They fight for their right to party Tom Smith

Young hoyas buy Georgetown townhouse, form their own “religion”, evade zoning laws, and really annoy their wealthy neighbors with the many big parties that ensue. Is partying a religion?

There is no definition of “a religious community” in cityregulations, said Karyn-Siobhan Robinson, spokeswoman for theDepartment of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which interprets andenforces the city’s zoning rules. Agency officials visited the3,600-square-foot, five-bedroom home in September and issued a warningabout crowding after neighbors complained.

But because of theApostles’ filing, she said, the agency is looking at the case anew.Among the things the city can consider is the IRS definition of areligious organization: “one whose principle purpose is the study oradvancement of religion.”

Meanwhile, many neighbors living in thelarge, attached rowhouses are livid at the notion of landlords usingthe idea to pack homes with up to 15 high-paying students. Concernsabout safety in off-campus homes increased after a 2004 fire killed aGeorgetown student and news reports revealed that many houses wereunsafe and had landlords without the required basic business license.

“Thisshameless proposal makes a mockery of the Zoning Ordinance (not tomention religion) and could have potentially devastating effect on thequality of life in our neighborhood,” Georgetown architect OuterbridgeHorsey wrote in an e-mail to the Citizens Association of Georgetown.

I am the only sib in my family who is not a Georgetown Hoya or perhaps demi-Hoya, though I have watched The Exorcist many times.  But my real question is, is there really a guy named Outerbridge Horsey?  Indeed there is, and it is an old American name.  With a name like that, he’s got to be good.