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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have posted already in this thread, but given that there was a plan for a mixed-use store which would have brought new residents and news income tax and property tax to the city that will now be replaced by a voice on Wisconsin Avenue and a removal of very valuable property from the city coffers, I believe this is a negative.

A private school brings nothing of value to the residential community. The school promised in its last variance hearings to share their field with the community as part of an amenity package, yet they never followed through with it despite years of pressing on it. They have, at every turn sought to increase capacity at their schools despite promises not to do so, and they are a really bad neighbor where traffic and parking are concerned. Plus, many are really tired of their upper classmen smoking pot and cigarettes in the residential areas near people's back yards where little kids are playing.

I will be asking the ANC to take a very close look at the proposals when they surface.[/quote]

+1 Other schools make there facilities available to the surrounding community and seek to engage the community.  For GDS it is always a fight.[/quote]

I'm not a neighbor of GDS, but especially where they just have that one turf field they need to worry about maintenance (would you believe people will let their dogs do their business on turf fields?  Sadly, people do); liability (it may be that their insurance coverage would go way up if the field were more broadly available); and keeping the field available for their own programs.  I just think there are different concerns than a suburban school with lots of grass fields (Bullis, Landon, say -- and I'm not familiar with their usage).

Also, and I am a long-time city resident, don't people expect that being in a city will bring with it noise and traffic?  That's part of the choice you make.  The school has been there since the 1940s and it is foreseeable that any institution of that type will seek to expand.

In terms of "nuisances" or "secondary effects" -- parking, traffic, drawing unsavory characters, etc. -- schools are not active all day long -- they clear out a great deal by 4pm or so -- and tend to be quieter during academic breaks as well.  I'm not sure what your ideal neighbor would be instead of a school but it's not like you're living next to a hog farm, strip joint, or lye factory.

Finally, the prior poster in real estate is correct -- living near a private school is good for property values.[/quote]

Independent schools near residential zones can bring negatives, as well as positives.  Because of the zoning, GDS will need a special exception to expand and build.  To the extent that the school hasn't always observed past promises, that will be the time to raise that issue and for the ANC to lock in enforceable commitments this time.  However, as someone who has no direct connection to the school, I think that they are more sensitive to neighborhood concerns and want to be a good neighbor (and it is clearly in their interest to do so).  I do think that the GDS transaction is much better for the neighborhood than the Safeway PUD proposal was.  The entrance to the school is just off Wisconsin Ave. and, so long as no "back entrances" for vehicles are created, the traffic should be more manageable.  I'm sure that the neighbors who feared a condo building next to their homes will prefer the green border of playing fields.[/quote]

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