Big GDS news

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

Let me guess. Your sweet little precious didn't make the cut, huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

And the haters roll in. GDS has less than half the shelf life of Sidwell, StA, etc, but has to be twice as impressive. Why is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

What year are you talking about? It is so easy to make such a blanket statement when you do not have to back it up with real stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

And the haters roll in. GDS has less than half the shelf life of Sidwell, StA, etc, but has to be twice as impressive. Why is that?

It's simply bitter parents taking out their aggression after a glass (or four) of wine. Thing is, there is part of me that gets it. Rejection sucks and there have been times that I have been tempted to write something snarky on a dcum thread about the school that rejected my kid a while back. That said, I've been able to move on... and deal.

[Anonymous]

I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

And the haters roll in. GDS has less than half the shelf life of Sidwell, StA, etc, but has to be twice as impressive. Why is that?

Stop trying to group GDS with STA, NCS and Sidwell, it is embarrassing.

For those who think GDS has an impressive alum roster, do tell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Really? The GDS alum list is among the least impressive.

And the haters roll in. GDS has less than half the shelf life of Sidwell, StA, etc, but has to be twice as impressive. Why is that?

Stop trying to group GDS with STA, NCS and Sidwell, it is embarrassing.

For those who think GDS has an impressive alum roster, do tell?

You're a really sad and angry online personality, but I doubt you have the level of self-awareness to see that. Even if what you're suggesting is in the realm of reality (which it isn't), why do you care so much? Seriously? You should ask yourself that and then chill over a frappuccino or something. The mocha one is pretty good. GDS, Sidwell, Beauvoir, Maret, WIS, and StA, etc. are ALL phenomenal schools where the kids go off to incredible places. Hating on GDS just makes you seem silly, dude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

The tax revenue argument is nonsense, and ignores the tremendous economic impact that not-for-profit entities (which generally are not taxpaying) have in DC. Indeed without such institutions, DC would have a far flatter economy that it has today. Look, I get that there are some externalities and negative effects of larger institutions like private schools on surrounding neighborhoods, and those issues (traffic, parking, etc) can and should be managed through the zoning process, binding agreements and so forth. But independent schools also directly bring economic activity through taxpaying staff, vendors and others, and may positively impact real estate values (which then pay more in taxes). Their parents may bring their high incomes also, which then get taxed in DC rather than MD or VA> It's no secret, for example, that the presence of so many nearby independent schools creates a certain level of demand for Cleveland Park houses, as parents get tired of the daily drive (or twice daily drive) from Potomac, North Bethesda and Va. and move in to the area so that their kids can be closer to their schools. Georgetown Day's consolidation/expansion will contribute to this effect in the nearby area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

Folks living in the area around the upper school only have themselves to blame for the dead zone. You cannot have vibrant retail without a critical threshold of density. Cleveland Park thrives because it is a mix of apartments and homes. Folks opposed the Safeway plan for expanded retail and residences, etc. The neighborhood reaps what they sow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

Folks living in the area around the upper school only have themselves to blame for the dead zone. You cannot have vibrant retail without a critical threshold of density. Cleveland Park thrives because it is a mix of apartments and homes. Folks opposed the Safeway plan for expanded retail and residences, etc. The neighborhood reaps what they sow.

You call the Steak'n'Egg the "dead zone"? The block that you are referring to is also getting a new building where the old Babes Billiards site is. Seriously, the only really "dead zones" in Tenleytown involve the large parking lots: Dominos, the CVS, and the automobile dealership. GDS will occupy or develop the dealership site. As for Cleveland Park, it is a thriving neighborhood, because it has preserved the scale of a walkable, residential neighborhood (sometimes called its "village in the city" character) and has tried to avoid becoming just a restaurant destination on its retail strip. Interestingly, it is the proponents of large-scale "smart growth" who disingenuously claim that Cleveland Park is 'dying" -- and that the cure is upzoning, elimination of zoning overlays and relaxation of historic preservation. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

The tax revenue argument is nonsense, and ignores the tremendous economic impact that not-for-profit entities (which generally are not taxpaying) have in DC. Indeed without such institutions, DC would have a far flatter economy that it has today. Look, I get that there are some externalities and negative effects of larger institutions like private schools on surrounding neighborhoods, and those issues (traffic, parking, etc) can and should be managed through the zoning process, binding agreements and so forth. But independent schools also directly bring economic activity through taxpaying staff, vendors and others, and may positively impact real estate values (which then pay more in taxes). Their parents may bring their high incomes also, which then get taxed in DC rather than MD or VA> It's no secret, for example, that the presence of so many nearby independent schools creates a certain level of demand for Cleveland Park houses, as parents get tired of the daily drive (or twice daily drive) from Potomac, North Bethesda and Va. and move in to the area so that their kids can be closer to their schools. Georgetown Day's consolidation/expansion will contribute to this effect in the nearby area.

Nice try but no. What positive economic impact does a private school (of which fewer than half the students even live in DC) have on DC?

Are you arguing with a straight face that it is better for DC to educate students from Montgomery County with these properties than house DC residents and businesses which it can then tax and who can also contribute to the revitalization of a dormant commercial corridor?

DC would have a flatter economy without the Federal Government who you of course are lumping in with other not for profit entities. And the private universities at least attract residents who live in DC who otherwise would not live here.

But a private day school - umm sorry no - it is a negative cost to DC's finances having GDS within its borders.

And the housing demand argument is another stretch and a poor one at that - the school is not located in Anacostia (GASP - I'd love to hear the arguments from GDS parents about why that would be a bad idea) but in a high demand neighborhood where FWIW most parents in fact sent their kids to public schools.

Now you can perhaps make the case that some of the suburban private schools in Cleveland Park have lower external costs and are in a neighborhood where far more parents go the private route but that argument in Tenleytown is absurd and unsubstantiated by facts and doesn't stand up to any sort of scrutiny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

Folks living in the area around the upper school only have themselves to blame for the dead zone. You cannot have vibrant retail without a critical threshold of density. Cleveland Park thrives because it is a mix of apartments and homes. Folks opposed the Safeway plan for expanded retail and residences, etc. The neighborhood reaps what they sow.

Well it is questionable whether Cleveland Park is thriving but the current upper school has contributed nothing to the vitality of Wisconsin Avenue though it has certainly been good for the neighborhoods pot dealers.

And it does matter that many in the community, including the immediate neighbors, welcomed mixed use projects at the two sites that GDS just bought out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really look forward to hearing more about GDS's building plans. If you want real hate, wait til the neighborhood starts weighing in. This is a good development for the school, the city and the neighborhood. It's hard because there is going to be construction and change.

Please explain how/why this is good for the city and the neighborhood?

The area around the upper school is already a dead zone except for the 2 daily waves of cars from Montgomery County - how is adding younger kids going to help? And the retail in the immediate area is already struggling so adding more retail (which GDS has only intimated they are even going to do) could actually make things worse without more people to support it.

And before you say the neighborhood is gaining green space the neighborhood does not need green space - Ft Reno park is 1 block away and Ft Bayard 3 blocks away and the open space at the current school has always been off limits for the community.

As for the city the long term loss of significant amounts of tax revenue alone makes it a loser - if the two lost buildings would have generated amounts similar to other mixed use buildings in DC the loss is likely in the area of about 10 million a year to start with and that will only go up with time.

Folks living in the area around the upper school only have themselves to blame for the dead zone. You cannot have vibrant retail without a critical threshold of density. Cleveland Park thrives because it is a mix of apartments and homes. Folks opposed the Safeway plan for expanded retail and residences, etc. The neighborhood reaps what they sow.

You call the Steak'n'Egg the "dead zone"? The block that you are referring to is also getting a new building where the old Babes Billiards site is. Seriously, the only really "dead zones" in Tenleytown involve the large parking lots: Dominos, the CVS, and the automobile dealership. GDS will occupy or develop the dealership site. As for Cleveland Park, it is a thriving neighborhood, because it has preserved the scale of a walkable, residential neighborhood (sometimes called its "village in the city" character) and has tried to avoid becoming just a restaurant destination on its retail strip. Interestingly, it is the proponents of large-scale "smart growth" who disingenuously claim that Cleveland Park is 'dying" -- and that the cure is upzoning, elimination of zoning overlays and relaxation of historic preservation. No thanks!

Yes calling that block a dead zone which by the way is a block north of where the Babe's project is going in. No pedestrians, no retail no activity. And GDS, which has very much contributed to that dead zone, is about to get bigger.

Are the students going to be around on the weekends and evenings to shop and create activity on the streets? And is GDS going to suddenly start to only admit people in the neighborhood who will walk to the school or will they stick to the bring in em from Bethesda in their cars model which has worked so well to date?

And the Cleveland Park arguments are laughable but since you are citing CP's density remind me of where the density is going to come from in Upper Wisconsin to replicate what you cite as a good example of a neighborhood when two of the primary undeveloped lots in the community will forever be precluded from development?

Wisconsin Avenue - its dead and we like it that way!

[Anonymous]

If y'all in Tenleytown hate GDS so much, we folks south along Wisconsin will take them and their school and playing fields and send you in exchange the emerging two-block megaplex called "Cathedral Commons." Better a school than a mall.