Whittle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landmark application would need to specify interior designation. Unless that is the case, the status of any landmarking would have zero impact on interior work.

I cannot work out if they are also asking for protections for interior features. Here is the application for Landmark Status from the Department of Planning web site. The application focuses on architecture and engineering and I could not see anything on any interior features except where they relate to the architecture and engineering. So no historically important wallpaper!

The Landmark status could well limit what they do the interior as it means the form and structures of the building need to be preserved, but without knowing what that they planned to do exactly I cannot say if that would cause any problem beside the long delay.

https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/3400%20International%20Drive%20NW%20-%20Intelstat%20Building_0.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landmark application would need to specify interior designation. Unless that is the case, the status of any landmarking would have zero impact on interior work.

The application for Landmarking itself means that a building permit for anything, including demolition, cannot be issued for the property. Regardless of if the designation extend to interior work.

So zero permits should mean zero work until the case for Landmarking has been heard by the Historic Preservation Review Board. Also, since this seems to be federally owned land then maybe if it get approved as a Landmark then permitting for changes to the building also needs to go to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for a public hearing before it goes to the DC government for approvals But I am not sure about that.

But maybe the Preservation League has decided not to pursue this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When do they expect to have their first class? This fall? I am found their brochures randomly left at a Carr Workspaces reception area. Any connection?

Yes they are supposed to be opening for the first cohort for the next school year. Not sure when the boarding students are supposed arrive. Or where they are goin to live with this major hiccup in the plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Landmark application would need to specify interior designation. Unless that is the case, the status of any landmarking would have zero impact on interior work.

I cannot work out if they are also asking for protections for interior features. Here is the application for Landmark Status from the Department of Planning web site. The application focuses on architecture and engineering and I could not see anything on any interior features except where they relate to the architecture and engineering. So no historically important wallpaper!

The Landmark status could well limit what they do the interior as it means the form and structures of the building need to be preserved, but without knowing what that they planned to do exactly I cannot say if that would cause any problem beside the long delay.

https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/3400%20International%20Drive%20NW%20-%20Intelstat%20Building_0.pdf

“We feel we have this incredible, iconic building at 4000 Connecticut Ave.,” Pascal said. “It’s one of the few buildings in this city where the inside factors are even cooler than it is from the outside.”

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2012/12/601w-cos-to-study-intelsat-renovations.html

That was only the broker for the owners, not an architectural historian, but still, this suggests to me some interior preservation would be at least requested.

And there does seem to be a CFA protection for 3400 International Drive. I cannot see where DCRA has posted online the stop work order.

[Anonymous]

They have been using Ayers Saint Gross for architectural and planning services.

DC government has also used this firm for various city planning and school planning work.

So Whittle and his A-team are very well connected. The local ANC and WAPO needs to pay close attention to how this thing moves ahead. And anyone else interested in good governance.

[Anonymous]

This is the Fyre Festival of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They have been using Ayers Saint Gross for architectural and planning services.

DC government has also used this firm for various city planning and school planning work.

So Whittle and his A-team are very well connected. The local ANC and WAPO needs to pay close attention to how this thing moves ahead. And anyone else interested in good governance.

If this is true my guess is they are probably back to work already. Someone high up in the DC government is giving this project a pass by classifying it as some sort of embassy.

[Anonymous]

No, I think they are now applying for permits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without the purchase price, they're spending $185 million to renovate the old Intelsat building. They have raised $168 million from Chinese and US investors. They're in the hole in a huge way before they even get started. Wait until tuition doesn't cover expenses. Whittle was chased out of Avenues School in NY. He's not highly regarded in the education world, to say the least.

Will be fun to watch what happens......

I wonder what DeVos has to do with this? Hmmmm the call for tax write offs for donations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They have been using Ayers Saint Gross for architectural and planning services.

DC government has also used this firm for various city planning and school planning work.

So Whittle and his A-team are very well connected. The local ANC and WAPO needs to pay close attention to how this thing moves ahead. And anyone else interested in good governance.

If this is true my guess is they are probably back to work already. Someone high up in the DC government is giving this project a pass by classifying it as some sort of embassy.

An Embassy must also get a building permit and get any zoning relief required under the zoning regulations. The building is owned by a big NY company 601W Company. The Land seems to be federal. I don't quite get it the ownership of the site, but it will not pass as an embassy and if they did it would not help them.

Can someone post a photo of the stop work order?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without the purchase price, they're spending $185 million to renovate the old Intelsat building. They have raised $168 million from Chinese and US investors. They're in the hole in a huge way before they even get started. Wait until tuition doesn't cover expenses. Whittle was chased out of Avenues School in NY. He's not highly regarded in the education world, to say the least.

Will be fun to watch what happens......

I wonder what DeVos has to do with this? Hmmmm the call for tax write offs for donations?

I think they are leasing. Purchased for 85 million in 2012, and still listed in the tax records to that owner. What ROI is he promising investors has anyone seen ?

[Anonymous]

Whittle has an accepted student event tomorrow morning. I wonder if they will comment on the permit issue and/or guarantee an opening. If you are going, please report back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally valid point...but they did ostensibly use a contractor as there is a Turner Construction side out front. But I agree, it's shocking that the contractor didn't run the permits like every other contractor on the planet.

Sometimes the architect can get the permits. This is probably what happened. They told the contractor that they had permission so the contractor believed them. Not realizing that permission did not mean permits. And that there were no permits, not even for demolition.

No, read the article. The Owner/Manager said they didn't think they needed city permits. It was a willful act, because everyone knows you need city permits when doing construction, uh, in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally valid point...but they did ostensibly use a contractor as there is a Turner Construction side out front. But I agree, it's shocking that the contractor didn't run the permits like every other contractor on the planet.

Sometimes the architect can get the permits. This is probably what happened. They told the contractor that they had permission so the contractor believed them. Not realizing that permission did not mean permits. And that there were no permits, not even for demolition.

No, read the article. The Owner/Manager said they didn't think they needed city permits. It was a willful act, because everyone knows you need city permits when doing construction, uh, in the city.

It is pretty dumb, and demolition when there is a historic landmark application pending is even dumber. They might have to put stuff back the way it was! Is someone other than DCUM on these peoples asses?

[Anonymous]

If there isn't existing landmark protections, they won't have to put anything back. On the other hand, if raze/demolition took place without permits, that is another issue entirely.