McMillan Reservoir Park comprises a historic site in the District of Columbia.

1 The DC Government has attempted several iterations of development at McMillan, all of which have met strong community resistance. The McMillan community project team (the Team) proudly submits this Letter of Interest for EPA technical assistance in redeveloping the historic site using the fundamental principles of smart growth. The Team advocates establishing a Conservancy or land trust model, structured as a public-private partnership, to facilitate smart growth at McMillan to produce a world-class destination. The Team is committed to revitalizing the McMillan Reservoir Park site in a way that balances historic and environmental preservation, community impacts, and economic realities. Our proposed plan utilizes the sites natural resources and historic elements, combined with lowimpact development features designed to maximize community benefits and safety to all who use it. The plan integrates edible landscaping and urban agriculture with restoration of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.s landscaping plan from 1901, replacing invasive species with native species while utilizing the magnificent convergence of man and nature embodied by the sites environmentally friendly and visually stunning water filtration technology and underground chambers. The plan proposes approximately 18 acres of contiguous green space to provide extensive permeable surface to absorb storm water runoff. The plan also includes the exposure and use of the onsite underground natural waterway, Tiber Creek. The Creek would be daylighted, creating an urban beach basin/swimming hole, thus reducing the downstream water volume by retention and evaporation to help mitigate future recurrence of the current local flooding problems in the downstream communities. The Team stands dedicated to sustainable building practices that will utilize existing historic structures and the sites natural offerings at a considerably lower project life cycle cost as compared to complete demolition and high-density redevelopment of the site. These aspects creating new green spaces and safe places for the
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EPA SGIA for McMillan Reservoir Park

Letter of Interest

For additional detail, refer to McMillan Sand Filtration Site Fact Sheet attached as an appendix to this document.

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Letter of Interest
community while preserving historic elements for the future make this plan grounded, realistic, and holistic as compared to other development plans proposed for McMillan. The Team principals include Tony Norman, co-founder and Chairman of the McMillan Park Committee; Larry Chang, founder of the Friends of McMillan Park; Dr. Miriam Gusevich, Professor of Architecture at Catholic University of America; and Allison Bishins, Land Use, Transportation, and Climate Consultant. The Team leverages the collective experience of the teams individual members and their organizations. Having worked on similar redevelopment projects in the District of Columbia at Poplar Point, Reservation 13 / Hill East, and the Soldiers Home, the Team has formulated an approach that encompasses diverse interests and delivers a more holistic, thoughtful, and beneficial end product. Throughout the development of these projects, the Team has highlighted our commitment to holistic, community-beneficial design and implementation. The Team works to reduce the impact of each project on the environment while enhancing the quality of life for the surrounding community now and in the future. The overarching objective of the plan is to ensure that use of the McMillan Reservoir Park site aligns with the original vision of Olmstead and Senator McMillan a gem in a necklace of emeralds adorning the City. Although our plan includes some new construction, it acknowledges and respects the historical view of this site as part of a broader system of citywide green space, which has sadly been fenced off and unused for this purpose since 1942. The Team intends to implement local industries to provide economic sustainability for, and to create jobs at, McMillan Reservoir Park while maintaining an area that can be used by the community at largeexisting residents, future residents, and visitors to the nations capital. The plan focuses on a broad range of functional features and end users with the intention to draw people in from other parts of, and beyond, the District of Columbia. The site has the potential to produce a variety of goods and to provide a spectrum of entertainment options that could transform McMillan Reservoir Park into a dynamic congregational point in the center of the City and within site of the Capitol dome. That shift would be a marked departure from the current state of affairs in this area that straddles the boundaries of Wards 5 and 1, which is currently the most underserved part of the District in terms of green space and recreational
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Letter of Interest
facilities, and which lacks a vibrant business environment. Onsite farmers markets, restaurants, boutiques, and other commercial outlets will vend and make use of the fresh produce, wines, cheeses, glasswork, renewable energy, and naturally filtered bottled water produced at the revitalized McMillan site. The urban beach, open grass lands, performance art venues, and museum of environmental technology will provide outlets for relaxation, play, cultural enrichment, and education. McMillan Reservoir Park will become a beacon for the surrounding citizens and communities. The Team has long sought and received support from the local community. A community-based petition 2 demonstrates a strong desire to move away from current high-density mixed-use development plans, which choose to largely ignore the historical value of the site and treat it primarily as a vacant parcel. The plan also enjoys the backing of several influential local businesses including Big Bear Caf, Rustik Tavern, Boundary Stone, Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, Capitol Food Mart, and Youngblood Capital Group. Other local groups in support of our proposal include North Capitol Main Street and Howard, Catholic, and Trinity Universities. This support from the private sector and academia, coupled with public support from local government and civic entities such as Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 1A and 1B; Single Member Districts 1B10, 5C07, 5C04, and 5C03; 3 and the Bloomingdale, Stronghold, Pleasant Plains, Edgewood, and Parkview Civic Associations, demonstrates our firm commitment to community-oriented development. The Team also has support from organizations from beyond the immediate community, including The Cultural Landscape Foundation, Ecolocity, Art Enables, The Committee of 100, DC Preservation League, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Greater Greater Washington, WPFW Radio, Empower DC, and DC Environmental Network. Our time line from proposal acceptance to breaking ground is as follows: 1. Establish Conservancy / Land Trust; Review/update/finalize the plan with help from EPA, HUD and DOT: January March 2012 (3 months)
2 3

The Team can provide a copy of the petition upon request. Commissioner Tony Norman, ANC, SMD 1B10; Commissioner James Fournier, ANC, SMD 5C07; Commissioner John Salatti, ANC, SMD 5C04; Commissioner Hugh Youngblood, ANC, SMD 5C03

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Letter of Interest
2. Plan and secure financing through private organizations and Government assistance: April September 2012 (6 months) 3. Initiate construction: October 2012 To realize the communitys goals, the Team requires EPAs technical assistance in the following areas: 1. The Team needs help establishing the McMillan Reservoir Park Conservancy / Land Trust to operate and maintain the site, ensuring that the positive changes made to the site remain forever. 2. The Team needs assistance in finalizing our detailed sustainable development plan. This would include identifying efficient modernization solutions for transportation, waste water, and utility infrastructure.
3. After completing the detailed design phase of the project, the Team also needs assistance with various financing and implementation activities.

In conclusion, we cite a recent urban development study that underscores the importance of smart growth at McMillan Reservoir Park. In October 2011, Mapquest released a beta version of its MqVibe tool which ranks the District of Columbias most and least walkable neighborhoods. This mechanism evaluates neighborhoods in terms of edginess, residential, burbiness (i.e., how many chain businesses dominate the blocks), and other dimensions including that holy grail of pedestrian friendliness known as walkability." 4 The data produced a Top 10 and a Bottom 13 list of DC neighborhoods. Ward 5 lacked any areas deemed suitable or walkable enough to rank in the Top 10. This includes Bloomingdale, Eckington, Truxton Circle / Bates, and LeDroit Park. In fact, the analysis placed Stronghold, a community that borders McMillan Park to the east, on the Bottom 13 list. This assessment clearly demonstrates that the communities surrounding the McMillan site urgently need a central beacon that both can be used and enjoyed by local citizens and can serve as a source of local pride. McMillan Reservoir Park remains poised to serve the community as a walkable destination for relaxation, play, entertainment, education, commerce, culture, and dining.
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/10/mapquest-ranks-the-district-s-most-and-least-walkableneighborhoods-13320.html
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McMillan Sand Filtration Site

McMillans Story
Meeting the Needs of a Growing Capital
To handle population growth and municipal sanitation needs, Congress authorized a formidable engineering project: the construction of Washington's first water treatment facility, a monumental slow sand filtration system. Water would be channeled from the Georgetown Reservoir through the Washington City Tunnel to a tract of land north of the city for purification. Completed in 1905, the reservoir and filtration plant were named in honor of Senator James McMillan of Michigan, who chaired the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia and supported development of the new water supply facilities. McMillan Park is an integral part of the McMillan Commissions Emerald Necklace open greenspace strategy for the Nations Capital. The original McMillan Park gardens were designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. & Sr. Olmsted Sr. is known as the father of American landscape architecture, having designed such landmarks as New Yorks Central Park. McMillans neighbors enjoyed access to much of the park until World War II. A public health milestone, McMillans innovative system of water purification, which relied on sand rather than chemicals, led to the elimination of typhoid epidemics and the reduction of many other communicable diseases in the city. Subsequent improvements to the city water system were initiated in the 1920s, with the regular use of chlorine as a disinfectant implemented in 1923 at the McMillan filtration plant, and an additional treatment plant completed adjacent to the Dalecarlia Reservoir in 1928. The Dalecarlia facility was further expanded in the 1950s. In 1985, the slow sand filtration plant at McMillan was replaced with a new rapid sand filter plant. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (federal government) offered the sites surplus acreage to the District for one dollar, contingent on its use as parkland. The District government rejected that offer and in 1987 opted instead to purchase the land for $9.3 million for economic development. McMillan has been recommended for designation as a National Historic Site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Sadly, this national treasure is now listed on the DC Preservation League's "Most Endangered" list. McMillans future currently hangs in the balance.

Fact Sheet
LOCATION Boundaries: North: Michigan Avenue; East: North Capitol Street; South: Channing Street; West: First Street. Wards: Situated entirely in Ward 5, immediately abutting Wards 1 & 4. Neighborhoods: Bloomingdale, Brookland, Edgewood, LeDroit Park, Park Place, Pleasant Plains, Stronghold SIZE Approximately 25 acres in total. Comprised of 20 vaulted underground cells of non-reinforced concrete (about 1 acre each) & two above-ground courts of silos & regulator houses

FUNCTION Chemical-free purification technology provided clean and safe drinking water until replaced by chlorine treatment in 1986. DESIGN Integral part of the McMillan Commissions Emerald Necklace open greenspace strategy for the Nations Capital. Original McMillan Park gardens were designed by renowned landscape architecture firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. & Sr., designers of New Yorks Central Park HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE Listed on Districts Inventory of Historic Sites since 1991 Listed on the DC Preservation League's "Most Endangered" list Recommended for designation as a National Historic Site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANCE Once offered stunning publicly accessible parkland Located amidst neighborhoods with no recreation facilities. NO nearby public parks, NO senior center, NO library. Nearest community recreation center over a mile away. POTENTIAL In its day, a world-class architectural and technological marvel. Today, a Landmark with huge potential to provide both economic development and community services.

URBAN BEACH:

healing body and soul

exhibit and irrigation
Water flows down to be stored and treated in the urban beach or the cistern, one of the old cells used to exhibit the historic sustainable slow sand filtration process. Water can be pumped up to irrigate the farm above

celebration of water
Water is a precious resource. We treasure it throughout the park and store, filter and recycle it. Sequentially, rain water stored in the old sand bins flows down to small circular pools at the base, connected by narrow water channels along the courts.

recreation and therapy

After treatment, water go to indoor and outdoor swimming pools, cold and water spa pools, steam baths, showers, etc. This new facility can double as a community center and serve the healing mission of the national instiutions north of the site and others in the vicinity. These include:
1. CHILDRENS NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. 2. NATIONAL REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 3. WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER 4. VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER. 5. NATIONAL ORTHOPEDIC CENTER. 6. HOWARD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

outdoor pool

outdoor pool

indoor pool Lower level plan

pools under the towers

Section through pools with farm above

exhibit of sand filtration

Section through INDOOR and OUTDOOR pools.

PROTECT
McMILLAN PARK

Support this project http://www.ourmcmillan.com/ info@ourmcmillan.com Friends of McMillan Park on

GREENING

EcolocityDC
P O Box 66154, Washington DC 20035-6154 EcolocityDC@gmail.com Tel 202 545 0869 Fax 866 525 0247 http://ecolocity.org/group/sustainablemcmillan

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