D.C.'s proposed McMillan redevelopment winning over planners
Michael Neibauer, Staff Reporter- Washington Business Journal
Oct 28, 2013, 5:46pm EDT
The
team behind D.C.`s 25-acre McMillan redevelopment is finally winning over the
District`s Historic Preservation Office.
``For
the first time, it looks like a destination you would want to seek out to
experience its distinct sense of place; one that includes equally interesting
historic and new features balanced and blended compatibly together,`` HPO staff
wrote of the latest plan from Vision McMillan Partners, in advance of the
Historic Preservation Review Board`s Oct. 31 meeting.
The
proposed McMillan redevelopment includes a community center and park, the
resurrection of the looping Olmstead Walk, 161 rowhouses from EYA, a grocery
store-anchored mixed-use building from Jair Lynch Development Partners and two
medical office buildings from Trammell Crow Co. The decommissioned water
treatment plant, bounded by Michigan Avenue, North Capitol, Channing and First
Streets, was designated a historic landmark in the early 1990s.
The
design revisions are a ``significant improvement over previous versions and now
retains the significant above-grade topographical, architectural and
engineering features that were identified by the Board as the most important,``
staff wrote in the report.
Those
would include sand bins, regulator houses, sand washers, some service court
walls and two below-grade cells that will be retained and reused in the new
development. The revised master plan, staff writes, ``would retain significant
character-defining features of the landmark sufficient to convey its historic
character.``
More
good news for Vision McMillan from the report:. The revised development plan
concept is ``dramatically improved, reflecting the high level of quality,
cohesiveness and distinctiveness that have been sought by the Board`` and
represent an ``architecturally cohesive, high-quality and site specific series
of projects that relate to the character of the landmark.``
Opponents
of the McMillan project, of which there are many, will no doubt disagree.
3 comments:
This report was produced by a single reviewer...Steve Callicot. How does that represent the entire HPRB?
Steve's report is technically correct...it does respond technically to all of the HPRB's comments...unfortunately it does so in the least creative, least distinctive and most creatively sterile way that could ever be imagined. God, just read it...it shows the calibre of the depth of creativity that this city has. One is more inclined just believe that the entire thing has been rigged....in very sophisticated way....from VMP...who have a whole bevy of jet set developers on board. Gawd, there is no way anyone with any objective eye can call this design either remotely inspiring or distinctive or reflective of anything other than their absolute willingness to shove this thing down our throats. The city is totally in bed with these guys and it's sickening to see it in such a ribald fashion.
No, no, sanitorium chic is all the rage for 2013!
As one community member said, the design "Looks like Brutalism collided with a Chipotle." If we could just get some concrete playground equipment near the on-ramps to the Olmstead Walk...as one of the young professionals who is planning to start a family in Bloomingdale, I think green space and good design are highly overrated.
Steve Calcott of the Preservation Review Board (steve.callcott@dc.gov) agrees!
For what it's worth, Mr. Neibauer wrote a previous article in support of the VMP plan in which he glossed over the other side of the matter entirely (see http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/10/mcmillan-designs-refined-ahead-of.html). For example, in this current article he has chosen to gloss over the fact that HPO also recommends that the HPRB "find that the proposal will result in substantial demolition, as defined in the preservation regulations, and therefore inconsistent with the purposes of the Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act."
It should also be clarified that Steve Calcott is a government employee with the Historic Preservation Office and filed these recommendations. The Historic Preservation Review Board in comprised of volunteers and their opinions are not represented by Mr. Calcott or HPO.
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