Commission of Fine Arts Approves Design for Proposed Arch Near Arlington Cemetery

The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to grant final approval to the design of a 250-foot arch planned for a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Potomac River between Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall. The vote followed preliminary approval granted at the commission's April meeting.

Commissioners had requested additional information and suggested revisions at that time.

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Secretary Thomas Luebke said approximately 600 letters had been received ahead of the meeting, with 99.5 percent in opposition to the project. Members of the public and representatives of historic preservation groups spoke against the design during the two-hour session.

Vice Chair James McCrery II noted the absence of details about planned sculptures and artwork for the arch's interior and exterior panels. Chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. proposed granting final approval, and the other commissioners agreed.

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the project at its June 4 meeting. Construction permits would be required from local authorities, and approval from the National Park Service would also be needed because the site is federal land managed by that agency.

President Trump stated Thursday that congressional approval is not required. He said the land is owned by the Interior Department. Lead architect Nicolas Charbonneau presented changes made since the April meeting, including removal of four gold lion sculptures at the base and a shift from an underground tunnel to surface-level pedestrian walkways.