GET THE FACTS!
ON REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MCMILLAN SAND FILTRATION SITE
FICTION:
VISION MCMILLAN PARTNERS’ (VMP) PLANS ARE TOO DENSE AND DO NOT PROTECT OPEN
SPACE THAT WAS WAS ONCE A PARK
FACTS:
 VMP’s plan creates three parks, including an expansive 6.25-acre central park with a community center and
pool. If you add in the South Service Court and other public gathering places, there will be a total of 12 acres of
new, public, open and green space. Specifically, of the 3½ block site, the majority - almost 2 blocks - will be
open and green space distributed throughout the site.

World-renowned landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz will design the public green space. They are famous
for their work with urban parks, have garnered over 80 national and regional awards and have been featured in
many national and international publications. This community will soon have one of the largest and bestdesigned parks not only in the District, but also in the region and in the country.

While there was once a small park on the federal side of the McMillan site (near the reservoir, on the west side
of First Street), the McMillan land that VMP is redeveloping was never a park. Historically, it was a working
industrial site with manholes dotting the landscape every few feet, providing access for workers to the
underground cells. In order to deliver water to the city, the site was in use all day and night, cleaning and
pumping water.

When the McMillan Sand Filtration Plant first opened, Olmstead, Jr. was commissioned to design a walking
path around it that would offer residents a view without disturbing the daily work of the site. This Olmstead
Walk is being restored as part of the plan and will surround the entire redevelopment, connecting the parks and
open spaces, providing engaging access and offering tremendous views of both the site and surrounding
landmarks. Every step of the walk will be publicly accessible and maintained. Finally, the fences on the site will
be down, and there will be a park for residents to use and enjoy.
FICTION:
VMP PLANS REPRESENT A NOTABLE DESTRUCTION OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF THE SITE.
ALL OF THE CELLS WILL BE DEMOLISHED, ALONG WITH THE WALLS FRAMING THE COURTS
AND MANY OF THE SILOS
FACTS:
 The very foundation of the VMP plan is a $22 million preservation program that will create exemplary design
compatible with this historic landmark.

The majority of the above grade structures will be preserved. Every silo, every regulator house, every washer
and every basin will be preserved and the historic courts will be maintained with special pavers.

While the plan includes repurposing of underground cells, it is not feasible to place grocery retail inside the
chambers or use the underground cells for foundation. Not only have retailers expressed opposition to the idea
of an underground location here from a sales perspective, but the cost of making the cells safe enough for this
type of use alone would make rental rates prohibitive for community and retail uses alike.

Two underground cells (each the size of a football field) will be preserved, and the current plan includes
repurposing Cell 14 for retail use. Cell 28 will be preserved to view through the community center, as part of the
planned memorialization. The park will incorporate many features of a “cell with the lid off” as way of further
using the unique structures of the site.

The VMP plan incorporates water as a theme related to the history of the site. For example, the historic
fountain currently located on the federal site will be relocated to the site. There will be spray grounds for
children, a 25-meter pool inside the community center, a bio pond for water management and water features
incorporating the historic silos. There will also be historical memorialization, including community-planned and
executed self-tours.

The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), in a unanimous vote found that VMP’s revised master plan
“has been developed to retain important character-defining features of the site sufficient to convey its historic
characteristics.“
FICTION:
NEW BUIDLINGS WILL BE LARGE AND DISPROPORTIONATE
FACTS:
 Buildings will increase in size to the north west of the site, while eastern and southern sides of the plan will step
down to work with the scale of existing neighborhoods.

Two thirds of the total area of the site will be open and green space. The remaining one third of the site will
include local serving retail with a premium grocery store anchor, restaurants, community and cultural space.
There will also be housing and offices on site.

VMP’s plan will result in 3,200 new, permanent jobs, 3,000 construction jobs and generate $1.2 billion in new tax
revenues. 35% of the local contracting opportunities are required to go to certified local, small and
disadvantaged businesses and more than half of all jobs created must be offered to District residents.
FICTION:
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW BOARD REJECTED VMP PLANS
FACTS:
 On October 31st, 2013, the HPRB voted unanimously that VMP’s revised master plan and design concepts
satisfied their requirements. Because they cannot vote on demolition, they referred the project to the Mayor’s
Agent. The project now moves forward to the Mayor’s Agent and Zoning Commission for additional approvals.
FICTION:
THERE WAS NO PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. VMP WAS THE SOLE
BIDDER ON MCMILLAN.
FACTS:
 In 2006, the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) issued an RFQ to select a development partner
for the McMillan site. The selection process spanned several months and included several community meetings
and community votes. The initial process was conducted by Mayor Fenty, signed off on by MAG leaders and
later evaluated and held up by Mayor Gray.

The eventual five bidders were judged on their land development capabilities, vertical development capabilities
and financial capacity. Community members attended tours of the vertical development projects for all five
bidders. In July 2007, Vision McMillan Partners was selected fromamong the five bidders by the NCRC because
of their collective experience with complex redevelopment projects that present a number of overlapping
priorities such as historic preservation and open space.
For more information, visit www.EnvisionMcMillan.com.