March 15, 2005

University, City Officials Come to the Aid of St. Mary’s Court

The George Washington University and city officials came to the aid of the residents St. Mary’s Court, March 1, after a fire damaged the 24th Street facility. The fire, which started at approximately 11:15 am in a fifth floor unit, rapidly spread through the apartment, filling the nearby corridors with smoke. DC fire and police units responded and the building was quickly evacuated.

Some 60 residents were transported via DC Metro bus to the Marvin Center, where they spent the afternoon and were served lunch and dinner in the Continental Ballroom while arrangements were made for 10 to stay in temporary accommodations in GW’s City Hall residence hall.

Beatrice Watson, executive director of St. Mary’s, determined which residents could not return to their apartments. Ten residents stayed in City Hall through March 9. The University’s guests received breakfast and lunch during their stay, and were bussed to St. Mary’s Court for dinner.

Staff members from Iona Senior Services, the Red Cross, as well as a personal representative of the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, and representatives of the DC Department of Human Services and the DC Department of Health were on the scene. President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg joined Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Robert Chernak, University Police Chief Dolores Stafford, Director of District of Columbia and Foggy Bottom/West End Affairs Michael Akin, representatives of the EMS group, and other University staff members at the incident. In response to a call to the Student Association office, student volunteers came in numbers.

“We’ve always considered St. Mary’s Court residents seniors of GW and part of the GW community,” President Trachtenberg said in a press statement. “We are pleased to provide support in their time of need. I’m proud of GW’s response and display of community service.”

As of March 4, the apartment doors the firemen had to break down in putting out the fire have been replaced. The areas damaged by water and smoke are being repaired and life is slowly returning to normal at the court.

A residence for senior citizens, St. Mary’s Court receives funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and support from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Last year, the court celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu