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If all goes according to plan, a new Hyattsville Middle School could be open for students by 2023.
The new middle school will be located to the north of the existing Hyattsville Middle School, closer to the intersection of Oliver Street and 42nd Avenue, on land that currently hosts the existing school’s athletic fields. In turn, the athletic fields will be moved to an area on the site of the existing building, which will be demolished.
The design process is expected to last another year, with plans projecting final building approvals coming January 2022. The project is part of Prince George’s County’s Blueprint Schools Initiative, which will use public-private partnerships to build six new schools: five 1,200 student middle schools and one kindergarten through eighth-grade schools.
Under the public-private partnership program, private contractors will be hired to build and then maintain the schools for a 30 year term expiring in 2053. Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. has been selected to build the school. The maintenance contract has been granted to Atlanta-based Honeywell Building Technologies.
“These buildings are designed to withstand the test of time,” said Michael Ricketts, director of commercial markets for Gilbane Building Co.
This is not the first time Hyattsville Middle School has been rebuilt on-site. The original Hyattsville Middle School once stood much closer to 42nd Avenue, itself built atop the former Hyattsville High School on the same location. The current building dates to the 1970s, and has become dilapidated after years of deferred maintenance.
The building itself will be a maximum of four stories tall, with the tallest sections of the building on the northern side. The building is basically four boxes connected by a central structure, which will house common areas and a cafeteria. The building includes a two art classrooms, a dance classroom, a STEM-focused classroom and media lab, as well as spaces from theater and music classes. It also includes a planned stage and gymnasium multi-purpose room.
The planned relocation of the building has angered at least one neighbor who fears the new site of the school will cast shadows on his property. But Dan Muth, member of the Hyattsville Education Facilities Task Force pointed out the new scheme will end up providing more light to several houses currently shaded by the building.
Mike,
The mere fact that the only negative thing this article brings up about the neighbors concern is a shadow being cast on some properties and being removed for others is a truely disappointing. The real problem and frustration with the neighbors is the fact that the neighbors were left out of the design process from the start. With the lack of true communication from the Hyattsville Education Facilities Task force (HEFTF) its no wonder neighbors are upset. Prime example, the Hyattsville Education Facilities Task Force had no idea of any of the neighbors concern until such time as a group of neighbors assembled and sent out flyers and , within days, put together a neighborhood Zoom Meeting for the neighbors to vet some of their concerns and issues with this new school development. It was only then that two members of the HEFTF who attended the zoom mtg. heard the neighbors issues. Further, since the entire school site is being raised why is the Public Private Partnership and the School System relocating the school building to a portion of the site that now disrupts so many neighbors in lieu of just increasing the school foot print to now accommodate the new school enrollment of 1,200 students. More to the point, the surrounding neighbors on Oglethorpe St, 43rd Ave and 42nd Place have had no input as to the current concept plan or where this building is current located; however, this new school building location will have a profound effect on the quality of life and house values on each bordering home on each street mentioned.
From a neighbor who supports the new school just not its new location on site and the substantial student enrollment increase , yes, I’m frustrated because of the lack of communication from the Hyattsville Education Facilities Task Force and the City for not being more proactive in reaching out to the surrounding property Owners who not only support the school but will be directly impacted by this new design and relocation of the Building.
Note:
The particular HEFTF memeber you mention in your article will not be affected by this design of this facility; the almost 2 years of construction disruption and traffic; the operational aspects of trash dumpsters being picked up every morning and or the noise from the field of play when the Athletic Field is being used on Saturday and Sundays directly behind there homes on 43rd Ave. This will go over well for those living on 43rd Ave when they have a cook out going on at their home while a game is in session and the players and guest stand right on the fence line Just 10 +/- feet from your property. You know, the home where you pay taxes in hopes of having some quite enjoyment at least on the weekends. Oh, and nor does this HEFTF memeber have to deal with the traffic from multiple deliveries on a daily basis through a new service entrance but he will take the time to comment on the positive aspects of a Shadow being removed over peoples homes in some cases while other homes have to deal with the new shadow being cast over their homes. Again, just disappointing and frustrating.
If we allowed NIMBYs like you to have any input, nothing would ever get built on time or on budget. People’s home values are going to go up because of this project, not down. Better facilities almost always boost student performance, even if only marginally. Better schools = higher property values, always. Hyattsville is booming and growing. An increase in enrollment is more financially and politically feasible than building an entirely new school somewhere else in the city or redrawing school district boundaries for reasons I don’t think I should have to explain to someone with more than a middle school education.
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