The area of the planned McMillan development is expected to proceed with limited demolition work in a few months, after a years-long legal battle fought by local activists, Curbed D.C. reported.
The 25-acre former McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration Site is located at North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue in D.C. It has been one of the most disputed development projects in the District of Columbia.
The goal of the planned redevelopment on the historic site is “to create an architecturally distinct, vibrant, mixed-use development that provides housing, employment, retail, cultural, and recreational opportunities for District residents,” a previous statement by the office D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser explained.
Changes to the design-build contract for the development will be passively approved by D.C. lawmakers in November, according to Curbed D.C.
With the approval, the construction company in charge (Gilbane) will be able to move forward with “demolition design and selective demolition of underground cell structures across seven parcels.” Among the changes is the increase of contract amount from $12.6 million to $30.5 million.
The site is part of a larger 92-acre historic field, consisting of the McMillan Reservoir, the McMillan Slow Sand Filtration Plant, and the McMillan Pumping Station. Between 1905 and 1985, the plant was used to purify water for the District.