June 6, 2007
Dear Coalition Friends:
The DC Preservation League has named Historic Washington Vistas, including the view of the National Mall from the west porch of the U.S. Capitol, to its Most Endangered Places for 2007. See the nomination below and read the full list here .
The threat to the historic L'Enfant Plan and vistas was also the topic of a Close to Home letter in last Sunday's Washington Post by Thomas Luebke, Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. His letter (unfortunately unavailable on the Post's website) describes the high-rise project planned for Rosslyn across the Potomac River that would be the tallest buildings in the Washington area; the closing to the public of access to the spectacular views from St. Elizabeths Hospital campus so that highly fortified offices of Homeland Security can be located there; and the proposal (revived yet again) to raise building height limits as established under the 1910 Height Act, which has protected Washington's characteristic low skyline.
Security and "economic development" represent two serious, ongoing challenges to Washington's and the National Mall's historic plan, vistas, and symbolism.
Historic Washington Vistas
As represented by "The Point" at St. Elizabeths Hospital and the west porch of the United States Capitol.
Nominated By: The DC Preservation League Board of Trustees and the Committee of 100 on the Federal City
In 1971, Pierre L'Enfant completed his plan for the city of Washington, DC, taking into consideration not only the streets and avenues radiating from the nation's capital, but the open space and vistas that contribute to the planned, baroque design for the city. This plan, listed on the DC Inventory of Historic
Sites and the National Register of Historic Places, did not foresee the 21st century's call for security barriers.
The view from the west porch of the United States Capitol overlooking the "Grand Avenue" of the National Mall and beyond to the Potomac River and Arlington National Cemetery was once open to visitors. Today, extreme security measures cut off public access to this remarkable view, ignoring the needs of the city's residents and impeding visitors to the nation's capital. These measures have yet to be adequately explained or justified in a public forum. Centuries of careful urban planning that created a city symbolic of openness, freedom, and democracy have been overturned by spontaneous, ill planned measures.
On a high plateau in SE Washington is "The Point" overlooking the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, with what is arguably the preeminent panoramic view of the capital city and northern Virginia. "The Point" is part of the 179 acre east campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital which is currently proposed as the headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security. This National Historic Landmark would remain closed to the public behind a double security barrier with limited or no access to "The Point".
DCPL and other preservation organizations have been adamant that 6.3 million square feet of new development on the site would destroy the historic significance of the campus, and residents in the Congress Heights community have been steadfast in their desire to keep "The Point" for public use. Although the GSA has proposed a viewing platform 50 feet below the actual plateau, outside the security perimeter, it was said best by a Section 106 consulting party, "So this will take an A+ view and take it to what - a C-?" It was also proposed to GSA that they study running the security barrier in front of the historic Center Building and leave access to "The Point" for residents. The security consultants for the project said that because of "line of sight" issues and the need for a helicopter landing site that would also not be a possibility. "In the interest of national security," no further elaboration was given.
DCPL will continue to advocate for these historic vistas and encourage Congress to no longer deny access to citizens for security reasons or a need for a helicopter landing pad for the Department of Homeland Security.
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