Washington, D.C.’s regional planning board approved President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom on April 2, completing a controversial process amid a court-ordered halt to construction on the $400 million project.
The 12-member National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which is responsible for approving construction on federal property in the Washington region, approved the plan by a near-unanimous vote after minor changes recommended by staff to the design initially considered in March. NCPC’s Trump-appointed chairman, Will Scharf, justified proceeding with the vote to move the plan forward, saying the March 31 court order does not extend to the project’s review process.
Scharf, who also serves as White House staff secretary, was one of three NCPC members appointed by Trump to join five other commissioners in approving the plan, despite overwhelmingly negative response among more than 35,000 comments submitted by the general public, historic preservation and design professionals. Scharf, in his prepared remarks, says the opposition was more anti-Trump than anti-ballroom, and that in time, “this ballroom will be considered as much a national treasure as the other key components of the White House.”
The only dissenting vote came from D.C. Council President Phil Mendelson, who criticized both the speed of the commission’s review process and the size of the proposed 90,000-square-foot addition, noting that additional landscaping would be insufficient to soften views of the White House from the south.
“It’s too big,” Mendelson said.
Design changes from the original March filing included the removal of a grand staircase on the south side of the addition, the addition of an uncovered porch on the southwest side and other exterior refinements.
Even with the NCPC’s approval, the ballroom’s future remains clouded by the court order, which prohibits construction on the ground unrelated to safety. The images released appear to show significant ground disturbance and steel foundation structures in place. The White House has announced plans to appeal the court order, which says only Congress can approve changes to the property. Opinions on the bill on Capitol Hill were mixed, with no efforts currently being made to support or overturn the bill.
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New developments NFL stadium
At the same meeting, the NCPC unanimously approved preliminary site plans and construction of a new stadium for the National Football League’s Washington Chiefs at the former site of RFK Stadium. While commissioners praised the HKS-designed 65,000-seat facility, questions remain about plans for two adjacent 11-story parking garages — nearly two-thirds the height of the stadium — that don’t appear in many of the show’s site renderings.
An NCPC staff member explained that the commanders are developing the garages independently of the stadium and will submit them separately for the commission’s approval. A request for proposals for design services is currently being prepared.
Neighbors in an adjacent neighborhood have also expressed concern about the visual, acoustic and pollution impacts of one of the planned garage structures. Commission staff recommended that designers consider alternative orientations and lower heights for garages to help solve these problems.
The NCPC’s final vote on the stadium is expected this summer.
