No word on replacements or why they are closing.
It’s going to take more than a remodel of the store to make it better!
For some reason all of my comments about the Ward 5 nightclubs are getting posted in the middle of all the comments. Very weird.
I am a lifelong DC resident and 5 year Woodridge resident. I grew up in Ward 3, but as an adult could not afford to live there. We love our home and we love our neighbors. However, our family desperately wants nice sit down restaurants, or even something like Panera, Cosi, or Chipotle to start would be nice. It would also be nice to have some nice retail shops. And, would it be hard to modernize and renovate the library? It depresses me to take my daughter there.
If we can get Rhode Island Ave to the point where it is like Shirlington that would be a dream come true. When we drive over to H Street and see what’s going on, we get so envious. They even got their first Ethiopian restaurant (a very nice contemporary, elegant place).
don’t know if this blogroll is still active, but thought i would put my two cents in. unfortunately, i was passing down queens chapel to bladensburg when i saw the new “upscale” strip club in the area, stadium club. that’s exactly the wrong kind of development for this area. so much wasted potential in woodridge, it drives me nuts!!!
I’ve been a resident of Ward 5 since 1997. Unfortunately, I have seen very little improvement along Rhode Istand Ave, with respect to its redevelopment. Mayor Fenty emailed me personally, stating that projects would begin TWO YEARS AGO…….Nothing happened. Ward 5 is a depressing, and very neglected community. We need and DESERVE reputable retail stores along the Ave….extending far beyond 12th street. Liquior stores, night clubs, cheap motels, and halfway houses all breed a formula for disaster. What goes into a community can (and will) affect what comes out of it. To illustrate, some stores along the Ave have been “adorned” with new gang-related graffiti. Just check out the new “artwork” on the walls of Family Dollar on 23rd and Rhode Island. Ward 5 had been in a state of emergency for years. When will we SEE CHANGE? And, what more can we, as a community, do to to facilitate this needed change?
+1
Im so happy I came across this blog. I am moving to the area and it has been very helpful in my purchase.
I’m a Langdon Park resident since 2006. I must say that I am dissapointed in the current condition of the former “Fish House” located at 1617 Rhode Island Avenue (at the corner of 17th & Rhode Island). I’ve made several attemps with the city (DCRA and the MPD) to get this building secured. The front door had been broken into and the front of the building has a hole in it….yet no one does anything about it.
I also wish the MPD would do something about the drinking and drugs in Langdon Park.
On a more positive note, keep up the good work on your website. I enjoy reading it.
I live off Langdon Park as well (swimming pool side is kinda our back yard). I contacted council member Thomas’s office not long ago to propose investigating a farmer’s market. There are ample flat spaces and would bring a lot to the neighborhood. He seemed quite interested in it but wanted me to spear head- just don’t have the time though I certainly have some resources for connecting with local and regional farmers.
In my opinion that would certainly beat the drug and hooker market that currently exists.
I agree with an earlier sentiment, RIA has SO bloody much potential for being a great commercial/retail corridor.
Will you PLEASE use whatever connections you have with your farmers to get us a farmer’s market? I so agree that this area has a ton of potential. I’ve been here since mid 2009, and it is frustrating to see areas like H Street take off with such great development, while this area languishes. Frankly even Hyattsville is doing a much better job than Ward 5 seems to be doing, and they don’t have the built in retail infrastructure that this area does. The unmet demand here is huge, and whoever harnesses it will certainly benefit. While getting a Target and Costco seems pretty good in some ways, it won’t improve the quality of our lives or our neighborhoods nearly as much as nice retail, and nice sit-down restaurants and cafes.
Thanks RIA Insider for the great blog.
This is good keep it up area inside the wards news is good don’t get that from the news until later.
this is good
Alexander on 20th,
At the ANC5A meeting hosted in November, the new pastor of Church of our Saviour said she was working to get a Farmer’s Market on her church site located at 17th & Irving. I don’t know if this would replace the Brookland Farmer’s market at the Brookland Metro or complement it. The Irving Street location is very country-like and would make a good location. At 17th & RIA this past fall, people in trucks would unload and sell their produce including fresh sweet potatoes and collard greens. I’m glad to see Michelle Obama teaming up with Walmart. In general, I can often find similar items including organic apples cheaper at Whole Foods than Farmer’s Market and I shop at Farmer’s Markets on a weekly basis. I even shop at the Brookland Farmers Market.
National Wine & Liquors is under new management located at 2310 Rhode Island Ave NE. As part of the new management plan, we are working to improve the quality of products offered, especially the wine selection. After visiting various stores in the area, I noticed that the wine selection is lacking from what one might find in NW. Please stop in and take a look at the growing selection. Secondly, facade improvement and overall aesthetics are part of the overall plan and we are working to make that happen. Please stop by and we are always open to suggestions for products to carry. Thanks again.
Parking for commuters!
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/06/06/dc-sues-councilman-thomas-for-1m.html
HI there-
I recently moved to the neighborhood and was excited to find your blog! Other than the lack of restaurants, I’ve noticed there’s also a lack of gyms in the area. Do you see any opening in the near future?
Unfortunately, there are none that I know of for this area. It would be nice to see one move to the area that would enable so many of us to walk to it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/harry-thomas-home-searched-by-law-enforcement/2011/12/02/gIQABjDlKO_story.html
Not sure if you and folks at FORIA saw this in the Brookland blog about Menomale Pizza & Beer. Looks like it will be a great place for the neighborhood. It will be a few blocks north of RIA on 12th Ave NE. http://brooklandavenue.com/blog/?p=4988