King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sold for 250 mil. Will be a data center?

Source? It is not reflected on fairfaxcounty.gov

Saw it mentioned in the comment section of some news article pertaining to the school closing, so not verified fact, hence the question mark.

Could be another private school--or maybe Fairfax County purchased it for low rent housing. It does have an Olympic sized swimming pool, so maybe a hotel?

[Anonymous]

Well, is 250 mil in the ballpark?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, is 250 mil in the ballpark?

Now that you mention it, what are they spending at Centreville for expansion? Dunn Loring?

KAA site says it has a theater and an Olympic pool. I think it was built for over 1000 kids. So, that sounds like a bargain.

[Anonymous]

Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

This is a great summary. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

I do agree something is "off." But, I disagree with the latter. They only bought the property because they were not allowed to build the school in Burke.

I read somewhere that the school had fewer than 1000 students.

I still think the purpose is to use the facility for something else.

The taxes on the property are substantial. The Saudis have plenty of money. Have they sold it yet? What did they pay the county for it? I checked and it says 0 on Fairfaxcounty.gov

The address of the owner is listed as a law firm named Hagerty in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

I do agree something is "off." But, I disagree with the latter. They only bought the property because they were not allowed to build the school in Burke.

I read somewhere that the school had fewer than 1000 students.

I still think the purpose is to use the facility for something else.

The taxes on the property are substantial. The Saudis have plenty of money. Have they sold it yet? What did they pay the county for it? I checked and it says 0 on Fairfaxcounty.gov

The address of the owner is listed as a law firm named Hagerty in DC.

I remember the sudden, middle of the night sale. If they truly got it for $0, and are now selling in a short time (for a school anyway), there is something cooking. 1,000 is larger than my parochial grade school (K-8) and later my parochial HS. This school is not failing.

[Anonymous]

There are 1200+ students there.

[Anonymous]

There's plenty of room on that lot. Just build a three- story school so it'll have a smaller footprint. The county needs to get smarter about land use.

[Anonymous]

Just use the building as is and have a smaller school.

[Anonymous]

I doubt the Saudis are ditching 1,200 of its students to the wind. Something is definitely cooking, but won’t be announced until it’s too late for the next community to object.

It’s how they roll.

[Anonymous]

Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

I haven't even heard it's up for sale. This whole discussion is just fantasy.