On Tuesday, the White House told Reuters it intended to send plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, an agency that typically approves and monitors construction on federal buildings. Demolition began earlier this week, with reporters taking video of a backhoe ripping out chunks of the White House’s exterior.
Plans for Trump’s 90,000 sq ft ballroom were made public in the late summer, with Trump saying he would personally fund the $200m construction. “Just another way to spend my money for this construction,” he said at the time.
White House officials insist demolition is allowed without the commission’s approval. Will Scharf, the Trump-appointed head of the commission, who is also a White House staff secretary, said in September there was a difference between demolition and rebuilding work, and only the commission can approve new construction.
But in a letter sent to the White House on Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a leading historic preservation nonprofit created by Congress, told the White House that demolition plans were “legally required” to go through public review and urged Trump to pause demolition.
I think it’s more likely to just fall down.
If Trump is paying for it, as he claims, it means no-one is actually getting paid. He’s been taken to court repeatedly for stuffing builders, (https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/282933-report-trump-has-refused-to-pay-hundreds-of-workers/) , which means stuff won’t be finished, and he’ll probably cut corners to save a buck or two.
If he thing is still standing in a decade, I’ll be surprised. Even more if it’s still usable.
My guess is if it stays, it will have to be continually repaired, and effectively rebuilt section by section once Trump leaves office.
Let’s hope it collapses on its first party
Mid-event, if we’re wishing on stars.
Like some kind of submersible vanity project to visit the Titanic.
Well, he doesn’t pay contractors when it’s his own money, but not sure if that will apply when it’s someone elses money.