Cyril Crocker joins FoRIA Board of Directors
WASHINGTON (May 30, 2013) – The Friends of Rhode Island Avenue NE (FoRIA) welcomes a prominent community member to the group’s Board of Directors. Cyril Crocker, a commercial real estate agent and long-time Brookland resident, has been an active member of FoRIA in the Business & Economic Development committee. “We are thrilled to have Cyril join the Board of FoRIA,” said Daniella Gibbs Leger, FoRIA Vice Chair. “He not only brings years of experience to the table, he also cares deeply about the Rhode Island Avenue NE corridor and is a great advocate for our businesses and residents.” In addition to his commercial real estate expertise, Crocker brings experience from his 7-year tenure with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. During that time, he participated on several large projects, including the Home Depot and Giant Food Store development on Rhode Island Avenue. He is a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and holds certifications in both economic and housing development finance. The tenure for Crocker will begin immediately. FoRIA Board members are responsible for guiding the organization’s mission and assisting in its growth and...
Read MoreWoodridge & Langdon Park join the Capital Bikeshare network
Welcome to the neighborhood, Capital Bikeshare! Early this morning, a crew from Capital Bikeshare installed a 4 dock, 15 bike station on 18th Street near Rhode Island Avenue NE. This is the first such station in the Woodridge and Langdon Park communities, and a tremendous leap in connecting these neighborhoods on the eastern end of Rhode Island Avenue NE with the bikeshare network already in operations in Brookland, Eckington/Edgewood, and Bloomingdale. Neighborhood blog (and occasional FoRIA guest writer) The Brookland Bridge tweeted that another station is being installed in Brookland today: @bikeshare has arrived to 12th and Irving in #brookland!! Hooray!! twitter.com/BrooklandBridg… — The Brookland Bridge (@BrooklandBridge) May 30, 2013...
Read MoreMaking Rhode Island Avenue NE a little friendlier for bikes
Infrastructure to benefit cyclists AND retailers One of the most important components to successful and vibrant commercial corridors is a feeling of accessibility. Customers should feel like they can safely and easily navigate the commercial district, no matter what mode of transportation they utilize. From the retailer’s perspective, pedestrian and bike-friendly infrastructure can increase sales revenues up to 49% (“Measuring the Street: New Metrics for the 21st Century”, 2012) – and what business doesn’t want increased sales? Last week, we were on hand as 3 new sets of bike racks were installed in the Woodridge area of RIA-NE. Our friends at DDOT and Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) responded to our request to improve bike infrastructure, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. You can now find staple-style bike racks near the following locations: 2300 RIA-NE 2008 RIA-NE 2117 RIA-NE...
Read MoreFriends of Rhode Island Avenue Kicks off Business Bites Program
On Tuesday, May 21st from 7:30am – 9:00am, Friends of Rhode Island Avenue (FoRIA) hosted its first monthly Business Bites networking event at FlipIt2 Bakery (1544 Rhode Island Avenue, NE). The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) sponsored the event. More than 20 people came out for breakfast and a discussion about how to improve the business environment on Rhode Island Avenue, NE. Council Member Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) also joined the group, and shared his vision and work on behalf of Rhode Island Avenue with the DC City Council in the FY14 budget. ANC representatives Karla Butler (5C02) and Nolan Treadway (5C07) also attended. “Veteran and new businesses on Rhode Island Avenue have let us know that they want a sense of community and collaboration. Bringing people together to help make that happen is central to the mission of FoRIA,” Executive Director Kyle Todd said. “We look forward to working with all the businesses on the Avenue, and helping them thrive in any way we can.” The event was created in response to the results of a business needs survey conducted by FoRIA’s Business & Economic Development Committee in March 2013. On the survey, a number of businesses said they wanted to get to know the other business owners on the Avenue. This inaugural event was a trial run with the interested businesses. The next Business Bites will be held on June 25th from 7:30am – 9:00am at FlipIt2 and the 4th Tuesday of every month thereafter. The event is free to attend, and open to all Rhode Island Avenue, NE entrepreneurs, business owners, and commercial property owners. If you would like to sponsor a Breakfast Bites event, please contact Kyle Todd for details and to make...
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