Trump arch could have ‘adverse effects’ on nearby DC monuments, US park service says

Donald Trump’s desired triumphal arch in downtown Washington DC will likely contribute “to adverse effects to historic properties”, according to the National Park Service’s planning document, but the construction is still planned to go forward.The president’s 250ft arch could interfere with some of the most well-known views in the nation’s capital, including the symbolic relationship between Arlington House, the Arlington National Cemetery, the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial, which face each other to represent the reunification of the United States after the civil war.As a result, the arch’s construction could require supplemental planning and programming to preserve history, a document and emails obtained by the Washington Post on Wednesday outlined.“Such adverse effects cannot be fully avoided while retaining the location-dependent purpose of the undertaking,” the National Park Service wrote in the document.Despite concerns that the arch could interfere with historic sites and would require substantial construction management control, the Trump administration wants to move forward. The document was circulated among preservationists and other groups to review and sign by noon on Monday, according to an email obtained by the Washington Post.The Guardian has asked the National Park Service for comment.Historic preservationists, veterans and lawmakers have consistently raised concerns about the Trump administration building the massive triumphal arch in downtown DC.Veterans filed a lawsuit in September, seeking to halt construction of the arch, believing it would harm the symbolic relationship of historic sites representing the reconciliation of war or disrupt burials at the Arlington National Cemetery.Some lawmakers shared fears that the arch could further complicate DC’s airspace. But Trump has been emphatic about the arch, insisting it should be 250ft high to mark the US’s 250th anniversary.Should construction of the arch move forward, the National Park Service outlined several ways it would mitigate disruptions and potential damage to nearby monuments.That includes installing vibration plates near the Arlington Memorial Bridge and other sensitive sites to ensure construction remains within prescribed limits, enforcing limits on noise-generating activities, prohibiting unnecessary lighting, limiting work hours and more.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionThe National Park Service’s document outlined roughly 37 nearby historic sites that could be affected, including the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, the US Capitol and more.But the National Park Service also outlined methods it could implement to preserve the history of the area, such as developing digital programs to explain the commemorative relationship between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, to show before-and-after scenes of the skyline over the Potomac River, and to describe the significance of triumphal arches.Local preservation officers could refuse to sign the agreement, which could trigger another process that involves the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, a federal agency.However, the Trump administration does not need the preservationists’ consent to move forward because it already received approval from the US Commission on Fine Arts, a federal advisory council made up of Trump appointees, and preliminary approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.