Opinion ID: 3011088
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Historic Structures to be Destroyed

Text: The plaintiffs strongly object to the fact that the defendants calculated the square footage of the two historic structures to be relocated or destroyed (one under the FSU alternative and one under the MS alternative) and compared the footage when arguing that the FSU alternative was preferable. The structure to be taken under the FSU alternative covers .1 acre, whereas the structure to be taken under the MS alternative covers .3 acres. The defendants submit that it is better to take a smaller structure than a larger one. Case law teaches that the evaluation of harm requires a far more subtle calculation than merely totaling the number of acres affected. See District of Columbia Fed'n of Civic Ass'ns v. Volpe, 459 F.2d 1231, 1239 (D.C. Cir. 1971). Nevertheless, the plaintiffs do not indicate why the smaller structure is the more historically significant (though it is their burden to show that the defendants' decision was arbitrary and capricious), and the record discussion of the two buildings in the FEIS does not indicate that they differ significantly in historical worth. 21 The FEIS describes 2-4 Front Street, the historic structure that would be taken under the MS alternative, as a multi-family residential structure. The FEIS states, The two story frame dwelling which dates from the late 19th century is in good condition, but has fair historical integrity due to the application of aluminum siding. The FEIS describes 9 Factory Street (which would be destroyed under the FSU alternative) as a two story dwelling with the rear dating from c. 1857 and the front from the late 19th century; the statement describes No. 9 as fair in both condition and integrity. Although it would have been helpful for the record to contain more detailed historical evaluations, we cannot hold that 9 Factory Street is of such different historical value that it was arbitrary for the defendants to select the alternative that would require No. 9 to be taken.