Incubator Facilities

Over the past five years, an average of six new charter schools have opened annually in Washington, D.C. These start-up schools typically open with small numbers of students (one or two grade levels) and then grow by one class each year. Given this incremental growth and the high cost of real estate in the District of Columbia, it is difficult for a school to purchase or lease affordable space in its initial years.

In 2006, Building Hope forged a partnership with the District of Columbia's Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to develop transitional or incubator-facilities to house charter schools during their first five years of operation.  Building Hope currently manages six such facilities and continues to develop new sites that are made available to schools at below-market price on a revolving basis.

These sites provide schools with affordable space while they establish themselves, grow their enrollment, and identify a permanent location. An incubator facility may also be shared by two schools. By sharing a facility, schools also benefit from economies of scale in utilities, maintenance, and other support services that Building Hope provides or manages.

These incubator facilities consist of :

» There commercial sites developed in 2006 and 2007 totaling approximately 30,000 square feet serving approximately 300 students. Total renovation costs approximated $1.8 million.

» Three former District of Columbia Public School buildings totaling approximately 210,000 square feet serving approximately 1,700 students. Total renovation costs approximated $18.2 million.

Incubator Initiative

Building Hope has partnered with the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to provide facilities that can be leased to start-up charter schools on a revolving basis. Incubator space will give new charter schools a home during their initial one to three years of operation when the small number of students served makes it difficult to afford commercial space. This will allow schools to focus on their academic programs.

Building Hope Incubator Sites

14th Street

Location: Ward 1
3029 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Size: 12,500 square feet
Capacity : 190 students
Current tenant: D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School (2007-2008)

The facility includes six classrooms, multi-purpose space, office space, nurse's office, teachers' room, and a warming kitchen. It is ADA compliant.

Michigan Park

Location: Ward 5
1600 Taylor St., NE
Washington, DC 20017

Size: 8,200 square feet
Capacity: 120 students
Current tenant: Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School

The facility includes six classrooms, office space, a nurse's office, access to a warming kitchen, and a play area on the grounds of the school. It is ADA compliant.

S Street

Location: Ward 1
2001 S Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Size: 7,746 square feet
Capacity: 144 students
Current tenant: Mundo Verde Public Charter School (2007-2008)

The facility includes six classrooms, multi-purpose space, office space, nurse's office, teachers' room, and a warming kitchen. It is ADA compliant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	Benning Location: Ward 7 100 41st Street NE Washington, DC 20019 Size:   70,900 square fee Capacity: 600 students Current tenants:  D.C. Preparatory Academy and Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts The Benning facility includes the conversion of an open space facility to include new classrooms, bathrooms, office and multipurpose spaces. The site was recently updated to build out additional space to accommodate Richard Wright that includes the addition of a sound booth. Richard Wright will relocate after their initial year at Benning and D.C. Prep will continue to grow their program. The long term development plan for Benning is to construct additional space to accommodate D.C. Prep’s middle school.
	Birney Location: Ward 8 2501 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE Washington, D.C. 20020   Size: 86,800 square feet Capacity: 610 students Current tenants: Excel Academy Public Charter School and Septima Clark Public Charter School CSII completed the third and final phase of the full modernization of the Birney facility in the summer of 2011 to include new windows and an upgrade of the HVAC system. The Birney incubator site is an exciting project as it serves as the cornerstone and initial development of the larger Barry Farms redevelopment, include a new recreation center.
	Draper Location:  Ward 8 908 Wahler Place SE Washington DC, 20032   Size: 54,800 square feet Capacity: 500 students Current tenants:Achievement Preparatory Academy and National Collegiate Preparatory Academy CSII renovated the existing facility in two phases that included cosmetic renovations and the addition of an elevator for ADA compliance. The long term development plan for the site is to construct a new facility in 2 phases to accommodate three separate programs to offer a preK-12 option to the residents of this neighborhood.