Boathouse Project Moves Forward
The longest running on-again, off-again project in Georgetown history is back on again, following an announcement Tuesday to move forward on plans for a University boathouse.
The project, which dates to 1987, has for most of the past 30 years been caught in a bureaucratic web of the National Park Service, which controls the Potomac River shore. Various efforts for Georgetown to acquire space for a boathouse by trading land to the Park Service which it owned upriver have been offered since at least 1995 but was marooned in feasibility studies, environmental impact studies, and third party litigation before any such agreement could be settled. Tuesday's announcement is the most significant move of its kind over the past 38 years."Under the terms of the agreement, Georgetown will donate a parcel of land on the Potomac River to the National Park Service to be added to the boundary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park," reads a press release. "This parcel includes an easement along the Capital Crescent Trail, which would be extinguished when the land is donated. This will allow for uninterrupted use of the trail by the public. In turn, the National Park Service will transfer administrative jurisdiction of two parcels at the base of the Key Bridge to the District for boathouse development. The District will transfer the site to the west of the bridge to Georgetown University for construction of a University boathouse."
The men's crew team was first founded in 1876, but lacking a boathouse, it eventually ceased operations after 1909, returning in 1958. A women's crew was founded in 1978.
The land in question is the present site of Key Bridge Boats, a canoe rental business located between the northwestern corner of the Key Bridge and the abutment of the former Aqueduct Bridge, built in 1843.
"Georgetown University will provide year-round public access to the docks of its boathouse, allowing community members access to the Potomac River for kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing, as well as programming to expand access to the sport of rowing among the DC community. This boathouse will also serve as a hub for both the men's and women's Georgetown Rowing teams. The space that the teams currently occupy at Thompson's Boathouse will be freed up for use by other DC-area high school and collegiate teams."
Numerous steps still await a project that has stood on the precipice of progress before, including ANC approval, Commission of Fine Arts and Old Georgetown Board architectural review, DC City Council approval, and any other legal challenges, as was the case in the past. The support of the DC Mayor's office is a welcome sign.
"It will be a tremendous boost to the program and add meaning to the whole experience of rowing at Georgetown," said former crew coach Tony Johnson. "We are grateful and happy."
NCAA Settlement Approved: Now What?
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken signed off on the settlement in the landmark House v. NCAA case late Friday evening, formalizing a revenue sharing model for major college athletics. Where it goes from here is anyone's guess.
A number of college athletic officials posted messages to its fan bases over the weekend:— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) June 7, 2025
It's a new day in college athletics.https://t.co/0MLEGkdVav pic.twitter.com/Rnb1xxzqnD
— The ACC (@theACC) June 7, 2025
One source you haven't heard from is Georgetown University. Its last correspondence on the matter was April 17, which announced the sunsetting of the Hoyas Rising collective in anticipation of the settlement. One Big East athletic department has commented publicly, however.
"This case marks a transformative moment in college athletics, with far-reaching implications for every NCAA Division I institution," wrote DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy following the settlement. "This is a milestone in reshaping our collegiate sports landscape, and at DePaul we are fully committed to navigating these changes in a way that positions us for long-term success."
The letter acknowledged spending cuts coming to the department, which is the smallest by participation in the Big East with just 232 student athletes. "It required difficult decisions, including operational reductions and identifying new revenue streams," he said.
In what the letter called a focus on "balancing operational efficiency with fan affordability," Peevy announced the introduction of per-seat contributions for DePaul season tickets. The Blue Demons averaged 4,225 per game last season.
