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Jefferson Memorial Accessibility Ramps THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL Submission to the National Capital Planning Commission for March 29, 2019 Project Overview Description of Project Area The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located at 701 E NCPC Plans and Policies Basin Drive SW. The site of the Memorial is located in Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital West Potomac Park on the shore of the Potomac River Tidal Basin. This project is in line with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital (2016), specifically the Parks & Based on the McMillan Plan, the famous architect Open Space Element. The project complies with the John Russell Pope designed a monolithic pantheon, following policies: which faces towards the White House. The site for the Memorial was low, swampy land created from fill from • Preserve and maintain cultural landscapes, river dredging. including their natural and constructed elements. The Tidal Basin flanks the north and the west side • Protect or restore viewsheds that contribute to of the Memorial. To the south of the Memorial is the cultural landscapes and the aesthetic quality, busy, heavily traveled East Basin Drive SW. This road is historic significance and visitor experience of the traveled by pedestrians, buses, bicyclists, tour groups, parks and open space system. etc. The main point of access to the Memorial for most • Protect the image of Washington, along with visitors traveling via vehicle is from the south of the the lighting hierarchy established by iconic civil Memorial. The east of the Memorial is a wooded area landmarks including the U.S. Capital, White House, that is filled with paths to the Memorial. Pedestrians Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and traveling to the Memorial will most likely enter the site Jefferson Memorial. from the east. All aspects of the project are in line with the Historic Proposed Program Preservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan for The project intends to improve physical accessibility the National Capital (2016). The project goals align with throughout the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from entry the following policies: to exit by implementing principles of Universal Design. The project specifically focuses on creating an improved • Sustain exemplary standards of historic property accessible route from the Tidal Basin Plaza Level to the stewardship. Chamber Level. • Use historic properties for their original purpose. Previous Commission Contents • Ensure the continued preservation of federal The Commission previously reviewed the project in historic properties through ongoing maintenance. March of 2018, where it received concept approval. The comments from the Commission during this review • Ensure that new construction is compatible with were as follows: the qualities and character of historic buildings and their settings, in accordance with the Secretary • The Commission supports the applicants proposed of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment targeted accessibility improvements at the Thomas of Historic Properties and the Guidelines for Jefferson Memorial, consisting of two ramps on the Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. north side of the Memorial to improve accessibility for all visitors. • Work cooperatively with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that development adjacent • The Commission notes that the Thomas Jefferson to historic properties does not detract from their Memorial currently only has one accessible route to historic character, and is compatible with the the Statuary Chamber Level, which requires visitors surrounding context. arriving from the north to use a ramp on the south side of the Memorial and traverse back to access • Plan carefully for appropriate and compatible the Lower Level entrances. design in and near the monumental core to protect and preserve the nation's key historic properties. • The Commission recommends the applicant continue to explore their preferred design of new GWWO, Inc./Architects I accessible ramps on the north side of the Memorial Detailed Project Information and Drawings outside the existing historic planters on the Tidal Basin Plaza Level. Buildings The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is the nation's As NCPC noted, the design team has continued to monument to its third president. Originally designed explore and detail the preferred design. by architect John Russell Pope, the neoclassical landmark sits on the edge of the Tidal Basin. The Proposed Schedule structure includes circular marble steps, a portico, Construction documents are scheduled to be completed a circular colonnade, and a shallow open-air dome. in May 2019. Currently the project is not funded so there In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt laid is no anticipated date of construction. the cornerstone, and the monument was officially Project Cost Estimate dedicated in 1943. It has since become a national The National Park Service is not releasing the cost landmark and in 1966 it was listed on the National estimate at this time. Register of Historic Places. Site Plan Outreach and Coordination See attached drawings for Site Plan and Landscape Plan. Public Engagement NPS held a public meeting on November 16, 2017 at Vicinity Map the American Association of People with Disabilities to See attached document. share the accessibility project at Jefferson Memorial. The attendees generally agreed with the design Landscape and Grading Plan approaches discussed during the meeting. See attached document. It was found that the project has no adverse effect Elevation on the historic properties. The Assessment of Effects See attached document. Report is included with the project documentation. The Because the sloped walkways are not connected to the State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with the building, there is no change to the existing building NPS determination that the project will have no adverse massing or elevation. effect on the historic properties. Cross Sections Coordination with Federal, State and Local See attached document. Jurisdictions The project team is working with DC DOEE to Security understand the stormwater requirements for the No technology security changes are anticipated as part project. The design team reviewed the project with a of this project. DOEE representative on site on May 30, 2018. The United States Park Police (USPP) s responsible Based on the initial conversation with the DC DOEE, the for protecting the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. With team understands that the areas that will be required the construction of the proposed walkways, the USPP to comply with stormwater requirements are the sloped will have to monitor areas that were not previously walkways which are considered new impervious area. occupied by the public. The project team has been coordinating with the USPP. The areas where concrete replacement is necessary to improve the accessible route will be considered existing Photographs impervious area - "maintenance" and will be excluded See attached document. from the stormwater requirements obligation. Transportation and Circulation The team is in the process of scheduling a meeting with No changes are proposed for transportation access to DC DOEE to confirm these requirements. the site. No additional parking is proposed for the site. II GWWO, Inc./Architects The existing site has multiple levels that are part of the Public Realm and View Sheds accessible path, including the lowest level: the Tidal The landscape design includes minimal impact to the Basin Plaza Level, and the next level: the Lower Terrace cultural landscape. Where modifications are necessary, Level. The current accessible route requires a visitor the proposed design represents the original landscape (traveling from the south of the Memorial) to choose to design by Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. access one of the two levels as listed above. From the north side of the building (at the Tidal Basin)there is no To accommodate the sloped walkways, the upright accessible connection between the two levels. Japanese Yews on both sides of the Memorial require removal and replacement. The proposed planting The project intends to connect the two levels of the include a massing of Upright Japanese Yew plantings Memorial so a visitor does not have to travel fully (Taxus cuspidata capitata) that flank both sides of the around the Memorial multiple times to be able to steps on the north side of the Memorial that consist experience all aspects of the Memorial. The project of three plants each (5-6 ! in height). The proposed connects the Tidal Basin Plaza Level and the Lower planting locations represent the original landscape Terrace Level at the Tidal Basin. design in this location. The existing Japanese Zelkovas will need to be removed. The National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory from 2004 noted that Environmental and Historical the Zelkovas will not be replaced when they die or if Considerations removed for proposed improvements. The existing Zelkovas provide shade for the lawn area where the Historic Preservation sloped walkways will be constructed. Removal of the The primary project approach is rehabilitation. Zelkovas will allow more light to reach the sloped The design approach for this project has been to walkways. balance minimizing impacts to historic fabric with the On the Lower Terrace Level, the proposed walkway need to provide visitor access to a larger number of requires minimal removal of select plant material at visitors. The design decisions have worked towards the the holly hedge. Approximately a ten by ten foot area goals of minimizing impacts to the existing
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