240:
224:
176:
17:
232:
85:
39:, on the south by Channing Street and on the west by McMillan Drive; which runs along the edge of the reservoir, to which it was formerly attached. Two paved courts lined by regulator houses, tower-like sand bins, sand washers and the gated entrances to the underground filter cells provided a promenade for citizens taking the air in the park before it was fenced off in WWII.
199:
The VMP proposal has met with opposition from some neighborhood groups. The team has been meeting with the surrounding neighborhoods since before its selection in 2007 and has included neighborhood input in project revisions. The plan was unanimously approved by the
Historic Preservation Review Board
195:
The government selected a development team, Vision McMillan
Partners (VMP), in 2007. Their proposal includes a mix of uses, including housing, shopping and office space. The site would also include a network of accessible park space, including 6.25 acres (2.53 ha) on the southern end of the
118:
Residents from the ethnically diverse neighborhoods near the park expressed their "delight in this rigidly segregated city in being able to enjoy its amenities regardless of race. Courting couples promenaded on the geometrically laid out avenues on the east site under a canopy of clipped trees.
69:, when the Army erected a fence to guard against sabotage of the city's water supply. Until recently, specially arranged biannual tours were arranged for scores of visitors curious about the odd-looking structures. The site was never reopened to the public on the same basis as before the war.
183:
The D.C. government began considering the McMillan Sand
Filtration Site for commercial and residential development again in 2007. The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), a development agency created by the city, selected the site as part of a land swap deal involving
142:
prepared the federal element of its first
Comprehensive Plan in 1983, it included McMillan Park as among the "Parks, Open Space and Natural Features" of the city that "should be conserved and whose essential Open Space Character maintained."
211:
neighborhood, in which the site is situated. The plan calls for the use of two cells to retain water, and to demolish a number of cells in order to provide access to the tunnel they will build on First Street, NW to manage the system.
150:
to dispose of it. GSA iterated its position that open space was not the highest and best use of the property, and insisted on selling the property for mixed commercial development over the objections of the McMillan Park
Committee.
423:
631:
269:
cut the ribbon at the
Reservoir Park Recreation Center at the former McMillan Sand Filtration site. With this ceremony the new 6.2-acre park and recreation center were declared open to the public.
215:
In 2016, courts sided with community activists and rejected the DC Zoning
Commission's approval of a $ 720 million project to transform the site into retail, office and residential space.
442:
596:
626:
611:
192:
baseball stadium. (The government dissolved the NCRC in 2007 and merged its functions into the Office of the Deputy Mayor for
Planning and Economic Development.)
262:
reported that the site had been renamed from the "McMillan Sand
Filtration Site" to the "Reservoir District." As of January 2024, the site is being developed.
131:
near
Michigan Avenue. They laughed about sometimes falling through the center of a vault to the white sand beneath when a manhole cover had been left open."
636:
20:
The District of Columbia government is considering redevelopment plans for the McMillan Sand Filtration Site which is no longer used for water treatment.
127:
camped and grew vegetables on the site between North Capitol Street and First Street. Boys played ball games on the east portion where there were fewer
621:
511:
339:
155:
408:
252:
135:
59:
601:
139:
73:
557:
320:
301:
248:
255:
ruled that the proposed development project may proceed pursuant to the legislation. Demolition of the site commenced in October 2021.
606:
461:
72:
In 1991, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board designated McMillan Park a Historic Landmark and nominated the site for the
208:
147:
483:
99:
milestone. Its innovative system of water purification, which relied on sand rather than chemicals, led to the elimination of
146:
The site's future became uncertain, though, in 1986 when the Corps of Engineers declared the property surplus and asked the
42:
Below grade, there are twenty catacomb-like cells, each an acre in extent, where sand was used to filter water from the
259:
35:, built as part of the historic McMillan Reservoir Park. It is bound on the north by Michigan Avenue, on the east by
499:
119:
Families, on hot summer nights, slept in the site to catch the summer breezes that blew over the escarpment. During
196:
site, a 1-acre healing garden on the north end, and an acre of green space over a preserved cell at the north end.
89:
200:
in May 2016, which will vote on the buildings on the site but not the overall Master Plan for redevelopment.
395:
108:
115:
to modernize Washington, the complex is an engineering wonder that served its original purpose until 1986.
124:
368:
Testimony of Anne Sellin re B16-0902, the Transfer of McMillan Park Reservoir to NCRC, October 20, 2006.
337:"Capital Engineers: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Development of Washington, D.C., 1790-2004."
239:
336:
223:
175:
104:
36:
58:
plant replaced it across First Street beside the reservoir. The treatment system is operated by the
479:
Neibauer, Michael. (May 24, 2023). "EYA, Jair Lynch rebrand D.C.'s long-delayed McMillan project."
47:
278:
28:
76:. It included the site on their "List of Most Endangered Properties in 2000" and again in 2005.
495:
Montgomery, Mimi. (January 9, 2024). "Development projects in the D.C. area to watch in 2024."
514:
press release, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, June 14, 2024
512:
Mayor Bowser to Cut the Ribbon on New Reservoir Park Recreation Center at Former McMillan Site
462:"Demolition has finally started at McMillan. But the project's opponents aren't giving up yet"
317:
298:
55:
207:
proposed a plan to use McMillan to provide neighborhood relief of flooding that plagued the
159:
51:
32:
484:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2023/05/24/mcmillan-rebrand-eya-jair-lynch.html
343:
324:
305:
185:
158:
purchased the site from the federal government in 1987 for $ 9.3M, in order to facilitate
16:
527:
227:
A January 2022 aerial photo of McMillan Sand Filtration Site, showing demolition activity
162:. Since the time of purchase, the property has remained unused and closed to the public.
231:
84:
346:
pp. 173-177. Washington, DC: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Publication No. EP 870-1-67.
189:
616:
590:
424:"The fight to develop McMillan Park continues: Court rules against zoning commission"
266:
128:
112:
96:
95:
The 1905 completion of the McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration Plant was a Washington
43:
537:
409:"Mayor Fenty Announces Development Partner for Former McMillan Sand Filtration Site"
251:
passed legislation authorizing demolition at the McMillan site. In October 2021 the
66:
500:
https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/01/09/development-projects-dc-2024
120:
572:
559:
377:
204:
138:’ ownership, no commercial development of the site occurred. When the
100:
443:"D.C.'s highest court clears way for McMillan development to proceed"
382:
54:
design that became obsolete by the late 20th century. In 1985, a new
532:
238:
230:
222:
174:
83:
15:
548:
411:(Press release). District of Columbia Government. June 13, 2007.
379:
McMillan Park Committee v. National Capital Planning Commission,
542:
179:
An October 2021 aerial photo of McMillan Sand Filtration Site
528:
DC Government Office of Planning McMillan Reservoir Project
88:
Tower-like sand bins covered in greenery as designed by
632:
Demolished buildings and structures in Washington, D.C.
396:"District Consolidates Economic Development Agencies."
65:
Public access to the site has been restricted since
219:
City council and court allow development to proceed
460:
538:McMillan Park Reservoir National Historic Listing
318:"List of Most Endangered Properties in 2005."
299:"List of Most Endangered Properties in 2000."
8:
597:Buildings and structures in Washington, D.C.
627:2022 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.
103:epidemics and the reduction of many other
394:District of Columbia Government (2007).
612:1905 establishments in Washington, D.C.
290:
188:property and the construction of the
27:is a twenty-five acre decommissioned
7:
140:National Capital Planning Commission
74:National Register of Historic Places
637:Infrastructure in Washington, D.C.
14:
422:Stein, Perry (December 8, 2016).
622:Infrastructure completed in 1905
441:Schwartzman, Paul (2021-10-28).
50:. The purification system was a
156:District of Columbia government
148:General Services Administration
243:McMillan Sand Restoration Site
235:McMillan Sand Restoration Site
1:
107:in the city. A legacy of the
25:McMillan Sand Filtration Site
481:Washington Business Journal,
265:On June 15, 2024 D.C. Mayor
111:and an integral part of the
602:History of Washington, D.C.
467:Washington Business Journal
260:Washington Business Journal
653:
398:Press release. 2007-07-20.
304:February 28, 2009, at the
502:. Accessed June 10, 2024.
486:. Accessed June 10, 2024.
90:Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.
607:Water purification plant
549:Friends of McMillan Park
355:Among The Girl Scouts,
316:DC Preservation League.
297:DC Preservation League.
573:38.924472°N 77.010472°W
109:City Beautiful Movement
60:Army Corps of Engineers
335:Scott, Pamela (2007),
244:
236:
228:
180:
92:
21:
578:38.924472; -77.010472
253:D.C. Court of Appeals
242:
234:
226:
178:
171:Development proposals
105:communicable diseases
87:
19:
551:citizen organization
545:citizen organization
186:Anacostia riverfront
37:North Capitol Street
569: /
447:The Washington Post
428:The Washington Post
357:The Washington Post
247:In summer 2021 the
48:Washington Aqueduct
31:plant in northwest
543:Save McMillan Park
342:2012-02-26 at the
323:2010-10-12 at the
279:McMillan Reservoir
245:
237:
229:
181:
136:Corps of Engineers
93:
22:
533:Envision McMillan
385:(D.C. Cir. 1992).
258:In May 2023, the
56:rapid sand filter
644:
584:
583:
581:
580:
579:
574:
570:
567:
566:
565:
562:
515:
509:
503:
493:
487:
477:
471:
470:
464:
457:
451:
450:
438:
432:
431:
419:
413:
412:
405:
399:
392:
386:
375:
369:
366:
360:
353:
347:
333:
327:
314:
308:
295:
52:slow sand filter
33:Washington, D.C.
652:
651:
647:
646:
645:
643:
642:
641:
587:
586:
577:
575:
571:
568:
563:
560:
558:
556:
555:
524:
519:
518:
510:
506:
494:
490:
478:
474:
459:
458:
454:
440:
439:
435:
421:
420:
416:
407:
406:
402:
393:
389:
376:
372:
367:
363:
359:, July 20, 1917
354:
350:
344:Wayback Machine
334:
330:
325:Wayback Machine
315:
311:
306:Wayback Machine
296:
292:
287:
275:
221:
173:
168:
82:
29:water treatment
12:
11:
5:
650:
648:
640:
639:
634:
629:
624:
619:
614:
609:
604:
599:
589:
588:
553:
552:
546:
540:
535:
530:
523:
522:External links
520:
517:
516:
504:
488:
472:
452:
433:
414:
400:
387:
370:
361:
348:
328:
309:
289:
288:
286:
283:
282:
281:
274:
271:
220:
217:
190:Nationals Park
172:
169:
167:
164:
129:manhole covers
81:
78:
46:by way of the
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
649:
638:
635:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
613:
610:
608:
605:
603:
600:
598:
595:
594:
592:
585:
582:
550:
547:
544:
541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
526:
525:
521:
513:
508:
505:
501:
498:
492:
489:
485:
482:
476:
473:
469:. 2021-10-12.
468:
463:
456:
453:
448:
444:
437:
434:
429:
425:
418:
415:
410:
404:
401:
397:
391:
388:
384:
381:
380:
374:
371:
365:
362:
358:
352:
349:
345:
341:
338:
332:
329:
326:
322:
319:
313:
310:
307:
303:
300:
294:
291:
284:
280:
277:
276:
272:
270:
268:
267:Muriel Bowser
263:
261:
256:
254:
250:
241:
233:
225:
218:
216:
213:
210:
206:
201:
197:
193:
191:
187:
177:
170:
166:Recent events
165:
163:
161:
157:
152:
149:
144:
141:
137:
132:
130:
126:
122:
116:
114:
113:McMillan Plan
110:
106:
102:
98:
97:public health
91:
86:
79:
77:
75:
70:
68:
63:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
44:Potomac River
40:
38:
34:
30:
26:
18:
561:38°55′28.1″N
554:
507:
496:
491:
480:
475:
466:
455:
446:
436:
427:
417:
403:
390:
383:968 F2d 1283
378:
373:
364:
356:
351:
331:
312:
293:
264:
257:
249:City Council
246:
214:
209:Bloomingdale
202:
198:
194:
182:
153:
145:
133:
117:
94:
71:
67:World War II
64:
41:
24:
23:
576: /
564:77°0′37.7″W
497:Axios D.C.,
160:development
134:During the
125:Girl Scouts
121:World War I
591:Categories
285:References
340:Archived
321:Archived
302:Archived
273:See also
205:DC Water
203:In 2013
101:typhoid
80:History
617:Sand
154:The
123:the
593::
465:.
445:.
426:.
62:.
449:.
430:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
