Renovation

Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB) Public Charter School

School Information: 103 students in Pre-K through 2nd grade. Enrollment by 2010 will be 185 students in Pre-K through 6th grade.
Facility: 8,000 square foot building at 1375 Missouri Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20011. 12,000 square foot expansion planned for 2008.
Project Cost: Renovation of original building (Phase I) - $1.7 million, $309/sf
Purchase from the District of Columbia - $1 million
New construction/addition (Phase II) - $4-5 million
Building Hope Investment: $1.2 million bridge loan (Phase 1)
$500,000 construction loan (Phase 2)
Schedule: Two phases to acquire, renovate, and expand school facility. Phase I completed in September 2006; phase II scheduled for completion in 2008.

LAMB is the only dual-language Montessori public charter school in Washington, DC. Students learn in multi-age classrooms using an English and Spanish immersion approach. LAMB opened in 2002 in a rented space. In 2004, it leased a former DC public school (DCPS) building with an option to purchase.  The facility had been vacant for 40 years and required extensive repairs.

The school tried unsuccessfully to finance the renovation project for several years. Building Hope provided the financing that allowed the project to go forward. The renovation involved upgrading the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, restoring windows, demolishing interior walls, and adding sinks and restrooms to each classroom.  Students moved in to the building in 2006.

In April 2007, the DC City Council approved the sale of the building to LAMB. The school will now proceed with the second phase of construction—a three story, 12,000 square foot addition to the historic building.  This addition will house additional classrooms, music and science rooms, a library, a cafeteria, and administrative offices. In addition to our original $1.2 million loan for LAMB’s renovation, Building Hope will provide a $500,000 construction loan for this project will continue to work with the school on long-term financing.

Photo credits: Maxwell Mackenzie for Building Hope