Janney : What's going on?

[Anonymous]

Any idea ? I read on another thread that it is now "a mess"

[Anonymous]

I assume the mess the person was describing was the turnover over principals (2 in 2 years) as well as the uncertanity associated with the renovation plans.

[Anonymous]

re principals -- actually, it'll be 3 in 3 years.

re renovation plans -- groundbreaking is scheduled for January 2010.

here's a link describing DCPS's conceptualization of what the modernization project should entail:
http://www.janneyschool.org/PTASITPPP/SIT_Minutes/Janney%20Elementary%20School%20Modernization070709Rev.pdf

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the plan is for the students once groundbreaking starts?

OR how long renovations will take?

[Anonymous]

Last I heard (but I've been out of the loop for a month or so), the logistics regarding whether/how students will stay on campus during construction haven't been worked out yet (but keeping the kids on campus is still the goal). And the entire modernization project should be done by the end of the 2010-11 school year.

There are two components to the project -- an addition and renovation of the old building. Addition comes first. Presumably, once it's built, some classes can be moved there, freeing up their old classroom for renovation. Other renovations can be done during vacations. The new addition won't be large enough to accommodate everybody, but presumably, demountable classrooms could be used (and/or PreK expansion delayed) if the old building needs to be emptied at certain points in the project.

[Anonymous]

Any updates?

[Anonymous]

Do not have any updates, but went there there today for the first day of school. It was chaotic in the morning but I did not get the sense that it was a mess. For all the talk about how bad the facilities are, the kids do not seem to give a hoot. I have one on PK and I spent the time from 9:30 until 3 walking around biting my nails thinking that my poor child would be totally traumatized when I picked her up. Well she was fine, said how much she love the first day of school and I had to drag her away from the playground.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. DS is scheduled to start Pre-K next year if we get in, and we're worried that the historic preservation application will mess with the timing of the renovations. The new plans sound great - we just hope it happens in a timely manner.

[Anonymous]

Allen Lew's folks have said repeatedly that the historic preservation issue is not a problem -- their plans assume it. We've just got a couple of new ANC commissioners who keep suggesting it will; they like to be the center of attention and to throw their weight around. Let's hope they don't muck things up. The key is to get the issue resolved ASAP; I think it's now scheduled for a September hearing.

[Anonymous]

I think it is safe to assume that when it comes to DCPS, things will be mucked up. They cannot get out of their own way.

[Anonymous]

Lew's office is not under Rhee's control and he has a much better track record of delivering on promises than she does. Plus, after a lot of controversy and political pressure, Fenty made a commitment to move quickly on this and he knows that there will be outrage if he screws up. I think it'll happen approximately on schedule (which I believe is groundbreaking in early 2010 completion by the end of 2011). What "it" is may still be somewhat up for grabs, but clearly a substantial addition and modernization work (including new bathrooms and ADA compliance) on the old building.

[Anonymous]

10:00 here. Thanks.

I actually think it is really unfair to say this: "I think it is safe to assume that when it comes to DCPS, things will be mucked up. They cannot get out of their own way."

The renovations on Hardy, Deal and the Wilson aquatic center went well, so there is a recent track record of success. I'm much more worried about the folks who are pushing for historic preservation as opposed to DCPS getting things done.

[Anonymous]

It's not the case that people are pushing for historic preservation rather than to get things done. They are pushing to get the designation through (it's been on HPRB's agenda for years now) so that work may proceed. Opponents of designation (a couple ANC commissioners) have pushed for the delay in consideration, which threatens to hold things up. Tony Robinson, from Lew's office has pointed out that even if the building were not historically designated, there would have to be an historic review process anyway (because of some other law that is specific to public buildings). So his take was let's get on with it.

There's an undercurrent here also about the fate of the gym. The fear is that historic preservation will mean the old gym can't be torn down. Lew doesn't want to tear it down anyway (based on expense). His plan is to build a new cafeteria rather than a new gym. Some parents seem to hope that if historic preservation is nixed, then the gym will be torn down. But in the current budget environment, that's a non-starter. And it would represent additional delay.

At any rate, the historic pres advocates are in full steam ahead mode. It's the opponents that are trying to put on the brakes.

[Anonymous]

Historic Preservation can absolutely impact the flexibility of Lew's plans. Do not let the HPO or Lew tell you otherwise. The Historic Preservation folks are simply wanting to sidetrack any possibility of smart growth associated with the library.

And the idea that the application has been pending for years is a crock. This application came about solely because of the city plans for the corner.

The Historic Landmark application needs to be dismissed so the city has full range of upgrading the school facility. No one is talking about touching the front facade, which is the most important feature of the structure.

[Anonymous]

That's right -- don't trust Lew or the Historic Preservation office -- trust an anonymous internet poster! But at least that poster acknowledges that both Lew (who will be doing the modernization) and HPO (which applied for the designation) have agreed that designation won't delay or compromise the modernization project.

Delay comes when people try to derail work in progress (design, designation, contracting) in the hope of expanding the range of options the city will consider. Given Lew's approach elsewhere and current budgetary constraints, that's not going to happen. He's not into demolition -- it's faster and cheaper to work with what you've got.

Designation was, in fact, in the works before the city had plans for the corner. It just got tabled while the city pursued the public private partnership option. And, as previously stated, no designation doesn't mean no historic review. Another statute covers requires it in cases like this one (public buildings) -- as Lew & co. have repeatedly explained. At this point, the school is on HPO's agenda. HPO needs to make a decision. Further postponement -- not designation -- is what might put Janney's modernization at risk.