In the past couple of weeks it turns out that not one but two local schools will be looking to expand their facilities in the 'hood before long.
First, the French American School will be moving an off-campus facility into the San Francisco Unified School District facility at 1155 Page Street. (You've probably walked by it, it's that sad-looking abandoned thing lurking quietly between Baker and Broderick. The arrangement for the French American School is to re-use the building, which has been out of commission for six years, as its early childhood development center, a satellite location to its central 150 Oak building. The land will be leased from the SFUSD and used to build a nine-classroom, one-story building to house the French American School's pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. Questions can be fielded to [email protected]. Second, the Urban School is working to expand into a plot of land it just leased from Saint Agnes Parrish. The lease, contracted for 95 years, give the Urban School use of two parking lots on Oak Street. The artist's rendering, shown above, is NOT a plan for the space (the plans have yet to clear the city planning commission) but simply a potential imagining of the site. Kristen Bailey, speaking for the Urban School, said the plan is to move the small building in the center of the Oak Street parking lots (below the church, on Oak and Masonic) to keep it adjacent to the church's other buildings, and to then build a 2-level underground parking structure with an above-ground gymnasium with 8 or 9 classrooms attached. This would allow the varsity program to hold games on campus instead of at Kezar Stadium, as they do currently, and would turn the gymnasium currently used on Page Street into a performing arts space. The goal, overall, is for Urban to better fit the number of students already attending, as well as to build into the future and allow for gradual expansion over time. Asked whether the community was raising any concerns about the new facility, Ms. Bailey said there had been remarkably little opposition thus far, largely, she thinks, because the plans are able to provide school space without eliminating city residential or parking space--in fact, it will add parking space to the lot currently in use. The plan is to have city permitting in place within a year. If you have questions about the expansion or want to know more, Urban is hosting a community meeting--open to anyone--on June 18, at 6PM in St. Agnes Church at 1025 Masonic.
First, the French American School will be moving an off-campus facility into the San Francisco Unified School District facility at 1155 Page Street. (You've probably walked by it, it's that sad-looking abandoned thing lurking quietly between Baker and Broderick. The arrangement for the French American School is to re-use the building, which has been out of commission for six years, as its early childhood development center, a satellite location to its central 150 Oak building. The land will be leased from the SFUSD and used to build a nine-classroom, one-story building to house the French American School's pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. Questions can be fielded to [email protected]. Second, the Urban School is working to expand into a plot of land it just leased from Saint Agnes Parrish. The lease, contracted for 95 years, give the Urban School use of two parking lots on Oak Street. The artist's rendering, shown above, is NOT a plan for the space (the plans have yet to clear the city planning commission) but simply a potential imagining of the site. Kristen Bailey, speaking for the Urban School, said the plan is to move the small building in the center of the Oak Street parking lots (below the church, on Oak and Masonic) to keep it adjacent to the church's other buildings, and to then build a 2-level underground parking structure with an above-ground gymnasium with 8 or 9 classrooms attached. This would allow the varsity program to hold games on campus instead of at Kezar Stadium, as they do currently, and would turn the gymnasium currently used on Page Street into a performing arts space. The goal, overall, is for Urban to better fit the number of students already attending, as well as to build into the future and allow for gradual expansion over time. Asked whether the community was raising any concerns about the new facility, Ms. Bailey said there had been remarkably little opposition thus far, largely, she thinks, because the plans are able to provide school space without eliminating city residential or parking space--in fact, it will add parking space to the lot currently in use. The plan is to have city permitting in place within a year. If you have questions about the expansion or want to know more, Urban is hosting a community meeting--open to anyone--on June 18, at 6PM in St. Agnes Church at 1025 Masonic.
