The “John F. Kennedy” Performing Arts Center "John F. Kennedy" may be demolished if repairs are not carried out, the Trump administration warned in a document filed with the court on Monday.
The U.S. president’s lawyers say the Center needs a $250 million renovation, or it is at risk.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“Without these efforts, the Center will deteriorate even further and become a dangerous, dilapidated building that will have to be demolished, with the intention of deciding later what will be built in its place, such as a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River, which has been proposed by some for many years,” they argued.
This is the first time the Trump camp has raised the possibility of demolishing the Kennedy Center—a complex featuring a concert hall, opera house, and theater —as a last-resort alternative to closing it for two years for renovation work. Such a drastic move would certainly face legal obstacles, protests, and strong opposition from historic preservation groups.
This threat arose as the government urged a federal judge to dismiss a new legal challenge to Trump’s efforts to name the Kennedy Center after himself. The dispute is part of a months-long controversy.
Trump is leaving a trail of destruction in Washington, notes The Guardian, demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a $600 million ballroom. He also ordered the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial pond, which resulted in mold growth and the lining coming loose.
Source: Protothema.gr
