A proposed 250-foot-tall memorial arch by President Donald Trump could disrupt the historical significance of dozens of sites near its planned location, according to an assessment by the National Park Service.
Historical Significance at Risk
The arch, which has received initial approval from a key federal commission, would impact the “integrity” of dozens of historical properties because it would change “character-defining visual and spatial relationships” between them.
The National Park Service report said the immediate project area is located within the Memorial Avenue Corridor cultural landscape, “a nationally significant historic designed landscape extending between the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.”
The report cited that the arch would break alignment between the Lincoln Memorial, Memorial Bridge, and Arlington House, which was formerly Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s home.
Opposition and Lawsuits
The proposed arch has sparked opposition, including a lawsuit filed by a group of veterans and a historian, who claim that the construction requires Congressional approval.
The White House said it would follow all legal requirements in constructing the arch, which is one of several projects Trump is pursuing to leave his lasting imprint on Washington.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
