New game: what school will/should buy Sidwell lower school campus and why?

[Anonymous]

It has already been purchased. The request for a change in land use is already in the hopper. The proposed development project will include be low-income, multi-family housing units, a sober living facility, and a small camp for refugees from war-torn countries. The neighborhood successfully campaigned against a Purple line Metro stop and a new, expanded chancery for the Vatican Embassy.

[Anonymous]

Primary Day.

[Anonymous]

McLean School of Maryland, because it's an awesome school that should grow, and also because current facilities are limited

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean School of Maryland, because it's an awesome school that should grow, and also because current facilities are limited

That would actually be pretty cool, given the past professional history of the head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean School of Maryland, because it's an awesome school that should grow, and also because current facilities are limited

That would actually be pretty cool, given the past professional history of the head.

What, you think Sidwell will give him at 30% markdown?

[Anonymous]

I hope Mclean goes there - it's an awesome school! I think the new location will encourage others to realize what a gem it is.

[Anonymous]

You all realize that it's just going to be sold to a developer, right? No school is going to be buying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WIS - good school but their campus is awful/factory like.

wIS has a beautiful campus set in the woods, does it not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all realize that it's just going to be sold to a developer, right? No school is going to be buying it.

I would like to see another school buy it. It would be so wasteful if the new gym and classroom wing were torn down. Sadly, however, given the location a development group can probably pay far more than a school to level the property and redevelop it. The only caveat is that a landmark application for the manor house and front lawn has a strong possibility of success, so that could somewhat impact plans for intensive redevelopment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WIS - good school but their campus is awful/factory like.

wIS has a beautiful campus set in the woods, does it not?

It actually has 2 campuses - the Primary School in Georgetown and the Tregaron Campus in Cleveland Park. It is a strange comment because the Tregaron Campus is quite charming and anyone would be hard-pressed to refer to it as a "factory". You're right that it is set in the woods and sits atop a hill a few blocks aways from the Metro on Connecticut Avenue. I suspect the PP was referring to the Primary Campus which is much more modern, but most people don't find it "awful/factory like". It's actually a great and well-organized space, but if you don't like modern design it may not work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to the old Sidwell campus in Bethesda, it will in all likelihood be sold to a residential real estate developer, the buildings will be torn down, and a new "exclusive" enclave of Edgemoor-adjacent, "tasteful" mini-mansions will be put up and aptly named "The Campus", "Sidwell Forest", or the "Estates at Edgemoor"

+1 It will not remain a school. The math is pretty simple. 5.5 acres zoned R-60 by right could allow up to 40 new lots of 6,000 square feet. New luxury housing construction costs about $200 sq. ft, so 5,000 square foot houses will cost about $1M to build and sell for $1.75M+. That would give the developer at least $30M for her return after land acquisition costs. The property is currently assessed at $5.7M. No school could afford to pay $5M over assess value. But, the developer could do that easily and still make very healthy margin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As to the old Sidwell campus in Bethesda, it will in all likelihood be sold to a residential real estate developer, the buildings will be torn down, and a new "exclusive" enclave of Edgemoor-adjacent, "tasteful" mini-mansions will be put up and aptly named "The Campus", "Sidwell Forest", or the "Estates at Edgemoor"

+1 It will not remain a school. The math is pretty simple. 5.5 acres zoned R-60 by right could allow up to 40 new lots of 6,000 square feet. New luxury housing construction costs about $200 sq. ft, so 5,000 square foot houses will cost about $1M to build and sell for $1.75M+. That would give the developer at least $30M for her return after land acquisition costs. The property is currently assessed at $5.7M. No school could afford to pay $5M over assess value. But, the developer could do that easily and still make very healthy margin.

NP. I imagine the current tax assessment is meaningless, since they've had the spot for years.

When was the last time a school in the DC area (or any comparable entity in the DC area) bought a similar piece of property that was move-in-ready? I can't think of any comparable examples, so it's hard to say how much a school might pay.

[Anonymous]

I think JPD has it. Them or Yi LIng

[Anonymous]

The neighborhood should try to get it declared a landmark...which would keep it a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The neighborhood should try to get it declared a landmark...which would keep it a school.

The only thing they could landmark is the old house. Someone could buy the property, build 30 new houses and restore the old house. It wouldn't need to be a school.