Download - Brookland & Turkey Thicket Community Meeting (03 23-13)

BROOKLAND COMMUNITY MEETING – MARCH 23, 2013

Turkey Thicket “Play DC Initiative”

and the new

Brookland Middle School

Community Meeting

March 23, 2013


AGENDA

• Introductions

• Rules of the Road

• Meeting Goals

• Project History

• What We Considered

• Current Project Status

• Site Options

• Next Steps


COMMUNITY MEETING GOALS

• Where is the school situated on the site

• What is the status of the playground construction project

• What is the timeline for the school and playground initiatives

• What is the budget for the school and playground initiatives

• How is the school and recreation center parking going to be

addressed

• Who makes the final decisions

• How will information regarding the projects be communicated

more effectively


PROJECT HISTORY

Turkey Thicket Park

• Included in DPR “Play-DC” Initiative for outdoor space upgrades

during 2013.

• Design concept by Studio 39 developed in December 2012 based

on community input.

Brookland Middle School

• Site selected for arts-focused middle school through efforts of DCPS

and Ward 5 Council on Education.

• SIT created to guide school development and share information.

• Educational Specifications developed in mid-2012 – Program

includes 23 classrooms, performance space and gymnasium.

• Hartman-Cox/Grimm+Parker architectural team selected in

December 2012 to begin concept designs.


WHAT WE HAVE CONSIDERED

• Achieving a World Class Middle School

• Playground Development Plan and Timeline

• Stand-Alone or Co-Located School and Recreation Center

• Tennis Courts and Exterior Park Amenities

• Park Site Access

• Recreation Center and School Facility Access

• Pick-up and Drop-off

• Traffic

• Parking


CURRENT PROJECT STATUS

• MISSION CRITICAL: Find the Solution that Best Balances the

Needs, Wants, Logistics, Budget & Timelines of All Parties

• DGS, DPR, DCPS and the Community Working Together to Best

Address the Neighborhood’s Needs

• A Collaborative Effort to Create the Most Efficient and Useful Space

for Both Turkey Thicket and Brookland Middle School

• Brookland Middle School Budget = $50 million

• Turkey Thicket Budget = Determined Based on Final Concept

• DGS Will Oversee Project and Lead Communications Effort with

Community Once Designs and Timeline are Finalized

• DCPS and DPR are DGS’ Clients

• Consistent Interaction with SIT Team, ANC, Playground Group,

Community Groups and Neighborhood Residents


N

Aerial View of Current School Site


N

CONS:

• DPR 2013 “Play DC” park upgrades delayed until 2014

• Potential increase in traffic along 10th St

• Park areas will be closed at times for school building construction

• Secure access point required between school population and rec center population

• Increased project budget due to demolition and rebuild of interior and exterior rec center amenities

• Areas within rec center will require temporary closure to construct reconfiguration & connection to school

PROS: • Potentially more space for surface parking

• School has closer and easier access to playing fields

• Shifting of park amenities provides a more flexible design

• School has proper classroom orientation for natural light and energy efficiency

• Shared school facilities provides for “expansion” of recreation center through shared use of amenities

CO-LOCATION OPTION WITH RECREATION CENTER


N

STAND ALONE SCHOOL AT 10th Street PROS:

• School in close proximity to rec center to provide access to amenities

• Provides physical separation between school and rec center

• Students have easy access to playing fields

• School has better access to light and views

• School entrance on less active street

CONS:

• Less green space available for park use

• Additional exterior park facilities are involved in large construction project requiring extensive periods of closure for construction

• Project budget must be increased to demolish and rebuild outdoor rec areas and address site topography


N

STAND-ALONE SCHOOL AT SOUTH POINT OF PARK PROS:

• School located at civic end of site

• School has ideal classroom orientation for natural light and energy efficiency

• Parking lots centrally located for possible shared use during non-school hours


• School location is closer to Metro

CONS:

• Outdoor park space is reduced with less flexibility for outdoor space design and layout

• North end of site has topography changes which poses issues and additional costs for constructing playing fields

• All exterior park facilities are involved in the construction project, requiring extensive periods of closure for construction

• Project budget must be increased to demolish and rebuild outdoor rec areas and address site topography


N

STAND-ALONE SCHOOL ON EXPANDED EXISTING SCHOOL SITE PROS:

• Additional open space added between school and tennis courts


• Additional space available for parking or play-space

• Minimal impact to 2013 “Play-DC” upgrades

• School has civic presence on Michigan Ave

CONS:

• No Drop-off to offset street traffic on Mich. Ave.

• School constructed in close proximity to smaller scale houses

• Potentially reduces tennis courts and delays Play-DC upgrades

• Accessing fields from school requires crossing drive aisle and moderate walk

• Classroom orientation is not optimal for natural light and energy efficiency


CONS:

• Limited site area available for surface parking

• School building abuts tennis courts and enclosure fence

• School constructed in close proximity to smaller scale houses

• Accessing fields from school requires crossing drive aisle and moderate walk

• Classroom orientation is not optimal for natural light and energy efficiency

STAND-ALONE SCHOOL ON EXISTING SCHOOL SITE PROS: • DPR 2013 “Play-DC” upgrades can continue for 2013 completion

• School pickup and drop off drive helps alleviate traffic problems on streets

• Rec center would not experience any construction related closures

• School construction will have little impact on park and rec center

• Provides separation between school and rec center

• School has civic presence on Michigan Ave

• School can be built with budgeted funds

N


Next Steps

• Posting of the presentation on the DGS website

• Collect additional comments from this presentation

• DGS to make recommendation to DPR and DCPS

• DGS, DPR and DCPS make final decision

• Next community meeting (Notification of Decision)

• Site Investigations and Traffic Study will continue

• Additional SIT team and community meetings schedule will be

announced (announcement of “Play DC” construction schedule,

site enhancements and parking will be discussed)


Questions & Answers

Timeline and next steps are next….


COMMUNITY MEETING GOALS

• Where is the school situated on the site

• What is the status of the playground construction project

• What is the timeline for the school and playground initiatives

• What is the budget for the school and playground initiatives

• How is the school and recreation center parking going to be

addressed

• Who makes the final decisions

• How will information regarding the projects be communicated

more effectively

Download - Brookland & Turkey Thicket Community Meeting (03 23-13)

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