Stop the Tower

Item in The Washington Post, 11/17/00

Tower Firm Airs Radio Ads for NW Project

American Tower Corp. launched a public relations campaign yesterday to try to get public support to resume building a 756-foot telecommunications tower in Northwest Washington, airing advertising spots on three radio stations.

The initiative began on the same day that the company's attorneys were in U.S. District Court trying to move along a lawsuit against the D.C. government. The company sued the District last month, alleging that Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and other officials violated the firm's rights by revoking the project's building permit.

By the time the permit was revoked, the shell of the tower had reached 281 feet. The $5.6 million structure is on 41st Street NW, near the Tenleytown Metro station. A coalition of neighborhood activists organized this year to oppose the project.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman set a hearing for Jan. 19 on a motion by the District to dismiss the suit.