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Health & Fitness

Reston Over Enrollment Crisis Made Worse by Development

Hello Herndon High School, start ordering mobile classrooms.

For many months Rescue Reston has been trying to broaden the discussion of why the redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course into density housing, is a very dangerous idea to the entire community of Reston. Thank you Patch for today’s article addressing the existing over enrollment crisis in Reston schools. Thank you for introducing Rescue Reston’s January message - over crowed schools. Development of open space will negatively impact education.

Reston, this crisis involves more than a real estate issue for those surrounding the Reston National Course. While the elimination of the golf course and redevelopment will directly affect more than a thousand homeowners, a much bigger issue faces the entire town. If and when the owner of the Nationals Baseball, Lerner Inc., succeeds in redeveloping that open space, you can bet you last dollar that Hidden Creek Golf Course in north Reston will fall in the same manner. Reston National is not merely a crack in the dam; it is a gaping hole - a massive breach.

Hidden Creek Golf Course is a much different and many say easier open space to redevelop than Reston National. Hidden Creek has fewer residential homes contiguous to the course. Much of the current housing units are rental apartments that may produce less resistance and objection. Reston National has but a few hundred yards of commercial border. Hidden Creek currently shares an expansive border with existing commercial real estate development and a very short walk to the Metro Station.

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Everyone’s Issue

It is reasonable for young families to focus on the immediate pressures of today. We have all been there; the early stages of establishing careers, the rush to get the kids to sports, piano or dance lessons. But please consider that young families moved to Reston for a specific lifestyle that includes education as well as a balance in open space and density. Reston became one of the top 10 places to Live in the nation for that very reason and not because we stuff anything that will make anyone a buck anywhere we can! That educational asset and balance are under attack. That battle is simply between lifestyle and profit. Community planning by definition involves the community. 

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We say NO!

The Patch article presents an existing over enrollment crisis in Reston schools. Redevelopment plans are estimated to bring 2,500 to 3,000 people to fill the houses that are then constructed in the South Lakes School District and conceivably a larger amount (3,000+) in the Lake Anne area. Hello Herndon High School, start ordering mobile classrooms. Lake Anne development will be in addition to a recent sale of apartment units on North Shore Dr. (with a higher density projection) and the current redevelopment of more apartments on Temporary Road.

On January 30th the Board of Zoning Appeal will hear the appeal from Lerner/Northwestern Mutual Life to begin the destruction of what took Reston 60 years to create. Please join Rescue Reston and help to prevent that from happening. Go to RescueReston.org to discover the many methods of how you can help!

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