Big GDS news

[Anonymous]

Probably. The team of Ace$ knows what it is doing. The ANC can either try to be constructive or it can dither along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably. The team of Ace$ knows what it is doing. The ANC can either try to be constructive or it can dither along.

Yes. The Ace$ have engaged some connected consultant$, befriended some DC politician$ and created AstroTurf $upport for their project.

[Anonymous]

If they were actually confident, they would not have done the op ed. The ace$ probably have a consultant just like this one http://friendsofmcmillan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DMPED-VMP-Fontaine-Astroturf-Campaign-Document-1.pdf whol have op ed from school head right after filing on their outreach list. The ace$ are probably happy to have the head of school as the punching bag.

Anonymous wrote:The GDS school head has an op-ed in the Northwest Current. Looks like GDS has filed for its zoning approvals. They seem confident about getting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they were actually confident, they would not have done the op ed. The ace$ probably have a consultant just like this one http://friendsofmcmillan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DMPED-VMP-Fontaine-Astroturf-Campaign-Document-1.pdf whol have op ed from school head right after filing on their outreach list. The ace$ are probably happy to have the head of school as the punching bag.

I disagree. It is a common strategy to shape the message, and Russell is very articulate. If they thought the filing would be an issue, they would not have proceeded. Anything the ANC does at this point is window dressing. There is plenty of precedent for the "amenities" GDS is offering as being acceptable to the Zoning Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they were actually confident, they would not have done the op ed. The ace$ probably have a consultant just like this one http://friendsofmcmillan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DMPED-VMP-Fontaine-Astroturf-Campaign-Document-1.pdf whol have op ed from school head right after filing on their outreach list. The ace$ are probably happy to have the head of school as the punching bag.

I disagree. It is a common strategy to shape the message, and Russell is very articulate. If they thought the filing would be an issue, they would not have proceeded. Anything the ANC does at this point is window dressing. There is plenty of precedent for the "amenities" GDS is offering as being acceptable to the Zoning Board.

But why is the head of school out there shilling for the PUD, rather than JBG and the other development partners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they were actually confident, they would not have done the op ed. The ace$ probably have a consultant just like this one http://friendsofmcmillan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DMPED-VMP-Fontaine-Astroturf-Campaign-Document-1.pdf whol have op ed from school head right after filing on their outreach list. The ace$ are probably happy to have the head of school as the punching bag.

I disagree. It is a common strategy to shape the message, and Russell is very articulate. If they thought the filing would be an issue, they would not have proceeded. Anything the ANC does at this point is window dressing. There is plenty of precedent for the "amenities" GDS is offering as being acceptable to the Zoning Board.

What exactly are the "amenities"? The steps?!

[Anonymous]

GDS's presence in Tenleytown may be the 'amenity'

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 Vision listed that as the chief amenity in a prepared statement at the last ANC meeting. I'm not kidding.

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 Vision, yecchh. They masquerade as a citizens group, but are basically shills for Big Development, Inc.

[Anonymous]

GDS has gotten into some questionable company with this project: insider developers with conflicts of interest, Ward 3 Vision, crony consultants, political fixers with a sordid record. As the saying goes, when you lie down with dogs....

[Anonymous]

Or, reasonable people think this is generally a good proposal and the people opposing it are the fringe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or, reasonable people think this is generally a good proposal and the people opposing it are the fringe.

My guess is that once GDS lops one or two stories off their towers it will sail through.

[Anonymous]

They already did that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or, reasonable people think this is generally a good proposal and the people opposing it are the fringe.

My guess is that once GDS lops one or two stories off their towers it will sail through.

That was the giveaway. They need to lower the buildings to be more consistent with zoning and the Comprehensive Plan. Otherwise, the development will continue to have problems and could delay the campus build-out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or, reasonable people think this is generally a good proposal and the people opposing it are the fringe.

Thanks, Ward 3 Vision.