Friends of McMillan Park press release: "DC Court of Appeals not ruled on the McMillan Park court case, but Mayor to hold groundbreaking ceremony anyway"

From: Erin Fairbanks
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2016 11:26 AM
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: D.C. Court of Appeals Has Not Ruled On the McMillan Park Court Case, But Mayor to Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony Anyway

Friends of McMillan Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, December 5, 2016

CONTACT: Linwood Norman 804-837-0737 

D.C. Court of Appeals Has Not Ruled On the McMillan Park Court Case, But Mayor to Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony Anyway

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to break ground on the City’s proposed development at McMillan Park on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, even though the D.C. Court of Appeals has not ruled on zoning and preservation concerns raised in a pending court case.

The Friends of McMillan Park, the lead plaintiff in that case, stated that Mayor Bowser’s ceremony is premature because the Court may rule against the city. Also premature are permits related to construction for the project that have been applied for, using the unusual address of 2940 North Capitol Street, NW. So far, no permits have been issued for any construction activity there.

“Once again, the Mayor is not telling the whole story. While we all anxiously await the D.C. Court of Appeals’ decision, these actions confuse the public into thinking that demolition and construction will be starting right away. Not so.  This is wishful thinking on the part of the city,” said Kirby Vining, a director of The Friends of McMillan Park.

Citing the need for open competition, the D.C. Auditor urged the D.C. Council in 2015 to competitively rebid the entire McMillan project in this scathing letter to the D.C. Council Chairman. In addition, more than 8,000 D.C. residents signed a petition
calling for the D.C. Council to respect McMillan Park by looking at alternatives that would be more in keeping with community desires and the historic character of it.

The 25-acre park, located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and North Capitol Street in Northwest Washington, is listed on the District’s Inventory of Historic Sites and on the National Register of Historic Places. The City acquired the open park from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1986 after the water purification facility hidden beneath the park was decommissioned.

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