JMU just sold 60 acres to the City of Harrisonburg Selling price was $5 million. The land is on S. Main and will be used for the 2nd High School.

Was this the original Ill-advised location of the Union Bank & Trust Center?

(07-02-2018 10:59 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Was this the original Ill-advised location of the Union Bank & Trust Center?

Hmmmm... Seems that would be a good location. This will be interesting to see.

Sort of related, wasn't that location of the rendering/video that was put up and within hours taken down?

(07-03-2018 05:28 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(07-02-2018 10:59 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Was this the original Ill-advised location of the Union Bank & Trust Center?

Hmmmm... Seems that would be a good location. This will be interesting to see.

Sort of related, wasn't that location of the rendering/video that was put up and within hours taken down?

yes, and yes. Although, within hours may be a more accurate statement haha.

Not familiar with Harrisonburg real estate market, but at that price it almost seems like a "goodwill" gift, given the location.

Wonder if JMU won't look back at this with regret someday when looking to expand again. It can be difficult to acquire large blocks of land.

^^^ agreed

(07-03-2018 08:58 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  Not familiar with Harrisonburg real estate market, but at that price it almost seems like a "goodwill" gift, given the location.

Wonder if JMU won't look back at this with regret someday when looking to expand again. It can be difficult to acquire large blocks of land.

Guessing it's some sort of quid pro quo deal. The school probably has their eye on something in the future where they'll need the City's help.

(07-03-2018 09:43 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 08:58 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  Not familiar with Harrisonburg real estate market, but at that price it almost seems like a "goodwill" gift, given the location.

Wonder if JMU won't look back at this with regret someday when looking to expand again. It can be difficult to acquire large blocks of land.

Guessing it's some sort of quid pro quo deal. The school probably has their eye on something in the future where they'll need the City's help.

More schools and the quality of the high schools indirectly helps JMU because it spurs growth in Harrisonburg and attracts more people to move to the area. More people with more disposable income to fill a 30,000-40,000 football stadium in the future.

The new high school is a hot topic in town. JMU bought it for 4... maybe 4.3? It's a win win for the University. They didn't get hamstrung with 60 acres of space "nowhere" near main campus, and they made a couple of bucks on the deal, while ultimately helping the City.

I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

(07-03-2018 10:19 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

I agree with you 100%. Not sure Harrisonburg will 'really' benefit from a 2nd full-scale HS. I like the 2nd campus idea for just 8-9 grades.

JMU turned a profit and avoided a horrible location. If and when JMU starts winning some men's basketball games, the new site is going to be so much more accessible to students, particularly freshmen on campus. At the convo and at the new location, freshmen on the women and men's team can walk to the arena at any time day or night and with their student ID card get in, turn the lights on and get up shots. With the previous proposed site, every player would need rides to get to the arena. Because of the arenas close proximity to the players classes, it is very common for the players on both the men and women's side to drop in and just spend time with coaches. Kenny Brooks was certain that his culture was going to take a negative hit when players lost the opportunity to just casually drop in and hang out in the basketball office. Against all odds the new location is perfect.

Bogey! A rare sighting. Any sense on our incoming freshman class of men's players? It seems like they are fitting in pretty well and want to work hard like the rest of the team. I like this group a lot and want to hear your expectations for the year.

(07-03-2018 10:04 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 09:43 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 08:58 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  Not familiar with Harrisonburg real estate market, but at that price it almost seems like a "goodwill" gift, given the location.

Wonder if JMU won't look back at this with regret someday when looking to expand again. It can be difficult to acquire large blocks of land.

Guessing it's some sort of quid pro quo deal. The school probably has their eye on something in the future where they'll need the City's help.

More schools and the quality of the high schools indirectly helps JMU because it spurs growth in Harrisonburg and attracts more people to move to the area. More people with more disposable income to fill a 30,000-40,000 football stadium in the future.

Ding ding ding. The growth of Harrisonburg and its surrounding area will only benefit JMU in the long term.

(07-03-2018 09:43 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 08:58 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  Not familiar with Harrisonburg real estate market, but at that price it almost seems like a "goodwill" gift, given the location.

Wonder if JMU won't look back at this with regret someday when looking to expand again. It can be difficult to acquire large blocks of land.

Guessing it's some sort of quid pro quo deal. The school probably has their eye on something in the future where they'll need the City's help.

(07-03-2018 10:22 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 10:19 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

I agree with you 100%. Not sure Harrisonburg will 'really' benefit from a 2nd full-scale HS. I like the 2nd campus idea for just 8-9 grades.

Totally agree (kind of!). Our town voted keep “one HS” and solved the problem by have two schools- a 9-10 and an 11-12. It was a brilliant decision because it kept the town unified for sports, etc. and the benefit of separating freshman from seniors is hard to quantify but it’s real. We use busses for those students who need to attend classes at the alternate campus.

(07-03-2018 10:19 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

The issue has been examined from multiple points of view, everything you've suggested and many more. The school system's administration is anything but "scared." The best solution for Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Schools, and the education of a burgeoning student population is a second High School.

(07-04-2018 10:25 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 10:19 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

The issue has been examined from multiple points of view, everything you've suggested and many more. The school system's administration is anything but "scared." The best solution for Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Schools, and the education of a burgeoning student population is a second High School.

Stop it with rational posting longhorn. Gosh darn it, it’s 2018 and we love our conspiracy theories!

It's a stupid place for a high school anyway, IMHO, as the part of the city east of the interstate near the hospital is growing so fast. I'd have tried to put a new high school over there. But hey, gift horses and all that.

(07-04-2018 11:33 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  It's a stupid place for a high school anyway, IMHO, as the part of the city east of the interstate near the hospital is growing so fast. I'd have tried to put a new high school over there. But hey, gift horses and all that.

While I don't disagree about locating a new school more eastwardly, large tracts of available land within the city boundaries are pretty tight in that direction. The hospital rests within the county, and indeed the city limits end not far past Sentara Park on Port Republic Road. Also for consideration, Rockingham County isn't going to let Harrisonburg absorb any new property whose tax base is promising.

For what its worth, one of the reasons cited during the announcement for the purchase is that the location will save on transportation, allowing the current fleet of school buses to serve both HS.

(07-04-2018 10:40 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(07-04-2018 10:25 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-03-2018 10:19 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I wish Harrisonburg’s School Board would think outside the box on this. Two high schools in the city hurts the school division’s ability to offer students a wide range of high-level opportunities. Build a second campus across the street, but keep it as a unified school. Or build an 8-9 grade “junior high” and keep all 10-12 together. Makes me sad that the decision makers are afraid to do something outside the box. I hate scared leadership.

The issue has been examined from multiple points of view, everything you've suggested and many more. The school system's administration is anything but "scared." The best solution for Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Schools, and the education of a burgeoning student population is a second High School.

Stop it with rational posting longhorn. Gosh darn it, it’s 2018 and we love our conspiracy theories!

Silly me.