Boathouse Project Update
NOVEMBER 24, 2004
Dear Georgetown Crew Alumni, Parents, and Friends:
We are pleased to provide an update on the development of Georgetown University’s Boathouse. Georgetown is proceeding through the public approval process with several issues still outstanding. Some local opposition to the use of the site by a vocal minority continues, resulting in various approvals and reviews being slowed down.
Construction documents are 90% complete. Georgetown is waiting for the public approvals to catch up to the design and is prepared to modify the design as appropriate.
Project Design
- Discovery of a survey error in the height of the C&O Towpath will require a revision of the schematic drawings to lower the maximum height of the Boat House from 45 feet to 40 feet. These new drawings are currently under review by the project team. The recent re-survey of the boathouse site indicates that all other measurements are accurate.
Public Approvals
- Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E (ANC) unanimously approved the project four times: October 1995 for land transfer, September 2001 for design review, October 2001 for design, and June 2003 for zoning.
- The Georgetown Waterfront Park Commission has repeatedly endorsed the boathouse zone and our project.
- The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Old Georgetown Board (OGB) enthusiastically approved the concept design in October 2001.
- National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approved the project in October 2003.
- Georgetown received unanimous zoning approval from The District of Columbia’s Zoning Commission (ZC) effective April 2004.
Current Issues
- In May 2004, the Washington Canoe Club and others filed suit with the D.C. Court of Appeals against the ZC to over turn the favorable decision for the boathouse. The opposition just filed their brief on November 8. The ZC and Georgetown have 60 days to respond.
- Environmental Reviews are an ongoing process. In March 2004, Georgetown submitted an Environmental Impact Screening Form (EISF) to the D.C. Regulatory Agency (DCRA). The purpose of the EISF is to determine if the project would result in significant adverse environmental impacts during construction or operation. The D.C. Department of Health has requested Georgetown to perform additional tests. On account of the project’s opponents having raised environmental concerns, Georgetown is taking a proactive approach and is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the project. The University’s proactive approach in completing the EA, which is about a 6-8 month process, will facilitate the review process, legal appeals, and enhances the National Park Service's (NPS) continued support.
- The NPS issued a press release on October 14, 2004 announcing Georgetown is preparing an Environmental Assessment (see enclosed). The National Park Service was pleased with Georgetown’s commencement of an EA and wanted to let the public know of this decision.
- In late October 2004, the C&O Canal Association and Washington Canoe Club filed suit with the District Court against the National Park Service. Hopefully, the issues raised in the suits will be answered by the EA process.
- The first meeting with the consultant who will perform the EA took place on Nov. 11, 2004.
- Georgetown is pursuing a significant number of strategic opportunities in addressing the legal actions and the practical resolution of the disagreements.
The Future
- The timeline of the Boathouse groundbreaking, based on these issues, could be delayed 6-11 months. Much of the timeline is dependent upon the resolution of these items, the completion of the EA, and whether as a result of the decisions reached in the EA process, a significant redesign of the facility would be necessary.
- Despite the problems Georgetown has encountered, the University remains committed to providing a Boathouse that will meet the programmatic needs of the students and address many of the rowing community’s needs. This commitment to this project is as strong as ever from the president’s office, athletic department, and the boathouse steering committee.
Gift Commitments
If you have not made a gift to the project yet, please contact Dave Sears at (202) 687-2394 or searsd@georgetown.edu or Jen Montgomery at (202) 687-6308 or jms36@georgetown.edu in the Athletic Development office. A number of naming opportunities still exist as we move closer to our goals of $14M and 1,000 donors.
Thank you for your continued support of the University, its crew program and the Boathouse project.
Sincerely,
Fred Pennekamp, F’70 Michael Vespoli, B’68
Co-Chair, Boathouse Committee Co-Chair, Boathouse Committee
Drew Schreiber, F’86 Adam Brick, B’86, L’90
Acting GRA President Interim Athletic Director
