Trump aide says razed East Wing had problems too expensive to fix

The White House said it was not feasible to save the East Wing because of structural and other concerns as officials shared details of President Trump's planned ballroom at Thursday's meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission.

- BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE

ARCHITECT Shalom Baranes shows plans for the White House ballroom.

(Chip Somodevilla Getty Images)

Josh Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, ticked off issues including an unstable colonnade, water leakage and mold contamination in explaining why it was more economical to tear down the East Wing to make room for the $400-million ballroom than to renovate it.

"Because of this and other factors, the cost analysis proved that demolition and reconstruction provided the lowest total cost ownership and most effective long-term strategy," Fisher said.

Will Scharf, a top White House aide whom Trump tapped to head the commission, opened the meeting by noting "passionate comments on both sides" of the ballroom project but adding that public comment wouldn't be part of Thursday's session.

"I view today's presentation really as the start of a process as the ballroom moves through the overall NCPC process," Scharf said, adding that his objective is for the commission to play a "productive role" as ballroom construction moves ahead.