Murch renovation
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Anonymous
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Re Swing Space: This is why I think they really need to attach costs to things. If it's going take 15 million out of the budget for swing space that at least is an informed decision. That being said I really, really hope they move them off site for the construction.
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Anonymous
| How many years will this whole process take? Will Murch still take OOB students in the swing space? |
Anonymous
This. The direct neighbors are not complaining about anything different from the rest of the community, except for the fact that DGS had not followed protocol to inform them as they have done in every other major project in the city. This is a project that is more than doubling the size of a building in a residential neighborhood and almost completely eliminating the most used playground and park in the area. They are doubling the designed population of the block and have failed to adequately consider traffic patterns, parking, and safety of the children. Of course the community needs to have a say. The whole Murch project really seems to be an afterthought for the city. All of the issues that have yet to be addressed were brought to DGS, DCPS, DME and the Councils's attention repeatedly over the last three years by the school community, and they still have not addressed any of the very serious issues. Because they failed to do so, they are now rushing to build a totally separate second school building on the grounds the existing one without thinking through these very real issues. The current plan plops two full size elementary schools onto one small triangular lot - a lot smaller than Mann's, which they built for 1/3 the population (as if that makes any sense from a city planning perspective). Once it is built, the community (not just the immediate neighbors) will be stuck with this monstrosity forever, not matter what happens to the school population. It has to be a plan that make sense. |
Anonymous
| So they are getting rid of the playground? |
Anonymous
Except the question is where. Doesn't seem to be a lot of places WOTP. Would families stick around if they have to schlep across the city for 2 years or, let's be more realistic, 3 years? |
Anonymous
http://dgs.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dgs/publication/attachments/DCPS%20Murch%20ES%20-%20SIT%203.pdf Apiary? Yes Playground? No |
Anonymous
| That looks like there is no playground, can someone explain? |
Anonymous
| Won't they have to have a swing space for safety? It's a small plot of land. No matter what it won't be fun to go through that construction phase. |
Anonymous
| Just because there is no playground penciled in the plans doesn't mean there won't be one. That slice of land with no buildings on it belongs to NPS, and they are still figuring out what can go there, specifically what kind of play structures are allowed. The main issue for most people is that there's just a lot less open/play space than there is now. How it's used is TBD. |
Anonymous
| So- sounds like a playground on the roof? |
Anonymous
That there is the rub. They planned out the soccer field and ONE basketball hoop to be on the NPS land but no playground? If you look at the slides the city provided the most important hope of the community was contiguous play areas. Are we just supposed to assume that someone is going to put in a playground even though it isn't in the plans because who can have an elementary school with 700 kids without a playground? That is a big thing, really big. But I can't believe how the new building looks. It doesn't fit the surrounding area at all. Hell, the brick isn't even the same color at a minimum! |
Anonymous
the reasoning must be swarms of bees will keep kids away - no need for playground. |
Anonymous
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It actually looks like a middle or high school - a nice one. But as an elementary school, it does seem a bit odd that so much of the site is taken up by building, with little attention to outdoor play space or some kind of parking for teachers, or entry point that alleviates the traffic pressure from the side streets. Could they not build up in the main building, and add a smaller second building? It surprises me they did not come in with 2 or three options.
Well, good luck to you all at Murch. You have a fine school, and I know you are trying to make it better. |
Anonymous
| Middle and high schools have multiple types of fields and outdoor space. Maybe there are too many kids for this school? They should build a school that fits in the space instead of doubling the size of the school at the expense of a playground. |
Anonymous
They are building for 700, but keep in mind that Murch has 630 today. So it's not like they're building to allow the school to grow. They're building to accommodate the kids Murch already has. THat's DCPS's fault--they have allowed Murch, Janney, and Lafayette become mega-schools. But at least Lafayette has tons of space to expand, and Janney had a three-story original structure that allowed them to build a three-story addition. Murch has very little space to begin with, and a third of it is owned by NPS. Then you have a two-story original building and historical rules preventing the new structure from being taller than the old building. |