New dorm, School Without Walls plans presented

The George Washington University and School Without Walls presented before for the D.C Zoning Commission last night a proposal for a public-private development partnership that will cost the University $12 million and include the refurbishing of the high school and the construction of a new residence hall.

At the hearing last night the University presented its case for the joint development project. It was also responded to by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), the sole party in opposition to the proposal.

"It is win-win for both institutions," said University legal counsel Maureen Dwyer.

The proposed 36-year partnership between the University and the School without Walls (SWW), located at 2130 G Street, is expected to generate profits from the parking lot which currently stands.

Any earned money will foster the renovation and expansion of the SWW. The University will then gain the parking lot and develop a new undergraduate residence hall where the tennis courts currently stand.

The D.C. City Council has supported the transfer of land from the SWW to the University.

The proposed residence hall will be located behind the SWW on F Street. According to plans presented at the meeting, the dorm will have 434 beds consisting of four singles sharing a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. There are also plans for a courtyard acting as a new passage way through campus intended to divert pedestrian traffic from surrounding sidewalks.

The SWW is a "non-traditional public high school," said Tom Brady, chief business executive for D.C Public Schools. However, it is currently in a decrepit state, as many students and citizens testified.

Sean O'Donnell of EEK Architects, the chief architect of the SWW project, called the building "obsolete and inaccessible."

While his team is still in a design and development phase, the proposed a plan will maintain the symmetry of the land-marked SWW site. They plan to create an L-shaped extension away from the right side of the current SWW building. The L-shaped addition will be used for the classroom space that the school lacks and allow for an increased student population.

The architects noted that they would rather think of the L-shaped extension as a neighbor rather than an addition, emphasizing that the current Grant School site that stands will be free-standing and separate from the new L-shaped portion of the school.

Andi Adams, an architect historian, testified that the SWW's new "neighbor" will "be compatible within the historic context."

With their design the SWW will stand at 72 feet, while the residence hall will stand at 90 feet, similar to the buildings on that block of F street, with a varying rooftop line.

Lou Katz, executive vice president and treasurer, admitted that this residence hall "is on the periphery," going against the University's 20-year campus plan to increase density at the center of campus. However, he added that this site would allow the University to "preserve other sites" for residential purposes.

"The partnership is one of the most admirable things," said Commissioner Michael Turnbull. He later, though, questioned the design of the residence hall, said it had a a "Gotham City (look) to it."

The proponents were followed by members from the 2-A Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC)-Vince Macone and Con Hitchcock-who expressed their opposition to the joint Planned Unit Development (PUD) to the commission. Their concerns included issues with the PUD process being taken over by other zoning processes. They were also opposed to another dormitory being built on the periphery of campus rather than in the center of campus.

Despite their opposition to the plan, Macone and Hitchcock made the point clear that the ANC has "unanimous support for the School without Walls." Their former ANC chairman resigned after the commission voted against the joint project.

The hearing room was filled with approximately 35 students, teachers, former principal Sheila Harris, and parents of the School Without Walls, many of whom testified for the joint plan.

"We have no auditorium, no gym and no cafeteria, but we do have a parking lot," said a parent of current SWW students.

The librarian, Sharon Vollin, testified that this fall the school had to close the library, because the roof was caving in. After the fact many students asked Vollin, "'Aren't' we good enough? Aren't we bright enough?'"said Vollin.

"We're growing your own leaders," she added.

SWW, as stated by several in attendance, is one of the most competitive public schools in the District of Columbia due to its high-achieving students and faculty.

"It's not exactly something attractive to run to," said Commissioner Anthony Hood, who alluded to the fact that the school must be a great institution if the students would go there despite the conditions.

Students testified that their school's ceilings were falling apart, causing leakage and even snow to enter the building. The mold which is caused by the water damage exacerbates students' asthma.

"It's hard to pass finals without sufficient oxygen," said Rapheal Suarez, who identified himself as member of SWW as well as GW.

"We spend more time at school than we do at home," said senior Rachel May. "We are ready to be proud."

Zachary May, a senior at SWW, said that he often jokes with people who do not know about his school that, "Soon, if it is not repaired, my school will have no walls."

Residential Housing Association representative Anne Digiuolo '09 also came out to testify on behalf of the proposed residential building. She suggested that this building could fill the void of the Aston after it is taken off the market for undergraduate housing.

"It's a bold effort on behalf of the administration," she said.

William Alexander '06, GW and SWW alumnus, spoke on behalf of the plan, but also highlighted that in the past he was opposed to any SWW renovations. After visiting the school recently his feelings changed. He now says the state of the building "deplorable," and asked that the commission take action.

"We rely on the city to protect the well being of the community at large," he said.

Barbara Kahlow, West End Citizen's Association representative, and Elizabeth Elliott of the Foggy Bottom Association, spoke against the private-public PUD.

Elliott, who has lived two blocks from the SWW for 30 years, said, "The School Without Walls is a concept, it's not a building." She also recommended that the school "relocate to a larger and much more appropriate facility." She claimed that the deal was being "driven by GW's own needs, not of the School Without Walls."

If the PUD passes before the commission the building process for the SWW is estimated to take 12-18 months. In that given time the students would need to relocate. It is unknown at this time where the school would move to.