Anonymous
Post 03/19/2015 13:00     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:In speaking to the parents earlier this summer, Shaw was pretty explicit that the Wisconsin Avenue parcel was envisioned as a revenue source. Obviously, things could change, but the economics don't look good. Selling the L/MS campus might pay for the HS land acquisition but then GDS still has to build the facilities for the L/MS. Then again, I doubt that the revenue stream is likely to be as large as he anticipates (the comparison was to the Gonzaga deal, which involves a larger parcel that was developed as a Walmart plus 300 apartments

Maybe they are going to sell the whole thing and start again somewhere else.


There can always be backup or alternative scenarios when a school contemplates a big real estate deal. Over 10 years ago another private school contracted to buy the Rosedale estate (now a park) in Cleveland Park for a large amount. In the end the school didn't get the property but it turned out that the school's angel backer was also a real estate developer. Had the originial deal closed but the school decided not to go forward, the angel developer was prepared to develop the Rosedale parcel. There are several very savvy business types on the GDS board, too, so they could be looking at different outcomes.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2015 12:49     Subject: Big GDS news
The GDS website section on the new campus project states that GDS hopes to attract a replacement supermarket (unlikly to be Safeway) to the Maartens car site, which the school has slated for mixed-use development
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2014 18:25     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/


This move would put GDS in the big leagues.


Disagree. GDS doesn't have the endowment of the Big 3 DC schools or the top MD and VA schools. A deal like this would necessarily entail a big hit to the school finances and likely set the school further back, even if it addressed the so-called micro campus problem. Focus on teachers and classrooms and stop the campus envy.


This is the minority view. GDS families by and large are thrilled with the campus plan. The faculty is already excellent.


A bit presumptuous to post on behalf of "GDS families by and large" - speak for yourself unless you can document the views of others.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2014 14:52     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/


This move would put GDS in the big leagues.


Disagree. GDS doesn't have the endowment of the Big 3 DC schools or the top MD and VA schools. A deal like this would necessarily entail a big hit to the school finances and likely set the school further back, even if it addressed the so-called micro campus problem. Focus on teachers and classrooms and stop the campus envy.


This is the minority view. GDS families by and large are thrilled with the campus plan. The faculty is already excellent.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2014 06:50     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/


This move would put GDS in the big leagues.


Disagree. GDS doesn't have the endowment of the Big 3 DC schools or the top MD and VA schools. A deal like this would necessarily entail a big hit to the school finances and likely set the school further back, even if it addressed the so-called micro campus problem. Focus on teachers and classrooms and stop the campus envy.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 19:51     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/


This move would put GDS in the big leagues.


GDS is already in the big leagues. By many measures, including admissions to the most selective universities, it is right at the top in DC.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 18:48     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't see how they are going to make it all fit there. It's going to be really cramped.


Agreed. Although the school has tossed out hints about doing commercial development on the Volvo parcel, it's hard to see how everything fits without using the Wisconsin Ave. frontage for academic building needs.



In speaking to the parents earlier this summer, Shaw was pretty explicit that the Wisconsin Avenue parcel was envisioned as a revenue source. Obviously, things could change, but the economics don't look good. Selling the L/MS campus might pay for the HS land acquisition but then GDS still has to build the facilities for the L/MS. Then again, I doubt that the revenue stream is likely to be as large as he anticipates (the comparison was to the Gonzaga deal, which involves a larger parcel that was developed as a Walmart plus 300 apartments.



Gonzaga had nothing to do with Walmart deal. Gonzaga didn't own the land and got nothing. Gonzaga, however, has deal with the same developer of the Walmart land for long term lease of Gonzaga property on H st. Developer is planning an office building there and Gonzaga is currently building a parking garage beneath its football field in preparation for that.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 16:40     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:Because there is a lot more space. Hopefully, and I say this as a Sidwell parent, Sidwell will buy it and expand. Ideally, there would be a land swap with the Washington Home and the Post Office, which would allow Sidwell take over the whole block. The Post office and the Home could move across the street and Sidwell would still have room to move the lower school down to DC.
Or GDS could move across the street.


But the Home was recently rebuilt and is in no need to relocate. The USPS is likely going to be closing down with a new building going up in its place.

Sidwell used to own the Fannie Mae space, but I doubt they would be able to raise the money that the property would command.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 16:01     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/


This move would put GDS in the big leagues.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 13:07     Subject: Big GDS news
Because there is a lot more space. Hopefully, and I say this as a Sidwell parent, Sidwell will buy it and expand. Ideally, there would be a land swap with the Washington Home and the Post Office, which would allow Sidwell take over the whole block. The Post office and the Home could move across the street and Sidwell would still have room to move the lower school down to DC.
Or GDS could move across the street.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 12:24     Subject: Big GDS news
Why would GDS move across the street from Sidwell?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 11:12     Subject: Big GDS news
The plot just got thicker. Maybe GDS jumped the gun or maybe they were preparing for a bigger move as some here (including me) predicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2014/08/28/fannie-mae-to-sell-headquarters/
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2014 11:01     Subject: Big GDS news
``When will Washington begin to act like a big city? There are plenty of elite urban schools that do not have acres reserved for playing fields.''

1) But they would if they could
2) Many more elite schools have playing fields.
3) A handful of NYC schools don't have fields but lots do including Horace Mann and Riverdale. Of course, Xavier has a rifle range in its basement or did when I was a kid.
4) All work and no play makes kids one dimensional and not particularly well suited for real-life unless they can find a profession dominated by autistic personalities

Anonymous
Post 08/27/2014 22:01     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:For two environmentally conscious schools that deemphasize athletics, I'm appalled that GDS and Sidwell each devote huge chunks of land to an athletic field. The two schools, are close enough to one another that they could share athletic fields and save land for other purposes such as . . . (crazy idea) . . . academics!


Yes because the carbon footprint of another big academic building is so much better than athletic fields. Awesome point. You should try to get on the board at your independent to share other such wisdom.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2014 21:59     Subject: Big GDS news
Anonymous wrote:When will Washington begin to act like a big city? There are plenty of elite urban schools that do not have acres reserved for playing fields.


Hey snob, move to New York then. In DC, playing sports is emphasized more than in NYC in which space concerns are truly prohibitive.