For Georgetown "Apostles," A Rowhouse Rebellion

[MountainLaurel]

Nasty, little cheatin' rich fuckers.

They live on quiet 35th Street NW, in a stately section of Georgetown, where Brian O'Neill Jr., 20, and his roommates moved in August and promptly held pool parties so loud the university and police were called.

This is where your classic town-gown dispute gets weird. The $2.4 million house that J. Brian O'Neill Sr. bought for his son is allowed only six unrelated residents under zoning laws. But if it's a residence for a "religious community," the number jumps to 15.

The solution? The Apostles of O'Neill. That's the name the young men used Oct. 2 when they filed paperwork to incorporate as a nonprofit religious organization. In an e-mail statement, the group says that it has donated to charities and that its mission is "to be active and positive members of our community."

The neighbors call it blasphemy and a possible precedent-setting threat to property values. It has impressed some of the young men's parents, including one who called it "ingenious" and another who said they were defending American property rights in the face of fuddy-duddy Georgetowners. And it has registered little reaction from the Catholic university, which says it doesn't consider the Apostles its business.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/10/AR2006111001978.html

[Skinner]

1. They sound like a bunch of spoiled rich kids...

...who think they can do whatever they want. The religious group thing is obviously fake. I think the city should enforce its laws and give them the boot.

[Bukowski Fan]

2. eh...

Just one group of rich people fighting another group of rich people. I call it a wash. Still doesn't make it easier to catch a cab to NE on saturday nights.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. The dispute went to the city zoning administrator some time ago, and

the "Apostles of O'Neill" lost.

'Apostles' Ordered to Abide by Zoning Laws

By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 23, 2006; Page B04

As much of Washington started to shut down for the Thanksgiving holiday yesterday afternoon, Brian O'Neill Jr., a Georgetown University undergrad and founder of the Apostles of Peace and Unity, sat outside the office of the city zoning administrator, angry.
....

The day before, at 6:24 p.m., O'Neill had been served an official order "to cease and desist from the illegal use of premises" -- the premises being 1617 35th Street NW, a stately house in Georgetown in an elegant neighborhood where zoning rules allow only six unrelated people to live together.
....

On Tuesday, D.C. Zoning Administrator Bill Crews weighed in: The group, he wrote, fits the definition of a fraternity house, which in Georgetown requires a zoning variance and additional designated parking spots.
....

Last night, neighbors of the $2.4 million house that O'Neill's father bought were more relieved that the city had ruled against the Apostles than interested in theological nuances. They said that police were called to the house as recently as Nov. 11 for noise complaints, and the students were fined $300. O'Neill paid the fine a few days later.
....