I believe the timing of Mr. Dardeck’s Nov. 12 letter (“BZA Bias at HWC”) could not be better. I agree that restrictions imposed on the use of the Health and Wellness Center are unreasonable. These conditions were created prior to construction of the facility because the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment believed allowing membership to anyone other than students, faculty and staff would cause an “adverse traffic impact” for the neighborhood.

Mr. Dardeck will be glad to know that both the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the University are now revisiting this matter, and we are optimistic that a positive decision will be reached in the near future.

The Health and Wellness Center is a great resource. Hopefully, the University will be able to extend the benefit of membership to the entire GW family and members of our neighborhood community in the not too distant future.

-Jeff Marootian
graduate student and ANC commissioner