Sidwell Construction

[Anonymous]

What's going on? Why is it taking so long? The headmaster's recent email on the topic was very murky.

[Anonymous]

If you read the recent email, I'm not sure why you have any questions. It was all very clearly stated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's going on? Why is it taking so long? The headmaster's recent email on the topic was very murky.

Not really.

They were set with start a year ago, but while they were planning on moving the Lower School to the Washington Home site, they were offered to purchase 3939 Wisconsin Ave. So they bought that building and then had to revisit plans given the expanded space available. The recent note updated where they were given the new campus planning process and it sounds like they will be fundraising, planning and starting construction, probably over the summer of 2021 if I had to guess.

[Anonymous]

Original poster here. See -- it WAS murky!

I also noticed "for rent" signs on the 3939 building the other day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Original poster here. See -- it WAS murky!

I also noticed "for rent" signs on the 3939 building the other day.

Sidwell bought 3939 as an investment asset. Their plan is to continue to lease it to tenants and not use it in the short term for direct educational needs, if ever. I'm sure that part of the thinking in purchasing the building was defensive, so that no one else bought it and built a condo tower immediately up against the campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you read the recent email, I'm not sure why you have any questions. It was all very clearly stated.

The concept plans filed with the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment are here:

https://app.dcoz.dc.gov/Content/Search/ViewCaseReport.aspx?case_id=17703C

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Original poster here. See -- it WAS murky!

I also noticed "for rent" signs on the 3939 building the other day.

Sidwell bought 3939 as an investment asset. Their plan is to continue to lease it to tenants and not use it in the short term for direct educational needs, if ever. I'm sure that part of the thinking in purchasing the building was defensive, so that no one else bought it and built a condo tower immediately up against the campus.

Then why are people talking in this thread about the acquisition of 3939 having altered Sidwell's plans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Original poster here. See -- it WAS murky!

I also noticed "for rent" signs on the 3939 building the other day.

Sidwell bought 3939 as an investment asset. Their plan is to continue to lease it to tenants and not use it in the short term for direct educational needs, if ever. I'm sure that part of the thinking in purchasing the building was defensive, so that no one else bought it and built a condo tower immediately up against the campus.

Then why are people talking in this thread about the acquisition of 3939 having altered Sidwell's plans?

It didn’t at all. Instead, as Sidwell got further into its planning process, they realized that the renovated Upton St building (e -Washington Home) would be a much better fit for the upper school. The original plans called for moving the lower school into that building.

[Anonymous]

It will be many, many years before it is complete. That's what I understood from the plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be many, many years before it is complete. That's what I understood from the plans.

GDS has a strong first mover advantage over its Big Three competitors in integrating its various divisions on a single campus. This matters to families who don’t want to drove all over, and is more environmentally responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be many, many years before it is complete. That's what I understood from the plans.

GDS has a strong first mover advantage over its Big Three competitors in integrating its various divisions on a single campus. This matters to families who don’t want to drove all over, and is more environmentally responsible.

As if anyone actually cares about an integrated campus. If that were the case, Maret would be the most popular school in the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be many, many years before it is complete. That's what I understood from the plans.

GDS has a strong first mover advantage over its Big Three competitors in integrating its various divisions on a single campus. This matters to families who don’t want to drove all over, and is more environmentally responsible.

I’m not sure how you define “first mover” but the Cathedral schools and Maret have been on a single campus for decades or more. Nice try though.

[Anonymous]

Is this construction related to building where they razed the home that housed elderly people?

Kicking old people out. Quaker values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this construction related to building where they razed the home that housed elderly people?

Kicking old people out. Quaker values.

They never kicked anyone out.
They never razed the building.

But otherwise, your post is fully factual.

[Anonymous]

Again, who cares?!?