Soldiers Home update 2/6

[from Reyn A.]

HPRB critical of AFRH plans; supports preservation & park

This past week, the Historic Preservation Review Board re-opened the floor for the public comments on the AFRH Master Plan. Several individuals and organizations, including Washington Central Parks, spoke passionately and articulately on the concept of park on zones B & C.

In general, the board members' comments were unanimous:
- They feel strongly that the AFRH must clearly delineate the specific financial need to justify placing 4.6M square feet (roughly the size of the Pentagon) in upper NW DC.
- They need to carefully describe the uses of buildings (current and proposed) and show how they help the AFRH reach its financial goals.
- They are looking for clearer design concepts that specifically address views into and out of the Home.
- And very importantly - they want to see as much open space as possible preserved.
- They want to preserve the historic value of the AFRH campus and in particular the historic legacy of Lincoln's cottage and its surrounding landscape and views.
- To that end, all of the board members emphasized the importance that Zones C (and B) remain open space, if at all possible. (!!!!)

The HPRB's support for saving zones C and B from development came through loud and clear! WCP could not have hoped for a better outcome of the hearing. We encourage everyone to become active in advocacy for a park. The "showdown" meeting is coming up in April, when the Home will come before the National Capital Planning Commission, who has final approval authority for the Master Plan for the Home. Please mark your calendars for that month and we will be updating the listserves with logistics. Remember, north-central Washington has the smallest per-capita park space of any area in DC and we have a clear opportunity to change that!

Comments

[Reyn]

Belatedly reading these comments. Re: Lincoln fan, in fact there is a lot of construction proposed for the "core campus," including one building very near the Lincoln Cottage. The National Trust is objecting, so far to no avail. Re: golf course, at least a couple holes will be modified, with on "playing back" (??) on another (sorry, not a golf player, so I don't know what that means.

[Don]

Looks like the golf course will be modified. Any details?

[Ed]

Lincoln, I don't think any major changes are in store for the sections you asked about.

[Lincoln Fan]

Thank you so much for the update. What is planned thus far for the northern area of the AFRH? I.e, the part on the map labeled "north north-east, other area, and chapel woods?

Thanks!