Voice of the Hill put up an online article last week covering the special June 14th EMCAC meeting regarding the South Hall restoration plans, and there are a bunch of interesting points that appear to have come out of that meeting. EMCAC seems to be landing squarely on the side of making as few changes to the historic structure as possible; the committee recommended:
- a roof restoration that does not include skylights;
- handicap-accessible entrances only on the western side of the building, preserving the entrances on the eastern side as-is; and
- less restrooms than the current plans propose, both because they feel the number was miscalculated and to allow for better access between the North and South Hall buildings.
The plans are now before the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and also require the approval of the city's Historic Preservation Board before the restoration can begin in earnest.
The Observer had an article today about a general reduction in federal money coming into the District via earmarks; the piece mentioned, though, that Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton asked for $131,000 for the restoration of Eastern Market, which is around 55% of her total earmark amount.