Neighbors,
My office continues to receive messages and concerns about the future of the Fort Lincoln Campus Improvement Project. I wanted to take a moment to provide an update.
As recently as last Thursday during DPR’s performance oversight hearing, I received assurances from DPR Director Thennie Freeman that the project will continue to move forward. I met with DGS Director Delano Hunter yesterday who echoed sentiments that the project is slated to move forward and confirmed that MCN was the contracted vendor. Director Hunter also shared that there is now a roughly $8 million budget gap in what was originally allocated for the project and needed funds to complete it due to rising costs and the latest project design. DGS and DPR are actively working to identify the needed funds and they hope to have an update soon.
I am committed to doing everything I can to fight for the needed money to fully fund this project. I am optimistic that DGS and DPR will find the needed funds internally. Should there be a need, I will prioritize this project during the FY25 budget process, which kicks off on March 20. I will continue to update neighbors as we move forward, but I want to be clear: Fort Lincoln neighbors deserve a state of the art Fort Lincoln Campus Improvement Project that meets community needs and expectations, and I will do everything in my power to mitigate further delays and deliver this project for our community.
Neighbors have waited long enough, and I encourage you to share your concerns about the future of this project with the Mayor at her upcoming budget forum in Ward 5 tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28. It will be held at Brookland Middle School at 5:30 p.m. (please see the attached graphic for details).
Additionally, my team is planning several community clean-ups across Ward 5 this spring as we work toward long-term solutions with DPW. The first clean-up in Fort Lincoln is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. We will meet up at the corner of Cmdre Joshua Barney Dr and Fort Lincoln Dr to distribute gloves, trash bags, pickers, and other cleaning supplies. Please join us as we work together to build the healthy community we deserve. I will continue to work productively with DPW to address community concerns, remove abandoned vehicles, and have requested more regular community cleanups from the DPW team.
As always, my team and I are here to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out any time at ward5contact@dccouncil.gov and 202-724-8028.
