Meet the new ANC 3F05 commissioner, Adrian Iglesias

ANC 3F’s open seat is open no more. Adrian Iglesias is the new ANC 3F05 commissioner, and he will serve out the remainder of the term, which ends in December for all who serve on DC’s ANCs.

Forest Hills Connection asked Iglesias to introduce himself to the neighborhood. Here’s what he wrote:

Although I’m not a DC native, 2024 marks my 14th year in the city, and my 9th year as a Van Ness resident.

This community was my first home in the District – save for Georgetown’s undergrad campus – and even before living here, I often found myself at Sushi Para and Burger King after lessons at the Levine School. The neighborhood’s unique access to nature, city conveniences, like Giant and our many restaurants, and public amenities, like the Metro and our local libraries, quickly charmed me. And before I knew it, I found myself signing a lease (and joining the daily line outside of Bread Furst!).

That was barely a decade ago and already we’ve witnessed countless changes. Park Van Ness was erected; the long-awaited Soapstone Valley work is finally underway; plans for a potential bike lane have been all the buzz; where some businesses have closed, others like Shemalis and Viet Chopsticks have started taking root; and in the near future, we may finally find ourselves walking down the aisles of our very own MOM’s Organic Market.

I am committed – regardless of an official role – to not only conserving this gem of a neighborhood, but also nurturing it so that it continues to flourish and evolve. As an ANC commissioner, specifically, I would strive to do this by championing our residents’ needs. My professional background is in writing and performance, with a particular focus on devised and adapted theatre, and theatre’s capacity for social change. In plain terms, most of my work has consisted of original pieces, crafted with and for specific, local communities.

Whether it be safety concerns, housing needs, or thoughts on thoughtful, practical use of our land (retail space, or not), I look forward to continuing my work in a new form; by amplifying the local voices impacted by ongoing development, and advocating for our community as ANC commissioner.

Once sworn in and otherwise situated, Adrian Iglesias can be contacted at [email protected].