Updates on LAMB at Kingsbury?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And we're back to the beginning.

LAMB is trying to buy it without city funds.

But the building is not today, and never was, zoned to be a school. So that's where the fight is.

And neighbors get a say in zoning matters.

And the city also gets a say, and can say this is and has been for many years now a school. And schools need buildings, and DC is not willing to sell charters any of its buildings. DC can and should help. Whether with funding as well or not.

The idea that the cap needs to be lifted in a few years doesn't work for the school because the school needs to close down and sell its other building in order to move here. And, the school is already capped above 400 even if enrollment isn't there yet.

What, exactly, do you think is going to happen? What is the school going to do? You just want to kind of "see how it goes" and how bad your traffic is snarled coming down 16th from upper NW or something? The thing the city could do if it were interested is offer a way to mitigate or mediate concerns between charters and neighbors during moves and increases in population. This would be smart because it's happening more and more often. If the city doesn't want to finance or help charters find good buildings and wants to rely on private help from NGOs like it does now, then it needs to take charge of situations like this in ways that help schools and neighbors both. Not leave this up to the zoning board and appeals courts!

Just because it was operating as a "school" doesn't mean it can/should continue if it was done "illegally". Maybe LAMB should keep the Missouri Ave. location as PK-2 (non-testing grades) and the Kingsbury site 3-5.

My understanding is that the school cannot afford Kingsbury plus another campus in the long-term.

Precisely. And, the whole point of moving is to combine the schools together.

This whole thing about entitlement is just such bs

Says the entitled one.

[Anonymous]

I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

The charter question isn’t really the question though. Don’t be ridiculous. This is not going to result in more kids going to neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

It has nothing to do with public v charter. LAMB is Montessori + Spanish immersion, which not every parent wants.

Signed, West parent who hopes with 2 schools we can get more traffic controls/crossing guards on 14th Street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

I agree with you on the principle of it, but this is not the right place or manner to push back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

I agree with you on the principle of it, but this is not the right place or manner to push back.

Of course this is the proper section, we are discussing proper zoning of a not needed zone. The current school is in a gray area. Where else would we discuss zoning for LAMB? The real estate section?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

I agree with you on the principle of it, but this is not the right place or manner to push back.

Of course this is the proper section, we are discussing proper zoning of a not needed zone. The current school is in a gray area. Where else would we discuss zoning for LAMB? The real estate section?

You're arguing that there should be no zoning exception because you don't agree with the charter school movement. That's either playing dumb or the reality of it, and I'm thinking it's the latter.

[Anonymous]

I live in the neighborhood and I am in favor of a successful charter school like LAMB moving into Kingsbury. I want to correct some factual errors from earlier in this discussion. The Kingsbury building was never a “mansion.” It was built 100 years ago as a home for the elderly. For a while it was derelict, and has been used in the past 10 years as a school. A couple of years ago, a number of neighbors, concerned with the use of formally residential properties in the neighborhood as commercial enterprises, such as daycares and churches, petitioned for and won a zoning “overlay,” which required a special zoning exemption for the use of any property deemed residential for non-residential purposes. Because Kingsbury was built as a “residence“ for the elderly, even though that residence was a public one, it was included within the overlay. We can debate whether this was done in error. It is obvious that the Kingsbury facility was never intended to be a residence in the sense that we think of the homes we live in. And it was most certainly always intended to be used for commercial or public good purposes. I have seen no evidence that the facility was ever used as a strictly private residence. If anyone has evidence of that I would sure like to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the neighborhood and I am in favor of a successful charter school like LAMB moving into Kingsbury. I want to correct some factual errors from earlier in this discussion. The Kingsbury building was never a “mansion.” It was built 100 years ago as a home for the elderly. For a while it was derelict, and has been used in the past 10 years as a school. A couple of years ago, a number of neighbors, concerned with the use of formally residential properties in the neighborhood as commercial enterprises, such as daycares and churches, petitioned for and won a zoning “overlay,” which required a special zoning exemption for the use of any property deemed residential for non-residential purposes. Because Kingsbury was built as a “residence“ for the elderly, even though that residence was a public one, it was included within the overlay. We can debate whether this was done in error. It is obvious that the Kingsbury facility was never intended to be a residence in the sense that we think of the homes we live in. And it was most certainly always intended to be used for commercial or public good purposes. I have seen no evidence that the facility was ever used as a strictly private residence. If anyone has evidence of that I would sure like to see it.

So it shouldn’t be used as a school either? Or perhaps a school on a small
scale as elderly residents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

The charter question isn’t really the question though. Don’t be ridiculous. This is not going to result in more kids going to neighborhood schools.

Agree. I too live on the 16th St side of Kingsbury and fully support LAMB moving into the space. I wonder what other use my neighbor envisions for this building? A school seems just about the best case scenario and will attract even more families to the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

The charter question isn’t really the question though. Don’t be ridiculous. This is not going to result in more kids going to neighborhood schools.

Agree. I too live on the 16th St side of Kingsbury and fully support LAMB moving into the space. I wonder what other use my neighbor envisions for this building? A school seems just about the best case scenario and will attract even more families to the neighborhood.

I agree. I live very close to another popular charter and honestly it has just helped my property values. I really don’t understand the argument that the (very small) group of disgruntled neighbors have.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the opposed neighbors simply do not like LAMB because the LAMB community is not very likable. Not talking abut the kids here - just the holier than though adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the opposed neighbors simply do not like LAMB because the LAMB community is not very likable. Not talking abut the kids here - just the holier than though adults.

How can it actually happen at this point? Asking seriously? No students would be able to move in until Fall of 2020.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the opposed neighbors simply do not like LAMB because the LAMB community is not very likable. Not talking abut the kids here - just the holier than though adults.

I’m sorry, we are newer at Lamb and I simply do not see this at all. At. All. And I’m not uncritical of the school. Seems like some people met one or two they didn’t like someplace and that was that. Prejudice against the entire school. And lots of trash talking. Please, don’t judge me based on your preconceived notions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the 16th Street side of kingsbury and I’ve been emailing my council person to reject the zoning. Kingsbury is not meant for that kind of traffic or foot pattern in my neighborhood. There are plenty of other school options in the neighborhood. I am an ardent supporter of public schools and believe charters siphon students away from publics. LAMB has a fight on its hand.

The charter question isn’t really the question though. Don’t be ridiculous. This is not going to result in more kids going to neighborhood schools.

Agree. I too live on the 16th St side of Kingsbury and fully support LAMB moving into the space. I wonder what other use my neighbor envisions for this building? A school seems just about the best case scenario and will attract even more families to the neighborhood.

I agree. I live very close to another popular charter and honestly it has just helped my property values. I really don’t understand the argument that the (very small) group of disgruntled neighbors have.

They don't like change.
They like their relatively quiet neighborhood.
They don't have - or no longer have - children and priorities are elsewhere.
They want West to be their neighborhood's elementary school.