In a continuing wave of housing inspections, two more basement apartments were closed this week by building inspectors, while a building housing several George Washington University students was closed Tuesday, according District of Columbia Department of Consumer Affairs and Regulations and University Officials.
Students, the University and the D.C. government are still coping with the fallout from a fatal fire Oct. 18 that raised concerns for students who rent and live in homes off-campus.
Three of nine units closed in the first round of inspections following the fire have been reopened early this week, allowing 28 students to return to their homes.
Of the remaining 25 displaced students, 12 are living with friends on- and off-campus, seven will be staying in residence halls for free until the end of the semester and six have found new off-campus housing, according to University Director of Media Relations Laura Cavender.
The building that was home to students from George Washington University, 1016 22nd Street, was closed after a neighbor asked DCRA to inspect the residence. Inspectors discovered the house had only one exit, according to DCRA Spokesperson Gwen Davis.
Six GW students lived in the house, as well as two former students, according to GW Director of Media Relations Tracy Schiaro. Schiaro said that the University was working to assist students who have been effected by the closure and to support students who have landlord or safety issues. However, there would be no major changes in GW’s approach to off-campus housing.
“We’re always making sure that our policies fit the need, but there are no imminent changes on the horizon,” Schiaro said.
At Georgetown, off-campus students have been inconvenienced by the apartment closings, but most agree that the University reacted effectively.
“This is my bottom line: However unpleasant it was in the moment, it was necessary to improve safety off-campus,” Phil Beer (SFS ‘05), a member of the Foreign Service Fraternity Delta Psi Epsilon, said. The fraternity’s house at 3301 Prospect St. was closed by DCRA inspectors because it lacked sufficient smoke detectors and reopened on Monday after fire-code violations were remedied.
“In the middle of midterms, it’s never fun to have to move out of your housing,” Beer said. “It would have been impossible if Georgetown hadn’t helped us,” Beer said.
In response to the events, the Georgetown University Student Association passed a unanimous resolution commending the University’s response and calling on administrators to ensure that all landlords listed on the online off-campus have their basic business licenses, a legal requirement for landlords. The license would include a building inspection.
“They were hoping to go down this path anyways,” GUSA spokesperson Andy Asensio (CAS ‘06) said. “We want to tell them that this important to students and we can’t let this slip through the cracks.”
The fire and the surrounding media attention have increased the volume of inspection requests at the DCRA. Applications for the basic business license have also grown, according to Davis.
“I think that people realize that, if they feel they’re in danger, they can feel free to call in and have us come out and inspect,” Davis said. “This week we have received 12 applications. There are a lot of people who didn’t have them because it’s difficult to police, but they are coming forward to get their business licenses.”
The DCRA is performing about five building inspections a day and has received over 30 requests since Monday, with more arriving daily.
