Big GDS news

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the rewards? Edgemore does not love Sidwell. Lots of resentment over car pool lines, parking, periodic construction. For that matter, neighbors delayed - in part- the construction of athletic facilities on STA propety

Good schools nearby (both public and private, although more the case with public schools) are good for property values, even if individuals don't actually always recognize it. And obviously it's human nature to focus on immediate irritations (construction, parking issues) rather than benefits that are hard to quantify (how much more is my house worth?) and don't come into play until you are selling your property.

The issue isn't just the school expansion. A number of Tenley/AU residents like the school and were prepared to swallow, not just the construction impact, but the future traffic and other issues that come with an expanded major school. Some were glad to have a bigger school instead of another cheaply built, generic Cathedrsl Commons-style development next to their homes. But as the GDS plans have become clearer, the neighborhood is faced with a double impact -- not just the effects of having 1200 students plus faculty and staff squeezed on to a modest-sized site, but the additional impact of a major mixed-use project as well.

[Anonymous]

Good schools nearby (both public and private, although more the case with public schools) are good for property values, even if individuals don't actually always recognize it. And obviously it's human nature to focus on immediate irritations (construction, parking issues) rather than benefits that are hard to quantify (how much more is my house worth?) and don't come into play until you are selling your property.

Good public schools increase property values - private schools where most of the students require a car for drop-off/pick-up and do not offer any open spaces for public use (like a playground) do not offer added value.

[Anonymous]

Gds lost on the musical chair competition for land in the district. Field and st. Patrick's are sitting pretty.

[Anonymous]

By putting the campuses together, GDS instantly gains an advantage that Sidwell doesn't have: substantial convenience for families whose kids are enrolled in several grades and operational efficiencies that the school can apply to the classroom and to financial aid. At the top tier of private schools ,there is a competition of sorts for the best and the brightest, and this move helps GDS in the long run.

This is so great. Troll or just a really perfect example of every thing that's wrong with GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gds lost on the musical chair competition for land in the district. Field and st. Patrick's are sitting pretty.

Actually, GDS just added land. The question is what it will do with it. Right now, GDS is in a better situation than it was prior to the Safeway and Martens acquisitions. That could change, but if it does, it'll be because the leadership made the wrong choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
By putting the campuses together, GDS instantly gains an advantage that Sidwell doesn't have: substantial convenience for families whose kids are enrolled in several grades and operational efficiencies that the school can apply to the classroom and to financial aid. At the top tier of private schools ,there is a competition of sorts for the best and the brightest, and this move helps GDS in the long run.

I would think most people would look at best fit for their child, not selfish convenience for the parents. That said, I don't think the configuration at Sidwell would be a competitive disadvantage given the amount of acreage combined the school has in Bethesda and DC. What makes the current GDS situation so bad is the nightmare car pool situation in Palisades. Sidwell doesn't have that at either location.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't understand the GDS obsession with Sidwell and the idea that this campus changes its competitive position. Even after the construction, several other schools will rommier, greener campuses. STA, NCS, Beauvoir, Sidwell, Field, St. pat's, Maret. Each of these schools has more room per student than GDS

[Anonymous]

Sidwell-obsession doesn't explain what's going on here. But it serves as a useful distraction from focussing on whether the proposed plan would actually make GDS a better school.

[Anonymous]

Well, there are two macro issues for GDS. Will the priest actually make the school better and more competitive with other area schools? Will the proposal be one that leads to a workable compromise with the city and neighbors.

[Anonymous]

^autocorrect "project" to priest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are two macro issues for GDS. Will the prroject actually make the school better and more competitive with other area schools? Will the proposal be one that leads to a workable compromise with the city and neighbors.

Don't assume that the city will side with the neighbors -- sad but true fact re DC development politics.

[Anonymous]

I think you can count on both the full school and the mixed use buildings on Wisconsin Avenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you can count on both the full school and the mixed use buildings on Wisconsin Avenue.

Much depends on fundraising. It's not clear GDS can meet its target. Wouldn't surprise me if we end up with two 90 foot buildings on GDS land long before the school is able to build any new facilities at Tenleytown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you can count on both the full school and the mixed use buildings on Wisconsin Avenue.

Under the previous administration, when Harriet Tregoning ran the Office of Planning, it was pretty much open season for whatever a developer or big project sponsor wanted. However, Tregoning was shown the door and the pendulum seems to be swinging back a bit. I would expect GDS to get much of what it wants, but not everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you can count on both the full school and the mixed use buildings on Wisconsin Avenue.

Under the previous administration, when Harriet Tregoning ran the Office of Planning, it was pretty much open season for whatever a developer or big project sponsor wanted. However, Tregoning was shown the door and the pendulum seems to be swinging back a bit. I would expect GDS to get much of what it wants, but not everything.

I'd like to be wrong, but I suspect that Eric Shaw is to Harriet Tregoning as Kaya Henderson is to Michelle Rhee. In other words, a kinder gentler face pursuing essentially the same policies. Have you seen anything that suggests otherwise?