The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, represented the Department of Defense at a unique real estate transaction at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9.
Susan Lewis, Chief, Real Estate Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, joined Golnar Abedin, Creative Minds International (CMI) Founder/Head of School, in completing the 10-year lease for this public charter school to use property on the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C.
"I'm excited to represent the Corps at today's event," Lewis said, "which marks the start of a lease arrangement that will benefit the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) and the CMI Charter School for years to come."
The school will renovate the building to house the K-5th grade school, and renovation costs may be credited against the first four years of lease rental as in-kind consideration.
AFRH Chief Operating Officer Steven McManus stated, "We are very pleased that Creative Minds International will be opening a charter school in the fall 2015 on the historic grounds of AFRH-Washington. We will continue to grow ties with the Washington, D.C., community as this will be a wonderful partnership for many years to come."
The cost is estimated at about $2.4 million. The ground floor will be gutted and the renovation will create classrooms, dining area, offices, lounge, welcome desk, etc. The upper floors will only get moderate touch ups like paint, flooring, new bathroom fixtures, etc.
According to comments at the ceremony, the school also intends to involve the residents at AFRH in their programs. Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Washington, D.C., spoke at the ceremony. Scott Pearson, Public Charter School Board executive director, also noted the importance of the event.
The Department of Defense delegated authority to sign the lease to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The lease to CMI, a District of Columbia not-for-profit corporation, will include portions of the North Sherman Building and Sherman Building Annex and adjacent parking area for a total of 32,000 sq. ft. The lease is designed to allow the Charter School to start with the renovation and use of a base area, allowing for potential renovation and use of additional areas of the premises depending on Charter School growth over the 10 year term of the lease. Proposed use of the identified leased premises is compatible with the mission of AFRH and will generate revenue to AFRH by leasing underutilized space.
School officials expressed thanks that they will also have almost an acre of playground area for the 250 children that are expected this fall. CMI has a parent organization that is collecting funds for the equipment.
AFRH is the premier retirement home for America's veterans and career military members. It offers wellness programs, nutritious meals, and superb medical as well as physical fitness, group recreation, and military camaraderie. AFRH has two communities in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Washington, DC.
CMI offers students a rigorous education plan to arm them with the skills needed to become successful in a global society. CMI has designed a highly-engaging program based on an international project and arts-based curriculum that includes foreign language courses plus standards-based literacy and mathematics.
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