Neighborhood Notes - Foxhall: December 8, 1999

The former Rose Hardy Elementary School at Foxhall and Q lay empty for a few years after a failed DCPS initiative to make it into a middle school. (Fortunately Hardy Middle School now thrives in more appropriate facilities on Wisconsin Avenue). Meantime, Foxhall residents won a hard fight to have the former elementary school not sold off, but rather leased until such time as our changing demographics had the student numbers to support public education again (in whatever form that might turn out to be in future).

Rock Creek International School was selected as lessee, having outgrown their shared space on California Street. RCIS is completing their first semester at Foxhall and Q and this week held the first quarterly meeting with neighbors, effectively a scorecard of BZA conditions to be in an R-1 neighborhood. These mandated meetings provide opportunity to formalize progress on issues raised by neighbors, an important track record they will need for BZA renewal in ten years.

A unique feature of this particular lease concerns the adjacent Hardy Recreation Center & Field. RCIS share a common driveway off Q St, needed by DCDRP for staff parking and maintenance access. RCIS is formalizing their typical daily schedule of athletic and recreational use of Hardy Field and equipment. Local group "Friends of Hardy", in partnership with DCDRP, endeavors to coordinate overall usage and program with the many users.

A concern shared by RCIS and neighbors is imminent removal by DCDRP of play equipment that doesn't meet code, a city-wide safety initiative lacking sufficient city funds to fully replace equipment except for federally funded HeadStart. RCIS already ordered equipment for their school play area, to be installed right after New Year. DCDRP is working with FOH to install new public equipment within two weeks.

© Bob Andrew, Foxhall