National Mall
The National Mall is the symbolic and actual center of federal Washington, D.C. and includes special landscapes (including the Tidal Basin and the cherry trees), monuments and memorials, Smithsonian Institution museums, the National Gallery of Art, the headquarters building of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and key views and vistas of the nearby U.S. Capitol and the White House. The initial concept for a mall in this location was included in the L’Enfant Plan (1791-92) and the concept was enlarged and revised in the McMillan Commission Plan (1901-02). Other significant plans and the design and location of new buildings, landscaping and memorials during the 20th century produced the National Mall we know today.
The Committee of 100 on the Federal City has long been concerned with the design and development of the National Mall and its connections with the surrounding city. In 2006 the National Park Service, which administers most of the land area of the National Mall, began work on an updated National Mall Plan intended to guide development of the National Mall for the next 50 years. At about the same time the National Park Service began to move forward with planning for a number of improvement projects designed to upgrade, restore and provide security for key features and areas of the National Mall.
National Mall Plan
C100 Statement On Monuments- September 9, 2020, C100 Trustees
The C100 is dedicated to balancing the ever-changing needs of a growing city and the District’s role as the Nation’s Capital. - C100 Letter National Desert Storm War Memorial
- July 24, 2017, Stephen A. Hansen
The first step with the National Desert Storm War Memorial is to select a site. Two sites were indicated by the National Park Service. Site 1 is on Columbia Island on the west side of the Potomac River and Site 2 is on the west end of the National Mall, just west of 23rd Street, NW and near Constitution Avenue, north of the Lincoln Memorial. After reviewing both sites, the C100 recommended Site 2. - C100 Letter NCPC Regarding Renwick Signs
- December 12, 2016, Erik Hein
The C100 is concerned about the after-the-fact Section 106 review being conducted for the back-lit signage that has already been installed by the Smithsonian at the Renwick Gallery. The signs are inappropriate for this National Historic Landmark and its historic location near the White House, violate DC sign codes, and are a departure from the standard signage deployed at other Smithsonian institutions. - C100 Comment NPS Revisions National Mall Historic District
- June 30, 2016, Nancy MacWood
The draft is academically rigorous, well researched and documented, thoughtful, and, most importantly, highly readable. Congratulations! Having said that, however, we believe there is a critical property type significance assessment “gap” in the draft for an entire class of historic properties - Designed Landscapes. We recommend strongly that the Service remedy this before finalizing the document and submitting it to the District of Columbia Office of Planning and the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. - C100 SI South Mall Master Plan Scoping Comments
- January 30, 2015, Nancy MacWood
The Committee of 100 is very interested in and concerned with the South Mall Campus Master Plan. It is important for the future development of Smithsonian Institution programs and the National Mall, and has a larger area of influence involving the Monumental Core and adjacent areas. - C100 Comments on National Mall Parking Meters
- February 28, 2014, John Fondersmith
The Committee of 100 believes this proposal to change the management of parking spaces emphasizes the need to proceed with other elements of the overall transportation system, such as bus systems providing both frequent east-west transportation along the National Mall and north-south transportation connections with adjacent areas, and also dealing better with tour buses. - 2013-05-10 C100 Comments Jefferson Memorial Security Plan
- May 10, 2013, Richard Houghton
The Committee of 100 on the Federal City requests that, as planning and design for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Vehicle Security Barrier moves forward, that special consideration be given to accommodating potential adjacent projects, including the important “Washington Waterfront Walk”. - Testimony on the National Mall Plan Before the National Capital Planning Commission
- December 2, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Comments Regarding the Draft Programmatic Agreement Regarding the National Mall Plan
- September 3, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Comments Regarding the Final National Mall Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (July 2010)
- August 15, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP and George R. Clark
- Comments on the Draft National Mall Plan/Environmental Impact Statement
- March 17, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP and George R. Clark
- Comments on the National Mall Plan (Preliminary Preferred Alternative)
- May 15, 2009 , John Fondersmith, AICP and Laura Richards
- Comments on the National Mall Plan
- May 19, 2008 , John Fondersmith, AICP
National Mall Projects
- 2013-05-10 C100 Comments Jefferson Memorial Security Plan
- May 10, 2013, Richard Houghton
The Committee of 100 on the Federal City requests that, as planning and design for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Vehicle Security Barrier moves forward, that special consideration be given to accommodating potential adjacent projects, including the important "Washington Waterfront Walk". - C100 Letter to NPS Regarding National Mall Bikeshare Locations
- December 28, 2011, John Fondersmith
C100 expresses its support for Capital Bikeshare locations on the National Mall and calls to attention several issues that should be considered in evaluating locations. - Comments Regarding the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Vehicle Barrier System
- September 13, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP and Richard Westbrook, Chair, Planning Subcommittee
- Comments Regarding the Report, Rehabilitation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and Surrounding Area: Environmental Assessment
- January 29, 2010 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Testimony on the Restoration of the District of Columbia War Memorial
- October 1, 2009 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Letter Regarding the Environmental Assessment and Section 106 Process for the Rehabilitation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and Surrounding Area
- August 14, 2009 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Comments on the Jefferson Memorial Seawall and Plaza Report
- May 29, 2009, John Fondersmith, AICP
- Comments on the Potomac Park Levee Project Environmental Assessment
- February 28, 2009 , John Fondersmith, AICP
- Comments on the Potomac Park Levee Project Environmental Assessment
- February 28, 2009 , John Fondersmith, AICP
