Despite Recent Improvements by University, Neighbors Remain Steadfast Against Campus Plan

As the sixth and final hearing on the Georgetown University Campus plan draws nearer, neighborhood associations continue to object to the proposed 2010-2020 plan for growth at GU. 

Since the school year began, the University and is running a new shuttle to take students to and from the M Street entertainment district. GU is also paying for additional police presence in the surrounding community. These measures are aimed at addressing quality of life concerns raised by neighbors during the campus plan hearings.

During a the Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting Monday, Lenore Rubino, the president of the Burleith Citizens Association, to remain strong in his support for neighbors.

They mayor had expressed an optimism that GU and citizens groups would find common ground.

"Based on information that I have, it looks like there has been some positive movement and hopefully we’ll continue in that direction," said the mayor.

Wednesday evening, neighborhood groups sent a release to media outlets asserting their continuing concerns with the university's proposal.

Full Text of the Statement from Lenore Rubino, President, Burleith Citizens Association, and Jennifer Altemus, President, Citizens Association of Georgetown:

GU’s 2011-12 Fall Semester is in full swing. The students returned to campus at the end of August and the University began implementing its proposed mitigations for the adverse impacts students living off campus have on the community. The University has instituted twice-daily trash pickups in the neighborhoods, an expanded MPD reimbursable detail and bus shuttles to and from M Street bars. 

Unfortunately, as we have witnessed this month, these limited initiatives do not address the most important issue: student housing. In the past ten years, GU has built one dorm in 2003 for 780 students, but has also increased student undergraduate and graduate enrollment by close to 3,700 from 2000 to 2010.  According to the ANC Presentation to the Zoning Commission, approximately 2800 GU students live off campus in zip code 20007. Transient student rentals now make up close to 35% of Burleith residences alone. 

Despite GU band-aid fixes in place, this September has just reinforced the strong case presented by the Burleith Citizens Association, the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E regarding the negative impact of increases in GU enrollment on surrounding neighborhoods.  Housing GU undergraduate students on campus or in satellite locations is the only solution to the problems of noise, traffic, and deteriorating houses that plague our communities. 

On November 17, 2011, the DC Zoning Commission (ZC) will hold a sixth hearing on GU’s Ten-Year Campus Plan. The ZC scheduled this hearing to allow the University a third opportunity to submit a plan that the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) could properly review and in turn discuss on November 17. We look forward to the completion of these sessions and to a Zoning Commission decision that will ensure livable neighborhoods for now and for the future. 

Residents, leaders of community organizations, Mayor Vincent Gray, and Councilmembers Jack Evans, Mary Cheh and Phil Mendelson have asked the Zoning Commission to require GU to commit to a responsible Ten-Year Campus Plan that houses undergraduate students on campus. In a September 28 editorial, The Current Newspaper endorsed our cause, suggesting GU house 95% of its students and give relief to the surrounding communities.  This is in line with the Office of Planning’s recommendation that GU house 100% of its students. 

We agree. 

Lenore Rubino, President, Burleith Citizens Association Jennifer Altemus, President, Citizens Association of Georgetown