Stronghold resident Kirby Vining: "Save McMillan Park from DC Government`s destruction"

This message was posted at the Historic Washington list at Yahoogroups, moderated by Chevy Chase, DC resident Mary Rowse.

Save McMillan Park from DC Government`s destruction

Fri May 10, 2013 6:36 am (PDT) . Posted by: ``Andrea Rosen`` rosen.andrea

From: Kirby Vining, nulliparaacnestis@gmail.com

I`ve been volunteering my time for several years with the Friends of McMillan Park, a volunteer organization composed of people in the DC area who are fighting to keep the city from destroying the McMillan Reservoir Park Historic District, which is located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and First Street NW, just across North Capitol Street from our home.

In case you are unfamiliar with the site -- which is on the National Register of Historic Places -- I`m attaching a few photos.

http://historicwashington.org/docs/McMillan_ Park.pdf

We worked hard to get the site onto the National Register, which was required by the 1987 deed under which DC acquired the site from the Army Corps of Engineers, but curiously the National Register application was never made, until we pushed hard last year. As these pictures show, it`s stunningly beautiful, well-preserved and unique. I know of nothing else quite like it.

Sadly, the city is moving very quickly to replace it with a combination of large commercial buildings and townhouses. According to the District` s Historic Preservation Review Board, about 90% of the historic structures would be destroyed by the city`s plans, and the results would be something akin to ``Tyson&# 39;s Corner or Rosslyn.`` You can read many more of the details, and also see a photo of the city`s plan in the attached fact sheet.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider:

1. Signing our online petition to get the city to reject the current plan and consider alternatives that preserve the historic integrity of the site, and

2. Encouraging others to sign as well.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RG8TZH8

I`ve been told it took about 7,000 signatures to save DC`s Eastern Market from the fate planned for McMillan Park. We owe a debt of thanks to those who worked for Eastern Market`s preservation so that we could experience it today. I hope you`ll join with my neighbors and me to fight to preserve the McMillan Reservoir Park Historic District for us and future generations.

This is not a chain letter or anything of the sort. I am merely contacting persons who I trust to see that some things just should not be destroyed in the relentless rage for progress. I have Bcc`ed all friends to protect everyone` s privacy. Below I`ve attached a bit more information on the site and the city`s planned destruction of it.

Thank you!

Kirby Vining