All articles tagged with #renovations
DOJ lawyers told a federal judge that the Kennedy Center is structurally and financially unsustainable without intervention from the Trump administration, even suggesting an outdoor amphitheatre if it must be torn down; the filing comes amid disputes over Trump’s name on the building and ongoing renovation plans.
DOJ lawyers argued in a court filing that the Kennedy Center is structurally unsound and could be demolished if it cannot close for about two years for renovations, potentially replacing the center with an outdoor amphitheater; the filing marks a stark shift from the board’s description of a two-year shutdown to upgrade stage lifts, rigging, electrical systems and leak prevention, and a hearing is set this week on the planned closure and on the board’s bid to re-add Trump’s name to the building.
President Trump tours extensive White House renovations—grenite driveway upgrades, refurbished columns, and a newly laid grass-covered helipad—boasting about his “builder-in-chief” skills while the nation faces rising debt past $40 trillion and ongoing tensions with Iran; critics argue the tour shows a focus on personal projects over governance.
The Kennedy Center board voted to restore President Trump’s name at the venue—adding an inscription and renaming the site as the President Donald J. Trump Plaza—an action that appears to challenge a May federal judge ruling that only Congress could rename the center; the administration has appealed. The move comes alongside a two-year renovation plan for the main building with a $24.7 million upgrade, while programming may move to the REACH, and has drawn criticism from Rep. Joyce Beatty for circumventing court rulings and statutes.
President Trump acknowledged a contractor error in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation, saying a rushed installation contributed to damage amid costly renovations; prosecutors had attributed the damage to flawed installation tied to finishing before America’s 250th celebration, and charges against alleged vandals were dropped. The project will continue with added security cameras once completed.
Trump says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, drained first to fix a leaky basin and then after vandalism, will be refilled and back in service soon. The project’s cost has ballooned from about $1.5 million to over $16 million, with three people charged in the vandalism incident, including former Olympian David Hearn. The pool has a long history of maintenance challenges since its 1923 opening, including algae buildup and lining peeling after recent repairs.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse released a whistleblower letter alleging the Kennedy Center bypassed contracting rules and rushed cosmetic renovations to please Donald Trump, with no-bid deals and expensive, supposedly unnecessary work (painting columns white, tile removal) that critics say wasted taxpayer money; costs cited include a $4.4 million deal awarded after work began and about $1.5 million in repairs, plus an $8 million contract for an experienced contractor. A May court ruling later required Trump’s name to come off the building, underscoring Congress’s authority over the center. The episode is framed as part of broader Trump reshaping of Washington, including personnel changes at the Kennedy Center board.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says whistleblowers allege the Kennedy Center rushed renovations and bent contracting rules to prepare for events including a Trump-hosted FIFA ceremony, citing rusting reflecting pool, a controversial $8m no-bid flooring contract, and a torn bathroom floor; Whitehouse has asked for documents by July 23; the Center denies bypassing rules and notes ongoing oversight, after previously securing $257 million for renovations.
Tarps painted to resemble the White House exterior cover scaffolding around the North Portico as Trump pushes ongoing renovations, including a planned helipad on the South Lawn and a series of other changes that have transformed the White House during his presidency.
Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for a second time in three months to fix ongoing issues after the July Fourth fireworks, with officials citing debris, algae, and vandalism concerns. The same contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, will handle sealing the liner and painting the bottom, though timelines remain unclear and partial draining could suffice. The administration has asserted vandals damaged the pool, but concrete evidence and schedules for the next steps have not been publicly detailed.
Trump-era renovations in Washington are reshaping the capital for the 250th anniversary, with cranes over the White House, heavy fencing along the National Mall, and altered events planned for the Fourth. Supporters highlight restored fountains and parks, while critics warn about cost, disruption, and security measures as National Guardsmen patrol the area; the Reflecting Pool repaint has been controversial, adding to debates over how the celebration will look.
A gut-renovated five-story limestone townhouse at 165 E. 64th St on the Upper East Side sold in an all-cash deal to an international financier for about $18.5 million, just three weeks after listing. Developed by Titanium Property Group, the 7,000-square-foot interior includes six bedrooms, six baths, an elevator, a roof deck, gym and pet spa, with 1,900 square feet of outdoor space. The renovation, which reimagined the brownstone into a modern limestone facade, faced preservation constraints as the property sits within the East 64th Street Historic District, east of Lexington; the sale underscores strong townhouse demand driven by remote-work-era desire for space and privacy.
A federal judge's order prevented the Kennedy Center from initiating its planned two-year renovation shutdown and led to Trump's name removal; Rep. Joyce Beatty alleges the board is letting the venue languish as a 'lifeless husk,' while the center says it will present reopening options (full, partial, or phased programming) and hold a mid-July vote on how to proceed.
Kennedy Center officials outlined three renovation options (full closure, partial closure with limited programming, or phased closures maintaining some onsite activity) while the building remains open. Rep. Joyce Beatty’s legal team blasted the center for delaying programming and dragging out the Trump-name removal, calling the tarp and scaffolding a pretext and accusing management of turning the Center into a “lifeless husk.” Beatty’s lawyers argue fiduciary breaches, even as Floca’s filing indicates continued public access to parts of the building and JFK exhibit, with no firm programming plan announced.
Trump’s DC renovation push around the White House and Mall has turned large parts of the area into a construction zone—fences, tarpaulins, and new structures like a proposed Arc de Trump—sparking local frustration as visitors face restricted access and preservationists warn the skyline and heritage could be altered, at a cost of roughly $600 million with taxpayer funds covering half.