Letter
Dear Ms. Wright:
In its meeting of 16 April, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for the reconfiguration of the I-295/Malcolm X Avenue interchange and the construction of a new access road through Shepherd Parkway connecting to the existing on-site access road along the western boundary of the St. Elizabeths West Campus. The Commission reluctantly approved the submission as an inevitable result of the intensive development planned for the historic St. Elizabeths Campus.
The Commission members expressed concern about the visual and environment impacts of the new roadway on the wooded parkland adjacent to I-295. In order to mitigate these impacts, they recommended that more trees be included along the length of the new road and that additional climbing vines be planted along the base of the tall retaining walls and elevated ramps. They also suggested that that the planting beds along the base of these walls and ramps be made as wide as possible to provide sufficient soil for the plantings to thrive.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Mina Wright, Director
Office of Planning and Design Quality
U.S. General Services Administration
301 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20407-0001
cc: Kelly Davis, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects
Peter May, National Park Service