Is it any surprise that one of GW’s most disgruntled neighbors, Donald Kreuzer, has now launched a $10 million lawsuit against the University? GW is building a 700-plus bed residence hall right next to his property, which consists of three townhouses at 23rd Street and Virginia Avenue; and Kreuzer wants an immediate halt on construction in addition to the large sum. The long-time Foggy Bottom resident has a framed Washington Post Magazine cover on his front yard that proclaims GW to be “The University that ate Foggy Bottom.” It is only natural to think Kreuzer would agree with his fellow Foggy Bottom residents’ wishes for GW to follow city zoning regulations that require the University to house 70 percent of its students on campus before it builds any non-residential buildings. GW is not currently in compliance, but the new Ivory Towers hall would make the University closer. Kreuzer’s demands to stop construction are in direct conflict with his fellow Foggy Bottom residents’ desire for the University to be in compliance with city regulations.

To stop the construction of this massive residence hall within city-defined campus boundaries would be in direct conflict with the stated position of the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Foggy Bottom Association. The bodies want GW to build residence halls, and only residence halls, until GW comes into compliance with the BZA order. Why would Kreuzer cross his fellow residents who share his hatred of the University and its administration? Because Kreuzer is locked in a battle of wills, more important to him than a logical solution to the housing problem.

Another problem is that Kreuzer’s lawsuit is based on the same faulty logic that got him into this whole mess. Kreuzer did not want to sell his property to GW several years ago when the University bought 14 other townhouses in the area, and that is fine. But now Kreuzer must learn to cope with the fact that his new neighbors will be 700 college students.

The Ivory Towers is going to be built and Kreuzer should focus on more realistic concerns. Maybe he can work out an agreement in which students above his property can only open their windows to a limited height, like students do at the Hall on Virginia Avenue. Either way, Kreuzer should stop his costly, punitive attacks at the University and focus on more realistic concerns for the future.