Kennedy Center Board Threatens Demolition Over Renovation and Naming Dispute
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The Kennedy Center board warned that without approval for a $250 million renovation and the addition of President Trump’s name, the venue could be deemed unsafe and face demolition, prompting a federal lawsuit.
The board of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts filed a court document stating that the complex may have to be demolished if its two-year, $250 million renovation and plans to add former President Donald J. Trump’s name are not approved. The filing argues that without the work, the building could become unsafe and require removal, with proposals for a new outdoor amphitheater on the site.
The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department’s civil division, seeks to block a congressional challenge brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty, who asked a district judge to halt the naming proposal. Beatty’s motion describes the board’s timeline for the name change as “arbitrary” and characterizes the board’s actions as an “unnecessary fire drill.”
Board minutes released with the filing show that renovation guidance was provided by Darin Buchalter, CEO of Delta Consulting Group, and that construction firm JLL is also involved. The board’s plan, approved in August, would place Trump’s name on the entryway sign and rename the grounds “President Donald J. Trump Plaza,” with additional wording contingent on a $100 million fundraising goal.
A Kennedy Center spokesperson said the language in the filing describes a hypothetical scenario if the renovation is blocked by partisan interests. In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled that the board’s earlier decision to rename the institution was unlawful because only Congress can change the center’s name.
The hearing on the board’s proposal is scheduled for Thursday, and the outcome will determine whether the renovation proceeds or the center faces potential demolition.