George Washington University just keeps on growing, and some of its Foggy Bottom neighbors aren’t happy about it.
Some of them are gearing up for a court fight to stop the school from building more dormitories as part of a massive mixed-use development on and around campus.
Community groups announced Tuesday that they would file a lawsuit to stop the D.C. Zoning Commission from approving the university’s proposed 2006-2025 campus plan, which includes more than 2 million square feet of new commercial, retail, residential and dormitory space along I Street and in Square 54, the 2.5-acre former hospital site across from the Foggy Bottom Metro station.
The university envisions a dynamic town center incorporating transit-oriented development, new student housing and ground-floor retail.
But the Foggy Bottom Association, the Federation of Citizens Associations and the Committee of 100 on the Federal City condemned the proposed campus plan as a violation of existing law, and argued it would shatter the quality of life for area residents.
“While students face staggering tuition costs and overcrowded dorms and classes, the university is instead concentrating on massive commercial real estate adventures like Square 54,” said Joy Howell, president of the Foggy Bottom Association.
The Zoning Commission is scheduled to discuss the matter during a meeting Thursday.
George Washington must hold to its existing campus plan, the groups say, which runs through 2009 and includes a cap of 20,000 students. The university, according to GW documents, has more than 24,000 students on all campuses but fewer than 20,000 in Foggy Bottom.
University spokeswoman Tracy Schario said opposition to the plan is being driven by a handful of well-funded “die-hards opposed to anything the university proposes.” The school is tuition-driven and needs an additional revenue source, she said.
“It’s change, the nature of living in the city,” she said.
Despite a historically tense relationship between the Foggy Bottom Association and GW, Schario said the university has worked openly with the community, city planners and consultants to prepare the revised campus plan.
For information:
» neighborhood.gwu.edu
» savefoggybottom.com
» Zoning Commission meeting: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, One Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth St. NW, Room 220 South
