National Park Service warns Trump arch could harm historic DC monuments
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A National Park Service planning memo says a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in downtown Washington could cause adverse effects to nearby historic sites, though the administration plans to proceed.
The National Park Service (NPS) has warned that a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in downtown Washington could create adverse effects on historic properties, including views linking Arlington House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial. The agency’s planning document, obtained by the Washington Post, states that “such adverse effects cannot be fully avoided while retaining the location-dependent purpose of the undertaking.”
The memo outlines that construction may require supplemental planning and programming to protect the historic landscape, and lists roughly 37 nearby sites that could be impacted, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. Mitigation measures proposed include installing vibration plates near sensitive structures, limiting noise and lighting, restricting work hours, and developing digital programs to illustrate the historic relationships among the monuments.
Veterans, preservationists and some members of Congress have raised concerns, and a veterans’ lawsuit filed in September seeks to halt the project. Nonetheless, the Trump administration says it will move forward, citing approval from the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts and preliminary clearance from the National Capital Planning Commission. Local preservation officers could withhold their signatures, which would trigger a review by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, but the administration is not required to obtain that consent to proceed.