On Sept. 9, Georgetown University and the National Park Service submitted applications requesting that a 1.09 acre parcel of land be zoned for the future site of the Georgetown University Boathouse.
The land, which is one-quarter mile from the Key Bridge and borders the Washington Canoe Club, the Capital Crescent Trail and the Potomac River, is currently owned by the U.S. Government and controlled by the National Park Service.
Under a proposed land exchange agreement, the U.S. Government would give the potential site to the University in exchange for a plot the University owns to the west, which was given to the school by the CSX Corporation and was part of a railroad right of way.
As the proposed site is located on a flood plain, the D.C. Environmental Health Administration and Watershed Protection Division will have to review the case before the land is zoned and the project receives final approval.
While it remains unclear how long this process will take, Head Crew Coach Tony Johnson remains optimistic.
“I am hopeful that we will be able to break ground next summer. The building process should take 12 to 14 months,” Johnson said.
A boathouse completed for fall 2004 appeals very much to crew team member Kaitlin Fahey (CAS ‘05), who may see its completion during her tenure at Georgetown.
“Getting the entire team separate from the chaos and cramped nature of Thompson [Boat House] will foster more of a team feeling,” Fahey said. “We will not just be another team at Thompson’s. Its completion will make the team closer and encourage more team pride. Our teams’ capabilities will skyrocket with the better facility and better location on the river.”
The crew teams currently rents space at Thompson Boathouse, which is located past the Georgetown Waterfront, close to the Watergate complex.
The majority of the funding for the boathouse has been secured through a fundraising drive supported by Georgetown parents, friends and alumni.
According to Patricia Thomas, senior associate director of athletics, the cost of the construction will not be known until sometime next year.
The University has commissioned D.C. architect Stephen Muse to design the two-storied structure, which will have five boat bays, a repair facility, team rooms and a locker room.
The boathouse will also boast Washington’s only rowing tank, which will enable the teams to practice in inclement weather. The tank may be rented out to other area crew teams and will provide a source of revenue for the University.
“The new boat house will be a giant step forward for the rowing program at Georgetown,” said Justine Landegger (CAS ‘04), captain of the women’s crew team.
“I look forward to coming back and seeing the progress of our crews due to the new benefits this boathouse will bring. The rowing tank will be especially appreciated, as it will enable our teams to put in more useful practice time, as a welcome alternative to the rowing machine,” Landegger said.
