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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
FCPS Returns Two Buildings for Use as Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) today signed a six-year lease to occupy office space in the Fairfax Ridge area at the corner of Route 50 and Waples Mill Road in Fairfax. This lease will enable the school system to return two sites—Devonshire and Lacey—back to use as elementary schools by the start of the 2012-13 school year. Reverting these two sites to schools will make it possible for FCPS to vacate approximately 42 trailers or modular classrooms that are currently occupied, relieving significant overcrowding at surrounding schools.
Staff members from the Departments of Instructional Services, Special Services, and Professional Learning and Accountability will move to Fairfax Ridge. Staff members currently in facilities that have expiring leases will move into portions of the Gatehouse and Dunn Loring Centers, as well as other existing FCPS facilities. Dunn Loring Center, which is accessible by both Metrobus and Metrorail, will become a family services center providing a variety of programs, resources, and services to families in support of students’ academic achievement, essential life skills, and responsibility to the community.
Due to improved strategies to use space more efficiently, and position reductions in central offices, FCPS will be able to vacate over 150,000 square feet of space while leasing only 106,000 square feet. The cost over the six-year term, approximately $17.50 per square foot, is very favorable in today’s commercial market and significantly less than the cost per foot being paid for existing leases that are being vacated. In fact, existing FCPS lease budgets are sufficient to fund this new lease. The new facility requires almost no renovations, and the lease price includes all furniture.
Current plans call for staff moves to begin in December and be completed by June 2010.
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Note: For more information, contact the Department of Facilities and Transportation Services at 703-246-6950.
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