Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Public Ripoff By The Corcoran
The Corcoran Museum of Art if floating an idea, supported by Mayor Williams, that the city lend it $40 million so that it can build its Gehry addition. The entire project is absurd in my view. First, I believe that Gehry is pulling a fast-one over the architectural world. I've seen the model for the new space and it looks like someone took some wide pasta and tossed it over a box. Second, the addition contrasts completely with the classic design of the original museum. (Actually, in a sarcastic light, perhaps the Corcoran would then become the perfect symbol for Washington, D.C., a city in which everything public is designed by committee and so projects often look like a hodgepodge of elements thrown together to pacify specific constituencies).
The project is also wildly expensive. If I did my math correctly the institution needs to raise about $140 million, a financial commitment which I hope someone on their board questioned as an appropriate use of donor funds. Lastly, the "loan" by the city would not be reimbursed by the museum. It would be re-paid through increased sales and property taxes generated through new economic activity in the area around the Corcoran. I bet there are many causes in the Capitol that would love this deal. And I don't know if you have been by the site on 17th street lately but the area is mostly composed of federal buildings. The Washington Post article says that the museum's fundraising "stalled" at 67 million. It looks like it now wants to give the tab to somebody else. My friend Tyler Green shares my opinion.
PermaLink | 5:04 AM |
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The project is also wildly expensive. If I did my math correctly the institution needs to raise about $140 million, a financial commitment which I hope someone on their board questioned as an appropriate use of donor funds. Lastly, the "loan" by the city would not be reimbursed by the museum. It would be re-paid through increased sales and property taxes generated through new economic activity in the area around the Corcoran. I bet there are many causes in the Capitol that would love this deal. And I don't know if you have been by the site on 17th street lately but the area is mostly composed of federal buildings. The Washington Post article says that the museum's fundraising "stalled" at 67 million. It looks like it now wants to give the tab to somebody else. My friend Tyler Green shares my opinion.
PermaLink | 5:04 AM |
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