The cash windfall has made the Foggy Bottom Association's slingshot and stones much larger: The group hired the law firm of Bode & Grenier to represent it in legal proceedings. In addition, the group has signed up MR Strategic Services, a consulting firm, to coordinate a public relations campaign to bolster its crusade to limit development. Those efforts included Tuesday's news conference, where representatives of the D.C. Federation of Citizens Associations and the Committee of 100 on the Federal City joined the Foggy Bottom residents.

Even with additional resources at their disposal, Foggy Bottom Association members expect an uphill battle. Last week, the head of the Office of Planning (OP) wrote a letter endorsing the university's request to have the zoning commission proceed with hearings on the new campus plan. "OP has spent more than a year working with GWU and the surrounding community on the specifics of this plan," wrote planning chief Ellen McCarthy.