9,000 pages of comments slam Trump White House ballroom plan
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Architect Shalom Baranes shows drawings of the $400 million ballroom project at NCPC's January meeting. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The National Capital Planning Commission has released over 9,000 pages of public comments denouncing President Trump's ballroom project, ahead of a meeting on Thursday when the public is expected to again sound off.
Why it matters: The East Wing's demolition roiled D.C. and raised existential questions about the future of the White House, in the face of Trump's relentless drive to leave his imprint on Washington.
Zoom in: Public comments run the gamut from "complete DISASTER," to outrage over the 90,000-square-foot addition overshadowing the White House, to one woman imploring the commission, "NO GAUDY FAKE GOLD STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE."
- The mailbox includes concerns of logistical nightmares, down to the sets of china and extra kitchen facilities required of hosting hundreds more people than White House dinners of yore. "No one wants to be in an adjunct building in a large crowd with lengthened security protocols," wrote in Susan Dolibois, a Nixon-era East Wing staffer.
- In his 30 years serving on the NCPC — a front-row-seat to the transformation of Washington's neighborhoods and landmarks — has former D.C. Council member Arrington Dixon ever seen such a crush of public comment? "Not at all," he tells Axios, estimating over 32,000 submissions.
Architects across the country wrote in — from Missouri, Charles Luebke called it an "eyesore"; the fast-track process is "appalling," added Donald Horn, Omaha; for Ron Nestor, of Irvine, California, it's an "abomination."
- "Constructing a ballroom is possible," wrote Alison Hoagland, a D.C. preservationist, "but it should be deferential to the White House, not overwhelming."
A Republican Congressman, Michael Turner of Ohio, expressed "substantial concerns" about the demolition in an October letter that just became public in the NCPC submissions:
- "The stark images of the East Wing demolished in mere days were deeply disturbing to Americans who cherish preservation of our nation's history," Turner wrote.
- Reaching for bipartisanship, one member of the public called the demolition a "disgrace," and wants the NCPC to know: "I have been a Republican, Democrat and Independent."
There were barely any supportive missives, but some offered technical advice, like an arts center asking for the installation of ADA-compliant assistive listening systems.
What we're watching: The NCPC has project authority to fuss over everything from tree placement to light-bulb lumens. A staff report advises architect Shalom Baranes to continue refining the design to be "architecturally deferential" to the executive mansion, though it currently stands to be the same height.
- Many expect the NCPC to go the way of another Trump-stacked panel, the Commission on Fine Arts, which suddenly signed off on the design last month.
- Thursday's meeting is expected to be contentious, with about a hundred people registered to testify virtually.
- Some will take aim at the NCPC itself, which is chaired by Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary and Trump's former personal lawyer. "You are complicit in the destruction of a national monument," per one person's prepared testimony.
What's ahead: The commission could take more testimony after the meeting, before a final vote at its April meeting, Dixon told Axios.
Zoom out: On Monday, shortly after beginning a Medal of Honor ceremony, Trump basked in the sounds of a jackhammer outside the White House and declared, "It's going to be the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world."
- A boast one commenter couldn't disagree with further: "Too large, gauche, Russian like, out of proportion to our beautiful historic White House."