Zoning Exemption For Religious Groups Converts 'Apostles' of Animal House

In Georgetown, a student party house seeks recognition as a religious organization to get around zoning restrictions.

1 minute read

November 13, 2006, 8:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


When your dad can shell out $2.4 million for your student housing, and you've been admitted to a selective university, you're not going to let a zoning regulation cramp your style. In a leafy residental area of Georgetown, where no more than six unrelated people are allowed to share a home, neighbors vow a legal challenge if nine college students are granted religious status as the "Apostles of Peace and Unity."

Recognition as a religious group would allow the students to house as many as 15 people. "William Skelsey, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Georgetown who says he has 1,000 students in his district, said [the owner's son] told him explicitly that the Apostles were formed to deal with the zoning restrictions and keep together a group of friends who have lived together since freshman year."

Thanks to CollegeTownLife

Saturday, November 11, 2006 in The Washington Post

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A construction crew working on SunZia.

How a Chicago-sized wind farm beat the odds and powered on

The project spanned five presidential administrations and a standoff with a U.S. military base.

45 minutes ago - Grist

A rendering of the basketball court, a green court under a blue sky.

MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court

The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.

1 hour ago - Gothamist

A crowd of people bathed in pink light in front of a stage.

Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds

A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.

2 hours ago - Block Club Chicago