Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Those inadequate facilities have produced some very impressive scholars over the years. Those grads have gone on to very good schools, but I think it is nice that the school is now in a position to improve on their facilities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

I love these sour grapes posters.
Parents, do you truly think that our elementary school students notice and compare facilities? I went to a fancy private school (different town) when I was younger and the school received a much needed update AFTER I graduated. Did I care as the student? Not in the slightest. Frankly, I have fond memories of the old dingy property and all of the friends I met there because it was a fantastic school experience. I think that we as parents create these out-of-touch expectations (lacrosse fields, fancy cafeterias and jungle gyms) because we pay handsomely for our children to attend these schools. But have you asked your elementary school children what is actually important to them when it comes to school? My guess: buddies, teachers, and cool field trips will be the top responses. No need to pity the grads who paid top dollar. My sense is that they'll do just fine!

Anonymous wrote:Chuckling at those who defended the GDS micro campus for years and now say the $100 million upgrade is essential. Pity the grads who paid top dollar for inadequate facilities.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/openhouse/development/georgetown-day-school-buying-safeway-and-car-dealership-in-big-expansion.php

GDS is buying the Safeway and Volvo dealership to expand and consolidate its campuses.

Great for the school. Horrible for the neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:The first thing that has to be done, before any school building or athletic facility is constructed, is to dig down three or four levels and construct a parking garage to handle the parking needs of the faculty, staff and students of the school as well as for visitors to the school. Put whatever you want on top of the garage, be it classrooms, offices, athletic or artistic facilities, whatever is needed. Right now, the Safeway provides as much parking for GDS as it does for its customers. GDS should take a cue from Sidwell and the Cathedral (Cathedral Schools) and free up the local streets for residential parking. This will be a good first step toward alleviating neighborhood concerns.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Palisades resident who hates the GDS lower school traffic, I'm curious what will happen to the lower school campus.

Perhaps a low-security prison?

Anonymous wrote:Is Georgetown Day the school where the students call their teachers by their first names?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS kids smoke pot and cigarettes and shoplift? Really? I find that hard to believe.

The Urban Dictionary has your answer: http://bit.ly/1jaDGuE

That link doesn't support the shoplifting claim.

That's true. It merely supports the claim that GDS kids are commonly known as drug users and vendors who sell their good in the neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS kids smoke pot and cigarettes and shoplift? Really? I find that hard to believe.

The Urban Dictionary has your answer: http://bit.ly/1jaDGuE

That link doesn't support the shoplifting claim.

That's true. It merely supports the claim that GDS kids are commonly known as drug users and vendors who sell their good in the neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:If they add a cafeteria what will people on DCUM complain about!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS kids smoke pot and cigarettes and shoplift? Really? I find that hard to believe.

The Urban Dictionary has your answer: http://bit.ly/1jaDGuE

That link doesn't support the shoplifting claim.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS kids smoke pot and cigarettes and shoplift? Really? I find that hard to believe.

The Urban Dictionary has your answer: http://bit.ly/1jaDGuE