Museum’s Deal Raises Hope and Eyebrows in Washington
April 14, 2010 | New York Times
Selling real estate can be quite an ordeal these days, but the Corcoran Gallery of Art has found a buyer for a large piece of property in a section of southwest Washington where construction has all but stalled in the economic downturn.
The Corcoran plans to sell the property, an abandoned school for which it once had its own development plans, to a partnership that includes the art collectors Don and Mera Rubell. The buyers are looking to build apartments and a luxury hotel with an in-house museum at the site.
The Rubells, who already own the Capitol Skyline Hotel across the street from the former Randall School, at the corner of I Street and Half Street SW, live in Miami and have a private museum there.
Mera Rubell calls the prospect of building a satellite museum for their collection in Washington a dream.
“This is a story of urban renewal,” she said. “It’s about having faith and allowing yourself to dare to imagine a future.”
But the dream is sure to face significant obstacles and questions as it is reviewed by several layers of district government. The City Council, the Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Review Board must all sign off on the plan.