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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The part that amazed me were the people from the neighborhood who want to delay the remodel for years because they don't feel that the neighbors have been informed or made aware of the renovations.  They were SHOCKED to find out that a renovation was being planned.
[/quote]

I am a neighbor who lives directly across from Murch and we are a long time Murch family. There are a few misconceptions/issues  here:
1. Neighbors were not notified of the meeting, the current plan or anything, unless they found out about it as current families. But DC (ngs?) are supposed to specifically notify and have a meeting with the homes directly affected (aka in the envelope) and they did not. No one wAs shocked sbout a renovation but it's been a topic for at least 5 years .

[b]2. Murch has needed renovation and space for many many years. There was definitely a group of current families who seem to be ready to give up many things in order to have the Renovation done while their kids can benefit from it. The main complaint/concern with the renovation is related to the lack of playground/green space/courts/field. This will affect the neighbors and neighborhood FOREVER and we should not settle for a terrible design which ruins the neighborhood communal/community center. It is very shortsighted to give it up.[/b]

3. The man who spoke and who was going on about his experience as a Murch family years ago and who went on About a new elementary school definitely does NOT represent the majority neighborhood, but his point of lack of notification from DGS was right.

4. The current design is awful and ruins a core for the neighborhood (which many people from outside the neighborhood use on off hours as well). I bet st least 75% of kids using the playground learned to bike or scooter on the bluetop. I bet many Murch grade come back and use the basketball court and soccer field. The plans now don't even have a playground. 
This is also an enormous issue for the running of the school-700 kids will not be able to play, run, and get out and move during recess, even if they go out in groups of 200 at a time there won't be enough space.

5. There are huge problems and limits with the space but no representation of any creative solutions were presented in the plan.

To be clear-the neighborhood and neighbors are part of the Murch community. No one wants to stop or stall but we want it done with thought and consideration for the role that Murch plays in an ongoing way for Murch families, past, present, and future. That means in large part not destroying and doing away with play space for all. We need to all work together to demand DGS and the architects present us with plans that work for all kids. [/quote]

I think the bolded part is a misunderstanding, or at least it doesn't represent my position. Honestly, it would be easier/better for my family if the renovation got delayed by four years so we didn't have to deal with it, as we'll get almost no personal benefit. But what's best for the school and the community is for it to happen soon and not risk losing funds by fighting likely losing battles with the historical preservation office and the NPS.

And I think people at the meeting reacted pretty hysterically about the playground/space issue. There will still be significant playspace--yes, less than current, but still more running around room than Eaton has, for example--and it seems as though NPS will allows a playground to be built on it.

All of that said, I think DC has done a terrible job communicating about this, especially with the non-school surrounding community, and I do believe there's a better solution than what is currently on the table. But we won't get there by fighting unwinnable battles, like the seeming desire of many to just tear the current building down and start over.

If we're going to take on long-shot battles, it should be with DCPS, which left Murch with a projected student count of 700. That's what's driving all of these problems.[/quote]

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