Readers can click here to view the PowerPoint presentation featured at last night's work session between the School Board and ACPS about the redevelopment of Jefferson-Houston.ACPS is looking at 1.2 million sf of development and a FAR (floor area ratio) of 2.5 to make this project feasible. And that's without ARHA redevelopment of Jefferson Village factored in; if included, the total develpment potential would be 1.4 million sf.
City Council sent the group off to do more research and asked that they report back in October.
BTW, in discussing the future of the ground level playing fields Dr. Morton Sherman, ACPS Superintendent, actually alluded to rooftop soccer at JH.
36 comments:
"BTW, in discussing the future of the ground level playing fields Dr. Morton Sherman, ACPS Superintendent, actually alluded to rooftop soccer at JH."
If money is the only problem, we could raise capital by selling our children. This would have the added benefit of relieving us from having to spend money to actually educate them. Think of the grand school administrative offices we could build if we didn't have to pay for teachers or soccer fields!
Just a modest proposal.
Given the state of the City's budget and the fact that schools across the country are closing/reducing salaries/reducing staff, this seems a bit odd in terms of timing. The entire proposal is odd but my main question is over the funding and current budget state.
"Just a modest proposal."
That was swift!
This is almost surreal. The school system has maybe 10,000 kids right? The kids are maybe 7-10% of the general population and JH kids are maybe 2% of school population. No way can such a project is justified.
There is an article in alexandrianews.org about this, complete with reference to playing sports on the roof. Here is the quote I found most interesting, though:
"School Board member Mimi Carter said that the school is in dire need of attention. “Architecturally, though, it really does need something. I mean, it’s not safe,” she said. “There were three different instances just this past month with police there. It’s not family oriented. It’s mostly pavement and is dilapidated in parts.”
I don't know this woman, but is the safety issue really the fault of the school building itself? Let's be real. J-H is in the middle of an area where the City has chosen to concentrate its low income housing. It's also in an area served by our courageous Mr. Sengel, who refuses to adequately prosecute our chronic offenders. These two factors, I'd say, have much more to do with the crime problem at J-H, than the building itself.
I was troubled by this comment in alexandrianews.org:
Folkerts said that Board would like to see an agreement, or at least begin developing an MOU. “Part of our effort in asking for this session is to bring you up to speed on where we are. What you can see from our standpoint is next steps, which are to organize an effort to get input from the community [and] educate the community so that we can find the stakeholders that we need to reach out to,” she said.
-We need to find out who to reach out to? I think that means pre-determined outcome. Find the local yeller that will stick up for the plan and call anyone who opposes a racist.
"These two factors, I'd say, have much more to do with the crime problem at J-H, than the building itself."
Amen! Mimi Carter is a School Board member and not a very bright one. She lives in Del Ray and has done little to bring Del Rayites back into the school. Let's not forget Krupicka send his children to Mount Vernon the infamous Englins attend Cora Kelly. The building is not the problem.
Here is a link to the Alexandrianews.org story about the Council work session on Jefferson-Houston.
http://tinyurl.com/35l9n5z
School Board member Mimi Carter said that the school is in dire need of attention. “Architecturally, though, it really does need something. I mean, it’s not safe,” she said. “There were three different instances just this past month with police there. It’s not family oriented. It’s mostly pavement and is dilapidated in parts.”
"Mostly pavement"?!! Can she not see the row of 50 year old black oak trees that line the street in front of the school? Those trees are worth millions of dollars to the city-providing absorption of run-off, the cooling effects of shade-the aesthetic value!! What they add to the neighborhood is invaluable. There are not many large trees left in Old Town and if they go through with this development there is no way they will be able to save them. The soil compaction would kill them, if not right away within a couple of years.
"Let's not forget Krupicka send his children to Mount Vernon the infamous Englins attend Cora Kelly. The building is not the problem."
This is what I mean by Alexandria journalism. Not one journalist (including you Carla) point this fact out. No alternative view is ever presented, such as "MAYBE THE BUILDING IS NOT THE PROBLEM!"
Re the trees:
At the worksession the Superintendent commented that this is an "urban" school with a "suburban" layout. As though that was something that needed to be corrected.
What other schools in Alexandria, one of the densest cities in the U.S. according to the City's own publicity, has been expected to to sacrifice its green space? Mt Vernon? Maury? Or Lyles-Crouch in Old Town which is surrounded by attached townhouses just like Jefferson-Houston is?
Is our neighborhood once again being discriminated against and is the code word "urban"?
My plan for JH:
Demolish the existing school and rebuild a 2-3 story school on 1/2 the footprint freeing up even more open green space. Then demolish the adjacent public housing. The current residents can move elsewhere. I'm not particularly concerned where they go. Take that land and incorporate it into the park as well. End up with a new school in a much enlarged community park!
If ever there were a place which cannot handle increased density due to its unique situs, it's J-H. This is a place that needs to utilize its open space for the city's education, parks, and playing field needs, not have development jammed on it.
How are hundreds, nay, thousands of people supposed to get to and from offices and residences at the site when surrounding streets already jam during rush hour when the school adds very little volume to the mix? Have they dared to address the unique location challenges, or are they seeking to bypass those considerations and pass them on to P-G like so many other headaches?
Directly west are the train tracks and no way through for the five blocks between Cameron and Braddock. The configuration also ensures no east-west ingress and egress from the tracks down to N. West St. Imagime the backups on West and one-way Cameron associated with any major development outside of parks and education. Those backups will spread to the already overburdened road system that gridlocks whenever there's an accident on the Beltway or even I-395.
The fact that these plans promise Manhattan-like road paralysis with it won't be discussed by the planners or the media unless we all give voice to the concern and encourage a better use than what's set to be dropped on us for the good of a few tax collectors and developers while working to the detriment of P-G. The looming reality that more office and residential space won't do the existing vacancy rates of properties in P-G and Old Town any good should also be a rime reaosn to ditch this latest hastily-assembled scheme.
"Is our neighborhood once again being discriminated against and is the code word "urban"?"
Naw the Dems code word is metro. That's why the Dems initially approved Potomac Yard without a metro. So Del Ray could enjoy its array of single family homes. Let's cut to the chase and close the school then rebuild it in Potomac Yard with Krupicka and Englin's kids standing at the door.
Krupicka needs to be politically careful!
We need to remember how these simpletons behaved when they are up for re-election. I will remember!
"Amen! Mimi Carter is a School Board member and not a very bright one. She lives in Del Ray and has done little to bring Del Rayites back into the school."
Anybody else read her lame rebuttal in today's alexandrianews.org. No impressive than the proposed plan.
you mean this:
In response to Mr. Donley’s comment that the redevelopment of the area is a” zero sum game,” I countered by saying Jefferson Houston was in need of attention, and was “architecturally unsafe.” I was not referring to the building, but to the layout and design of the parking area behind and around Durant. I then referenced the different nighttime police reports that had been generated in that area, and believe a redevelopment could greatly improve safety.
Here we go again, the redevelopment will improve safety argument.
Why not redevelop Adkins and Madden Uptown and Tancil then?
There was an article in this month's parenting magazine extoling the virtues of Arlington as America's best city for raising a child. It kinda made me sick to read it though I do have a little bit of jealousy... Just a little.
Also, does anyone have any information on what happened tonight at 10 pm at the intersection of Henry and Madison?
"So Del Ray could enjoy its single family homes" ... Well, everyone seems to have overlooked the fact that when they reconfigured the Monroe Avenue bridge, all of that traffic was then routed through residential streets that are only 22 feet wide and built in the late 1890's. The Council saw no problem in sending 1800 cars per hour down narrow streets where children play. And if you look at the new Potomac Yard plan, there is mention of opening up more residential streets all to the benefit of Potomac Yard developers. Del Ray and Lynnhaven are going to be slowly killed by the proposed plan, their home values will plummet (that is already beginning) and the City will loose one of its major real estate cash cows. The rest of the east end of town will get to pick up the slack. The REAL Del Ray (where Rob and others do not live) is being totally disregarded. Most of us have lived here 30+ years and cannot believe that this is really happening. Krupicka actually lives in Rosemont, a fact he would never admit to.
I know I am supposed to be impressed but I am definitely not!
"Something For Everyone At The Charles Houston Recreation Center
Print
(Monday) June 28, 2010
By James Cullum
alexandrianews.org
What does the Charles Houston Recreation Center have to offer the community? On Saturday afternoon, that question was answered for Alexandria residents at an open house hosted by the Rec Center, City agencies and the Parker-Gray Roundtable, a group of residents concerned about the quality of life in their neighborhood. From 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Rec Center held a health fair and workshops on Parker-Gray history, employment programs, substance abuse prevention, summer recreation programs and job resources. There was also hot dogs, bottled water and snow cones.
Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook said that Charles Houston is a valuable community resource. “It’s quite a facility,” he said. “I’m here to help with the collaboration the Roundtable is building up.”
Programs and services at the event included: the Alexandria Community Services Board, which helps residents affected by mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders; the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria; the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership; the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy; booklets for teens about drug and tobacco use and leaflets on preventing rabies and bedbugs.
“I hope this is the start of many events we can have as a roundtable,” said Parker-Gray Roundtable member Bill Campbell. “Today is about talking about what’s available at Charles Houston Rec. It’s for everybody. It’s fantastic. There’s a dance area, a workout area, meeting rooms. We’re putting forth a strong effort to get people in public housing engaged so that they can use this valuable community resource. This is about creating a safe and healthy community.”
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille read this proclamation: “Whereas, the National Association of People with AIDS advocates for the prevention of HIV and on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV/AID; and
“Whereas, each year, on June 27, the National Association of People with AIDS organizes National HIV Testing Day, in partnership with the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other national and local entities across the country; and
“Whereas Alexandria joins more than 91 local entities across the country in NAPWA’s Mayors Campaign on HIV in an effort to encourage more people to be aware of HIV and to know their status; and
“Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate there are more than 1 million people living with HIV in the United States, with as many as 250,000 unaware of their HIV infection; and
“Whereas, in Alexandria, 1319 people are known to be living with HIV and AIDS; and 25% of all those infected with HIV in the City do not know they are infected and can unknowingly pass HIV on to others; and
“Whereas, the CDC and the Alexandria health Department recommend that every person and resident of the City aged 13 to 64 get an HIV test; and
“Whereas, knowing one’s HIV status is an essential step in taking control of one’s life and health, and the Alexandria Health Department, KI Services, Inc., and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry offer free confidential counseling and testing in our City.
“Now, therefore, I, William D. Euille, Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2010 as: National HIV Testing Day – a day for all City Residents to join with others throughout the United States and to seek out voluntary HIV testing and counseling to learn about their HIV status to take control of their lives, and this proclamation is presented to NAPWA in appreciation of their concern and dedication to people living with HIV/AIDS.”
"I know I am supposed to be impressed but I am definitely not!"
My sentiments exactly. The Roundtable notion is so yesterday and since there are other similar city outreach services available why not first ask the reasons for PG's repeated failure. The problem is the unchanging concentrations including the mix at JH. Busing masked certain realities and now it is time to ask Miller and Ring why they permitted the 1999 redistricting to take the biased shape it did. Much is said regarding the Del Ray wedge but never a word concerning the MacArthur wedge how we lost it? Rest assured Carter, Krupicka and Englin are part of a Del Ray pack. They will "junk" this neighborhood turn it into a concrete jungle and never solve the core problem. Then the rest of us will be left to rot in the concrete jungle while their kids their lives move on.
"Then the rest of us will be left to rot in the concrete jungle while their kids their lives move on."
There's nothing about Sherman's manner or style that tells me this project is worth the risks.
Interesting article in the Alexandria Gazette
"Alexandria spends more for welfare and social services than any other category outside education, according to a recent report by the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts."
"Arlington has allowed a whole lot more density than we’ve allowed here in Alexandria for many years, although that’s beginning to change now," said Councilwoman Del Pepper. "That makes a big difference in terms of the money that’s available."
"Arlington spends more on firefighters while Alexandria spends more on police."
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=341934&paper=59&cat=104
Followed by an article about the homeless in Alexandria on Alexandrianews.org
"Many of the men, women and families who sleep under Alexandria’s bridges, in woods or on the waterfront have this is common: they have been homeless for a long time."
""Mental health is a top priority in Alexandria," said Mary Anne Weber, chairwoman of the Alexandria Community Services Board. "Some of the council members are committed, and the community always comes out in droves for mental health services during the budget public hearings.""
Maybe someone should ask why we have to pay more than any other jurisdiction in the area.
I guess (YET AGAIN) no one in Council can figure out that the overconcentration of poverty and the largest concentration of public housing in Northern Virginia has something to do with this.
I guess its not shocking that 2 of the 3 profiles in that alexandrianews.org article on homelessness are based right here in Parker Gray.
"Arlington has allowed a whole lot more density than we’ve allowed here in Alexandria for many years, although that’s beginning to change now," said Councilwoman Del Pepper. "That makes a big difference in terms of the money that’s available."
Well, having eleven Metro stops in Arlington on two corridors versus three stops in Alexandria on one corridor helps justify the greater density. But it's pathetic for Pepper to give this as the big reason for the discrepancy and give increased density as the magic bullet to even the playing (or paying) field.
We're maintaining a ridiculously high public housing burden, one that previous reports compared to much larger cities. Worse, as much as we give money to help Alexandria citizens, non-residents from PG, DC, and elsewhere have come in here and settled in the public housing system, ensuring the problem is never solved but is always requiring more and more taxpayer funding.
How a council member can spin away from the undeniable failure of the city's absurdly large public housing burden and put the blame for the out-of-whack costs on not handing enough of the city's open space over to developers fast enough is disgusting.
"We're maintaining a ridiculously high public housing burden, one that previous reports compared to much larger cities. Worse, as much as we give money to help Alexandria citizens, non-residents from PG, DC, and elsewhere have come in here and settled in the public housing system, ensuring the problem is never solved but is always requiring more and more taxpayer funding."
Do you think this is differnt from what the voters wanted? if so that is a problem. if not then its the problem with democracy.
"Do you think this is differnt from what the voters wanted?"
Do you really think the voters want this? If they put Resolution 830 to a vote do you really think it would pass?
"Do you really think the voters want this? If they put Resolution 830 to a vote do you really think it would pass?"
I'd be willing to bet 99% of City residents have NO IDEA what Res. 830 is. If they did have an idea of the social and economic costs of the City's antiquated public housing policies though (especially when compared to similar places like Arlington), I'm sure there would be howling opposition.
My research suggests that Jefferson-Houston (JH) was re-established in 1970 and, by 1971, was again the subject of racial controversy. On 9/16/1971 The Washington Post reported that Ira L. Robinson the city's first elected black Councilmen since reconstruction complained that
"subconscious racism" dictated the School Board's decisions, especially JH's furnishings. "John Tyler also new but predominantly white opened the year in the city's west end fully furnished. The furniture was still lacking at Jefferson Houston. It's not the things that are missing that are important, Robinson said in a telephone interview. There is not substantial effect on the operation of the school. But it reflects an attitude of the administration, abetted by the school board, that puts us last."
On 2/24/1972 The Washington Post reported that HEW (now HHS) "has asked Alexandria school officials to notify it 'promptly, of their plans 'to eliminate the last vestiges of the dual school system.'" The Post continued: "Alexandria's 15 elementary schools have racial ratios from a low of 1.9% Negro at the 825-pupil Barrett school to a high of 94.9% at the 925-pupil JH school. There is little busing now of elementary school students [and] overall black enrollment in the schools was 30.6%."
Please tell me again how the construction of the new T.C. Williams high school building has solved its core problems?
Since 1970-71 JH's enrollment has declined, perhaps by as much as two-thirds. Beginning in 2008 JH's excess capacity was given to JH's expansion of K-8. Like Mr. Robinson I ask, are this year's
6th graders getting the same academic opportunites as other schools?"
The arguments presented to date are not compelling.
Where's the sell? As of September 2009 Jefferson Houston's enrollment was 229 students presumably including grade 6.
African American 71%
Hispanic 14%
White 9%
Unspecified 4%
Asian/Pacific Islanders and
American Indian 2%
Nothing should happen including project planning until redistricting has been completed. Ain't buying a pig in a poke especially not one with a 2.5 FAR. Rip the school down, leave it down, build anew in Potomac Yard and leave the rest of us to enjoy what little open space is available here. Got no problem crediting Donley with a soccer field. Like The Monarch's open space is really a park?
Rob Krupicka does not live in Rosemont. His home is on East Alexandria Ave., well beyond the recognized boundry of Rosemont. He was once president of the Del Ray Citizens' Assn. If he were a Rosemont resident, his children would attend Maury, not Mt. Vernon.
"If he were a Rosemont resident, his children would attend Maury, not Mt. Vernon."
Actually Rob lives in what the school district calls the Del Ray wedge and by location his children should be attending Jefferson Houston School. But like us the family opted out of attending the school and chose Mount Vernon instead.
If are own politicians are opting out for the sake of their childs education, why would anyone debate that JH is not in need of government intervention?
"why would anyone debate that JH is not in need of government intervention?"
Hardly think this building proposal qualifies as problem solving.
"Actually Rob lives in what the school district calls the Del Ray wedge and by location his children should be attending Jefferson Houston School. But like us the family opted out of attending the school and chose Mount Vernon instead."
I wouldn't question a family's decision to opt in or out of J-H. But clearly the Krupickas' opinion of J-H is low, given that they've chosen to send their kids to another school.
While that is certainly their choice, what galls me is that Mr. Krupicka voted to approve the new Bland, thereby re-depositing a huge number of public housing units back into the J-H district, an area already saturated wtih public housing units.
As we've discussed here, the concentration of ARHA units in this area is generally the biggest problem with J-H (particularly since the school board's segregation through rezoning).
Bottom line - Mr. Krupicka is a hypocrite. He's in a position to make things better but he chose to take the cowardly way out.
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