Moving Day is Fast Approaching!

As you know, earlier this year National PTA purchased a new home in Alexandria, Virginia-effectively taking PTA home to the area where we were founded over 114 years ago, Washington DC.

Located on North Pitt Street in the Old Towne area, we will soon be just across the river from our Nation’s Capital and those we work with every day on behalf of families and children.

You might ask, why move now?

Well, when PTA was founded in 1897 it was in Washington DC. From that point, our association met and worked in the city. In the 1930’s, like many other national associations, PTA moved to the Chicago area because the prominent transportation of the day was by railway; Chicago being a national center. Not too long after that, PTA purchased property and settled in for many years in service.

About 15 years ago, PTA found itself in a position of needing a new location in Chicago to meet our growing needs for space. The building was sold, the proceeds were put into an account to build or purchase another property in the near future. Well, the near future never came. For a number of very reasonable issues the PTA lived in leased space until this year.

This is a bold step for our Association and we now have an appreciable asset for our investment. Our new home will house not only all of our administrative spaces, but it will also have training space that can handle over 200 people, video conferencing/training and radio production capabilities.

In the near future, you will be hearing more about our move, a fall Open House as well as a Capital Campaign. Our thanks should go out to everyone who has given their support to making this dream come true. No one person is responsible, your team is working to make sure our Association is on a strong footing for a long time to come.
In the meantime, here’s a glimpse of what the building looks like and the progressive transformation. Visit our Fotki gallery for more photos.     http://public.fotki.com/pta/newnationalptabuilding/

See you soon!

Comments

  1. I am very proud of this investment by NPTA! During long-term outlooks, the lease vs. buy model might reveal pros and cons. However, I believe that buying this appreciating property reflects wise leadership and I’m sure this association “appreciates” that. I understand there might have recently been an eruption of some pipes there and I’m sure those leaks will not be allowed to linger as some leaks are allowed to do. To me, this is Symbolic of the PTA’s mentality, that when there is a Gap, we’ll devise a plan to eliminate it. Where there is a leak or a crack in our educational system, we will Advocate, BUILD alliances, Capacitate and strategize to not just plug the leaks, but to replace or remove the bad or ineffective systemic pipes that continue to help to trap many of our children, leaving them behind to struggle through the resulting mire of mediocrity. The United States is indeed a GREAT NATION of many Great Deeds and the PTA is a DYNAMIC parent, teacher and student association! The PTA/PTSA’s Deed to this new building symbolizes not just a new home for an organization, but it represents What the PTA is BUILDing via every PTA unit, as a breathing organism of hope, in our home towns! We are not only laying a blueprint for excellence, but together we are the Architects for Change-Not just cosmetic, as face lifts; but actually Lifting the Faces and Lives of every Child! Without – Due Interest in quality education, being backed by overdue funding, high expectations, and one-on-one teaching time- our Opportunity Cost will not make our meager symbolic Investment in our children, sufficient. Just as one person did not build the new PTA building alone, it will take Each One of us to Lift Every Voice and Sing the notorious notes that compose every child’s song and glorious story. Individually, WE Must; and “TOGETHER WE CAN”!! By Brenda Martin of NEKY.

  2. The PTA/PTSA’s Deed to this new building symbolizes not just a new home for an organization, but it represents What the PTA is BUILDing via the Deeds of every PTA unit, as a breathing organism of hope, in our home towns! We are not only laying a blueprint for excellence, but together we are the Architects for Change-Not just cosmetic, as face lifts; but actually Lifting the Faces and Lives of every Child! Without – Due Interest in quality education, being backed by overdue funding, high expectations, and one-on-one teaching time- our Opportunity Cost will not make our meager symbolic Investment in our children, sufficient. Just as one person did not Build the new PTA building alone, it will take Each One of us to Lift Every Voice and Sing the notorious notes that compose Every child’s song and glorious story. Individually, WE Must; and “TOGETHER WE CAN”!! By Brenda Martin of NEKY.

  3. Hi Chuck,

    I’m one of your new neighbors on Bellvue Place in Alexandria, Virginia. We’ve watched with interest your renovation of the property at 1250 N. Pitt Street, and tolerated the trash, noise and incovenience that came with it because we know what’s involved with such work, and because we believe that an occupied building is better than an unoccupied one when it’s on our doorstep.

    Apparently today is your move-in day. There are currently several tractor trailers lined up along Pitt Street impeding traffic and blocking in parked cars. One of them even parked on Bellvue Place (a private drive) and refused to move until someone – not sure who – sent them an e-mail and told them to. City laws require that moving trucks and the like get permits beforehand and post notices that parking will be restricted during the move. This benefits both the movers and the local residents.

    I realize that these movers don’t work for you, but presumably you hired them and are paying for their service and ultimately you are responsible for the image they project to the neighbors. Any bad feelings engendered today will accrue to your organization, not theirs.

    I don’t know what sort of neighborhood or accommodations you had in Chicago, but here you are in the midst of a townhouse complex, with residents not 50 feet from your door. We granted the previous residents an easement to use the stairs and sidewalk, which are on our property, to access the parking lot behind your building, and they allowed us to park in the lot. There are other instances of cooperation between us as well. In other words, we’ve had a cordial, symbiotic relationship with previous owners/tenants.

    I hope that when you get settled into your new digs, you will make time in your schedule to meet with the residents of Pitt Street Station, so that we can introduce ourselves to each other and get our relationship off on the right foot. Please feel free to e-mail me at the address above or call me at 703-627-7565 if you have any questions at all.

    Your new neighbor,
    Andrea Haslinger

Speak Your Mind

*