Rendering. Image via The National Capital Planning Commission/Shalom Baranes Associates
A vote to progress the proposed controversial ballroom at the White House has been delayed due to public criticism of the plans. The National Capital Planning Commission pushed a vote on the project to next month after strong public backlash.
A final vote on the project was due to take place imminently; however, the commission’s chair Will Scharf announced on Thursday that a final vote would now take place on April 2 because of “the amount of the testimony that we’re hearing and the large volume of written comments.”
Proposed aerial. Image via The National Capital Planning Commission/Shalom Baranes Associates
Among the public comments carried by NBC were that the plans were an “appalling idea,” “absolutely shameful,” and “hideous.” Others have called the scheme a “ridiculous idea,” a “monstrosity,” and “vulgar.” The commission has published a 284-page document filled with public comments.
Last month, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved both the conceptual and final stages of the scheme. The approval came after the National Capital Planning Commission momentarily released further details on the scheme’s design, before taking the document down.
The total project footprint will reportedly be approximately 45,000 square feet, half of what the administration initially said. The ballroom portion will be 22,000 square feet with capacity for 1,000 seated guests.
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