Letter
Dear Mr. Cox:
During its meeting of 21 July 2005, the Commissioners received an informational presentation on the draft master plan for the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., located at 3700 North Capitol Street, NW. The members are sympathetic to the future needs of the home and agree that portions of the property may be developed but expressed several concerns that should be considered as the master plan draft is refined.
The members noted the particular importance of addressing the protection of open space and associated view corridors on the campus further in the master plan; future development should be carefully modeled to maintain as much open space as possible to preserve important vistas, especially those associated with the site's historic structures and landscapes. The Commission hopes that provisions allowing for as much public access as possible to historic resources and recreational sites will be established in the new plan and that the new development should not take on the appearance of a heavily secured or fortified facility. They also emphasized that the guidelines for new development, particularly on the north and west sides of the property, do not allow new structures to overwhelm the small scale of the adjacent residential neighborhoods.
The Commission members encourage you and the planning team to continue to consult with the residents of the adjoining neighborhoods frequently and involve them in the planning process. Before the next submission, the Commissioners request a tour of the site and they look forward to reviewing the refinements to the master plan as well as plans for any new construction. As always, the Commission staff is available should you require further guidance and to assist in coordinating the site visit.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Timothy Cox, Chief Operation Officer
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Office of the Chief Operation Officer
3700 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011-8400