Homeowners Worry Edgewater Elementary Will Hurt Housing Market

Homeowners and parents from communities surrounding are worried will negatively affect the local housing market.

According to local parent Gary Fritter, a campaign has begun with nearby community associations to bring more attention to the school’s condition and its need for renovations.

“These associations have a vested interested in having a healthy school in their area,” Fritter said in an email to Patch. “The housing marking in our area can’t afford to have folks not buy houses in these communities because of unhealthy schools.”

At a in January, Edgewater Elementary parents expressed concern that the school was making their children sick. Anne Arundel County Public Schools , Ed Light, to examine the school. Light found that were key issues at the school, but said they could be resolved with easy fixes.

The school’s PTA president said Fritter has taken the lead on rallying community associations together and that she’s encouraging his effort.

“Not only are people concerned about their children but there’s also concern about the property values. It’s something people need to consider,” Corkill said. “I plan to speak to my [community association].”

In early January, Gov. Martin O’Malley announced his plan to spend more than $350 million on school construction projects. Edgewater Elementary parents are trying to get the school some of that money by circulating a petition that asks the governor to allot money specifically for their school.

“Our request will ask for a response within 14 days to all the email accounts on the petition,” Fritter wrote to Patch. “We plan to ask if our school, now the worst school in the county, will be one of the new constructions and if not, why?”

One week ago, Fritter visited Edgewater Elementary and in and around the building. The pictures a broken rooftop drainage pipe and the school's crawl space.

Patch contacted local real estate agent to see if the school is affecting home values, but Triolo said real estate agents are prohibited from giving opinions of school systems and how they might potentially affect the housing market.