Residents split over garage; preservation advocates urge board to prioritize historic appropriateness

Public comment at the HRPB hearing reflected strong division in the neighborhood over the proposed K Street Garage.

David Sims told the board that, from his attendance at prior meetings, "WMOTA is paying 1000000 dollars for this garage and financing part of it" and asserted some spaces might be dedicated to the museum. Several residents argued the garage (discussed at roughly 56 feet in some materials) would overwhelm the historic district and urged the board to deny the new construction COA. Christopher McPhoy urged the board to remember its charge, saying, “I would just remind you the name of this board, Historic Resources Preservation. You're not here as the economic development board.”

At the same time, business‑oriented commenters such as Greg Richter said they supported the garage because downtown businesses need parking; Richter told the board he had talked to business owners who “are begging for this garage.” Board members and staff recorded both the concerns about scale and the argument that added parking can help preserve a functioning downtown. Staff reminded speakers that civil and stormwater review remains a required technical step at permitting and that some earlier building removals had been authorized by prior commission decisions when structures were deemed infeasible to renovate or relocate.

The divergent public input — flood/runoff and preservation concerns versus business access and parking shortages — was reflected in the board’s final split votes and will be part of the record as the matter moves to the city commission.