More war worship on the Mall, from a guy who was instrumental in creating the military-industrial complex he warned about on his way out the door.
"Eisenhower Memorial panel considers Gehry’s design" Associated Press September 18, 2014
WASHINGTON — A federal commission working to build a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower near the National Mall was considering Wednesday whether to move forward with architect Frank Gehry’s design after years of controversy over the project....
No votes could be taken, however, because the commission lacked a quorum. Instead the panel will hold an electronic vote by Sept. 24 on how to proceed.
In the revised design, Gehry’s Los Angeles-based team eliminated two large, metal tapestries on the sides of the memorial park, along with some large columns.
But in a letter to the commission this week, Eisenhower’s family said the revised design still does not address their concerns.
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I could not care less about the controversy.
"Group aims to redo neglected site on National Mall" by BRETT ZONGKER, Sep. 18, 2014
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lakeside gardens, model boats and fine dining overlooking the nation's monuments could one day redefine a site on the National Mall that has languished for years with fetid water, dying fish and crumbling walkways.
After holding a design competition to improve spaces on the mall in 2011, the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall selected the little-known Constitution Gardens for a major rehabilitation over the next five years, officials with the group told The Associated Press. Designers are still refining the concept but are developing an ambitious project whose budget totals about $150 million.
What is now an algae-filled 3-foot-deep concrete tub of water that gets so hot fish die each year would be re-engineered as a natural lake up to 12 feet deep, surrounded by vegetation and walking paths. A shallow water ring on one end could be versatile for activities including boating and ice skating.
Designers say such plans will reactive a spot between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial that's been forgotten in recent decades, even though it's part of the most-visited national park. Organizers imagine it could become more like the waterside respites of New York's Central Park. The project was prioritized over building a grassy new amphitheater and pavilions near the Washington Monument.
"With Constitution Gardens, obviously the need is just so great that there was no denying we needed to try and get this one built as soon as we could," said Teresa Durkin, the project director.
"People need a place to decompress" after visiting Washington's museums and monuments, she said, "and have a little fun and be in a beautiful place."
On Thursday, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, one of two federal panels that must approve projects on the National Mall, voted to approve the initial garden concept. Commissioners said they would like to see the work completed as soon as possible.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell touted the project at a summer fundraising luncheon and said the project can't be completed without private support due to federal budget constraints.
"To give it the kind of lift that it needs is going to require private philanthropy," she told the AP. "We need a pond where the fish don't die every year."
Unlike most national park projects, construction will be privately funded through a major fundraising campaign. The project will be managed by the nonprofit group then handed over to the National Park Service.
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