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Preservation groups raise concerns about the White House renovations

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Several historic preservation groups have expressed concerns about the renovations underway at the White House, including the Society of Architectural Historians. The chair of the group's Heritage Conservation Committee is on the line with us now. Priya Jain is an associate professor at Texas A&M University. Good morning. Thanks so much for joining us.

PRIYA JAIN: Thanks for having me.

MARTIN: Your group issued a lengthy statement about your concerns. Can you briefly tell us the main ones?

JAIN: Sure. When the news of the White House ballroom addition first emerged in July, we started hearing from our membership about concerns about the scale and the visual impact of the project to the existing and highly significant historic building. So we wrote a statement that called for more transparency on what exactly was going to be demolished, because there was some conflicting information regarding whether the East Wing would be demolished or simply added on to. So we asked for a more comprehensive review of both the demolition and the new construction. We also asked for impacts to the White House grounds because the new building does extend significantly into the grounds. And finally, we asked them to consider the broader impacts this project is going to have on preservation projects across the country, being such a visible and highly significant structure.

MARTIN: So you mentioned a number of concerns about best practices being followed. For example, you note in the statement that there have been a lot of advances in historic preservation, restoring objects, restoring sort of architectural integrity and so forth. Then you also mentioned the landscaping the grounds. The question I have for you - is this - is it a legal requirement to follow these kinds of processes for an - for a building as important as the White House? Or is it more of a custom or a courtesy or a sort of a - I don't know. Like, a professional standard. Like, do you see my - you see what I'm asking?

JAIN: Sure. Sure. Yes. Now, typically, when a federal or a federally assisted project is done and it has the potential to affect any historic building, a process known as Section 106 from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 kicks in. Now, this project - because the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court are exempt from formally initiating that process. However, this does not mean that in prior projects that have included minor things on the White House grounds, like the tennis pavilion or perimeter fencing or other changes, that they have not gone through internal advice and oversight on the project, as well as approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission, as well as from the U.S. Fine Arts Commission. So there are vehicles. Even though the exemption from 106 exists, there are wider executive orders, other procedures that need to be followed to make sure that the project will not negatively impact...

MARTIN: So...

JAIN: ...The White House.

MARTIN: So you just heard the administration's response - that there have been a lot of construction projects at the White House and that these critiques are just pearl-clutching. What's your reaction to that?

JAIN: Yeah. I mean, it is true. The White House is a living building. It has undergone various and it should undergo these various changes. However, I do want to point out that in the list that was issued yesterday, if you look at it closely, all the changes after 1942 have been limited to the interior. And the ones on the exterior either involved simple restoration or minor site additions like the tennis court and the pavilion, which are limited by their scope, size and visibility to have any negative impact on the historic building. This is really the biggest addition since the 1940s. And it's large in scope and size, which is causing a lot of concern within our community.

MARTIN: That is professor Priya Jain. She's chair of the Society of Architectural Historians' Heritage Conservation Committee. Thank you so much for joining us.

JAIN: Thank you for having me.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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Michel Martin
Michel Martin is the weekend host of All Things Considered, where she draws on her deep reporting and interviewing experience to dig in to the week's news. Outside the studio, she has also hosted "Michel Martin: Going There," an ambitious live event series in collaboration with Member Stations.
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