Getting the GDS mojo back

[Anonymous]

I heard that the new DC zoning rules make it more likely that the GDS development plan will be approved this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't sure at first, but it's gotta be a troll.

+1

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the est. value of the GDS upper school land if they were to sell?

[Anonymous]

Not very much given the anti-change sentiment in the neighborhood. I guess one could build a bunch of townhouses on the Safeway lot, and then some 5 story buildings on the Martens lot. But that won't work out financially given what GDS paid and has in the project and would thus need to recover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not very much given the anti-change sentiment in the neighborhood. I guess one could build a bunch of townhouses on the Safeway lot, and then some 5 story buildings on the Martens lot. But that won't work out financially given what GDS paid and has in the project and would thus need to recover.

Did GDS fully understand the zoning issues and neighborhood dynamics before they decided to step into the role of developer?

[Anonymous]

Probably not.

[Anonymous]

What is the neighborhood vision for the area? More mattress stores?

[Anonymous]

Could be mixed-use with 4 stories of apartments on top of retail or dedicated retail. That's the Comp Plan's vision for the Wisconsin Ave parcel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is fine. They have college matriculations that rival any school in the city, a very long waiting list and a rich donor base....trust me, all is well.

Half go to Harvard.

Half? They must be having a bad few years. Used to be all.

No, the pp had a typo. She meant half go to Haverford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be mixed-use with 4 stories of apartments on top of retail or dedicated retail. That's the Comp Plan's vision for the Wisconsin Ave parcel.

Could also be a packed in tonwhouse development for the Safeway parking lot. That would be great! #notgreat

[Anonymous]

Controversy isn't over Safeway site, where GDS is going to put school facilities. It's over the development of the Volvo site (which now includes a couple other adjacent lots they've also purchased).

[Anonymous]

If GDS throws in the towel, they could sell the whole thing and scrap campus consolidation. If that were to happen, the matter of right for the parking lot would be a couple of hundred town houses.

That would (not) be awesome.

So, the so called controversy is not selective, it is for the whole package. I am not sure how GDS would pay for the new, consolidated campus without developing the Volvo site. If the Volvo site goes away, then likely the grocery site would to.

So, the neighborhood would be left without a grocery store, with a hundreds of new residents in the form of townhouses, and the crappy one-story bike lot and used car lot.

How is that better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be mixed-use with 4 stories of apartments on top of retail or dedicated retail. That's the Comp Plan's vision for the Wisconsin Ave parcel.

That's the nub of the problem: If GDS stayed within the DC comprehensive plan it would be smooth sailing for them. But they want to exceed the limits of the plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If GDS throws in the towel, they could sell the whole thing and scrap campus consolidation. If that were to happen, the matter of right for the parking lot would be a couple of hundred town houses.

That would (not) be awesome.

So, the so called controversy is not selective, it is for the whole package. I am not sure how GDS would pay for the new, consolidated campus without developing the Volvo site. If the Volvo site goes away, then likely the grocery site would to.

So, the neighborhood would be left without a grocery store, with a hundreds of new residents in the form of townhouses, and the crappy one-story bike lot and used car lot.

How is that better?

Why couldn't GDS just sell the Volvo site? Granted they wouldn't get as much as if they flipped the parcel with an approved PUD plan (which may have been their original idea), but they would certainly get a bunch of cash to realize much of the campus plan.

[Anonymous]

What's so bad about townhouses (next to townhouses)? How is it worse than 700 more schoolkids plus additional staff on the Safeway site? All arriving and most departing within a relatively narrow window?