Gtown University 10-Year Plan and the Save Our Neighborhood Fund
Georgetown University has unveiled its Campus Plan for the next decade, as required by the DC Government, given the expiration of its current plan at the end of this year. CAG has carefully reviewed the GU plan and believes it violates DC zoning regulations and would negatively impact the quality of life in Georgetown's residential neighborhoods.
Specifically the plan would:
- increase graduate student enrollment exponentially
- provide no additional undergraduate on-campus housing
- construct new buildings on the "1789 Restaurant" block
- build an 83-foot tall smoke stack
- add 700 parking spaces to accommodate anticipated additional traffic to campus and the hospital
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GU (oulined at left on map) is a large part of our community |
In the past, GU's projected increase in the number of graduate students has been exceeded by a huge margin. This increase in the number of Georgetown students, with no comparable expansion in student housing, will mean more students living off campus. Based on past experience, this influx of students into surrounding neighborhoods will adversely impact the housing stock and exacerbate an already acute lack of on-street parking. More seriously, student misconduct will erode the quality of life in Georgetown: there is a well
documented correlation between the number of 911 calls for disorderly conduct in our neighborhood and the concentration of off-campus student housing.
CAG understands and appreciates the value of having a world-class educational institution in our midst. But without a plan for responsible growth, neither the University, nor the Georgetown community, nor other adjacent neighborhoods will continue to flourish. The District government requires that a university in a residential community shall not become objectionable to neighboring properties "because of noise, traffic, number of students, or other objectionable conditions." In order to bring the proposed Georgetown University plan into compliance with DC zoning requirements, CAG is advocating:
- requiring a connection between enrollment increases and University housing availability
- an increase of student housing on the traditional campus
- no demolitions on the 1789 block
- only administrative use of any new buildings on the 1789 block
- a commitment not to increase emissions
- mitigating traffic and parking impacts on the neighborhood
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Jennifer Altemus introducing CAG's stance on GU Campus Plan at April Meeting. |
CAG is spearheading an effort to make the community's voice heard. We have held community meetings to share opinions and potential solutions and have attended numberous GU-sponsored meetings. CAG has met with DC's Office of Planning to explain and document the residents' point of view. And, come September, we will testify before the Board of Zoning - the ultimate decision maker regarding the Campus Plan. Now is our best chance to introduce a rational revision to the current GU plan. We need your help to prepare for this hearing, and to educate our neighbors, our community leadership, the University's leadership, and our city decision-makers about this issue.
We are asking that you:
- Sign this Online Petition opposing the Campus Plan
- Donate to CAG's Save Our Neighborhood Fund to hire experts who will help to further refine and communicate the concerns and positions of residents. For more information, contact the CAG office: 337-7313 or cagmail@cagtown.org.
- Make your views known! Your letters are important and will help the DC Office of Planning and government officials understand how our community is impacted by the increasing number of students and group houses off campus, and the attendant traffic, parking, noise, and trash problems. Your letter can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed. Identify yourself and how long you have been a resident. Please be specific: cite first-hand incidents or problems including trash, late night noise, parties, traffic, and parking (click here to see download a sample letter (MS Word Doc)).
Please send letters or e-mails outlining your experiences and concerns to:
DC Office of Planning
Jennifer L. Steingasser, Deputy Director
1100 4th Street SW
Washington DC 20024
Jennifer.Steingasser@dc.gov
Fax: (202) 442-7637 OR (202) 442-7638
Councilmember Jack Evans
Room 106
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20004
JackEvans@dccouncil.us
Fax: (202) 724-8023
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 327
Washington DC 20004
Fax: (202) 727-8527
Georgetown University
President John J. DeGioia
204 Healy Hall
37th & O Streets NW
Washington DC 20007
Fax: (202) 687-6660
ANC 2E Commissioners
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E
3265 S Street NW
Washington DC 20007
2E@anc.dc.gov
Fax: (202) 338-0279
and/or your Single Member District commissioner -
listed at www.anc2e.com/commissioners.html
Please send copies to:
Citizens Association of Georgetown
1365 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20007
cagmail@cagtown.org
Fax: (202) 333-1088
Click here to download a sample letter about opposing GU's proposed 10-Year Campus Plan (MS Word Doc)
Donate Now to Contribute to the Save Our Neighborhood Fund
We also need your financial support and ask that you consider a significant TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to this effort. Donate online here at the following levels:
OR
OR
Mail in a check with our form. Click here to download the form.
CAG Georgetown University Relations Committee
Chair Cynthia Pantazis, Jennifer Altemus, Karl Bourdeau,
Roberto Coquis, Betsy Cooley, Karen Cruse, Denise Cunningham,
Michelle Galler, Richard Hinds, Jeff Jones, Seth Kirshenberg,
Brenda Moorman, Luca Pivato, Shannon Pryor
Why the “SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FUND”?
D.C. Zoning Regulations state that in allowing colleges to operate in residential zones as special exceptions
“the university shall be located so that it is not likely to become objectionable to neighboring property
because of noise, traffic, number of students, or other objectionable conditions.”
Yet our neighbors are routinely subjected to repugnant and illegal acts of some GU students; blocks are being destroyed by poorly maintained group houses rented to students because GU doesn’t provide enough housing on campus; GU may acquire additional properties and expand further into the neighborhood; traffic and parking is abysmal; and police resources are being diverted to deal with student behavior (there were more than 1,600 calls to 911 for disorderly conduct in 2009).
This has forced many residents to move out of the area or simply give up hope of sleeping at night, decorating their front yards, or living on a clean and decently kept block. The situation has reached an intolerable level. Residents have been threatened, insulted, and retaliated against in various forms: e.g., slashed tires, vandalized front yards, broken car mirrors by students who make a point of showing their contempt for their neighbors, the neighborhood and authorities.
Here are some verbatim complaints from residents:
- Last night, or I should say, early this morning, I called the police to quell the street noise. It is amazing, the kids think nothing of screaming, yelling, and carrying on in a loud manner after they have closed the bars in town. We have not had a peaceful night's sleep in ages.
- Between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm an empty beer bottle was hurled and hit our garden dining table with a glass top, shattered the glass, sent glass shard projectiles all over the surrounding immediate area.
- From approximately 12:30 am until 1am on the 1300 block of 35th St.: General loud pandemonium throughout the block with very high number of loud, intoxicated young adults. Group of students just sitting on sidewalk of 35th. Another group holding a young female up, while she was vomiting on sidewalk. Another group standing next to us hold a young male up that was barely able to speak.-Three young males beginning to take a piss on exterior of …a party house revolving doors of many dozens of kids randomly entering exiting while drunk. Officer making an open container arrest in order to try to settle down crowds behavior in front of house. Another young male was verbally abusing the MPD officer very loudly... screaming at the officer “you’re a terrible cop! My tax $ pays for you!!” etc.
- I am barely finished documenting our claims for the vandalism to our residence while we were away last September, now am facing another vandalism with a smashed glass window, the same night, Friday night, Jan 22., that pots and plants were upturned and strewn all over… the front walk.
It seems clear that residents’ rights are continually being violated. It is imperative we take a strong stand in front of the Zoning Commission to protect our rights. To do this we need your support. Please send your tax deductible contribution today.
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