Again, nothing about a homeless shelter on school property. You are lying and you know it. |
I don't see a homeless shelter co-location mentioned in the article but it's interesting that ACPS says that loss of athletic field space at Minnie Howard isn't acceptable. Most, if not all, of those athletic fields at GM are gone for sure which does align with what Wilson recently said about the GM tear down and new build. 130K square feet is a huge footprint especially since they can't go higher than three or four stories. I think Wilson should try for everything at GM. The neighborhood might make a fuss like a few years ago but they all voted for him again. And they voted for SB members who LOVE him. Do you think Booz, Ignarcio and Bard are going to go against him? Heck no! |
+1 Make the top floor/east wing affordable housing for prisoners re-entering society. Have proper precautions in place, but what an oppurtunity. More housing and new school! Two birds one stone. These are the policies these people support. Let's see them embrace it in their backyard. |
Ah - I read the comments on the article. One of Wilson's buddies was posting about the need for homeless shelters for families on school grounds. Given the person posting it can be assumed that this is something Wilson and the council want and this person will push for very effectively. I hope people keep an open mind. This is something that has worked well at other public schools. The public transportation couldn't be more accessible right on Cameron Mills. Maybe add a scooter or bike dock too? |
It seems reasonable to provide housing for students who need it right there on campus. Keeps them in proximity to structure so now surprised there have been good results. The things progressives can accomplish when they get away from tribalism and crazy demands for equitable outcomes |
- Justin Wilson. The dude is a compulsive liar. He has stated repeatedly that he is not a proponent of co-locating houses or shelters on school property but here you have him plain as day screaming "Build it!" |
The good news for those in the neighborhood and city who would like to see this happen, all the people who were so opposed to housing at GM believe Wilson when he says things to them like he "only one of seven" and the decision isn't his and he doesn't have power over this and ignore quotes like this. And keep voting for him. ![]() My guess is that the neighbors believe ACPS when they say nothing is happening until this fall. From the SB meetings, it's very clear that things are progressing rapidly. Drove past the new MacArthur recently. The new George Mason is going to be HUGE. Wilson is right, that space shouldn't go to waste outside of traditional school hours. |
There is delicious irony in watching him destroy the neighborhood that put him in office. |
The neighborhood needs to stop being NIMBYs. This is what you voted for, it's going to happen, embrace it. I haven't heard any concerns recently about the size of the building or the placement of it or the green space getting paved or turned into turf. So either no one is paying attention (good!) or they've accepted reality. |
The information the George Mason PTA is providing to it's membership seems to conflict with what is being said in SB meetings. For example, PTA says that the design process will start in 2024 and take 18 to 24 months. That's not the same timeline that ACPS/SB is talking about. And they aren't telling people about the K-8 school board discussion or mentioning the enormous square footage or loss of the soccer fields.
Are they simply not paying attention or do they not want to get people upset until they are out of office and don't have to deal with it? |
And yet he keeps getting re-elected handily. Maybe the problem is you? |
A monkey running as D could get elected in Alexandria. |
They keep saying MacArthur won't have a middle, but the new school opens next year with 800 seats and around 500 in the catchment. |
Yeah - MacArthur is currently at 558 kids. Their enrollment continues to go down just like most of the other elementary schools. The loss isn't as dramatic as George Mason's but MacArthur is the superior school academically as are most of the other elementary schools. I think it makes a lot of sense for the elementary schools with rebuilds to be K-8. It would be insane for GM to only be an elementary school with 300 kids rattling around a school for more than twice that number. For once the SB is moving in the right direction. Take the pressure off of the middle schools and since they won't build a second high school...maybe move some of the high school population back to the GW building. |
Was not my experience, but maybe it depends on your teacher. |