Army Scraps $600,000 Toad Art Project

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The study on whether to ditch the project cost a million.

Joe of NY 3:19AM April 30, 2011

The 6400 employees aren't new, they're being moved from other (rented) buildings, where they had furniture (owned by the Army) and computers (owned by the Army) and other information technology (such as routers and servers), owned by the Army.
It would be fascinating to get details of the planned expenditures for furniture, fixtures, and equipment ($38 million; that's more than $5,000 per employee) and particularly for information technology: $146 million represents more than $20,000 per employee. It's not at all clear what new IT is really needed, other than wiring the new building; again, the details for this would be fascinating.

John Broughton of VA 10:51AM April 27, 2011

According to my calculations, my entire federal tax bill I pay does not even pay for the flower arrangements for the White House for a year.
Let's get some perspective here. I'll agree to save and invest my own money if the White House forgoes its flower budget for the year. I don't care if it is a 0.0000001% of the total WH budget. I work all year to buy FLOWERS?
Unless we personalize the costs, there is no perspective on the cost of government spending.

e.r.wen of GA 9:16AM April 24, 2011

That would be the worst statue ever. Stay was from DC artists - they suck! Seriously, $200,000 for THAT?!

Ilpalazzo of WA 3:41PM April 23, 2011

And other countries say we have no culture.

Brian of WA 6:51PM April 22, 2011

OK maybe the sculpture is a over-the-top, but the artist has done projects for other government agencies that look fine. Check out the one she did for Prince George's County and other locations at http://www.cherylfostersart.com/ Many projects have use a small percent of budget for art. The amount was not excessive and the process for deciding on the art had not even been completed. So, let's get a little perspective here.

T Holahan 4:25PM April 22, 2011

So someone with half-a-brain makes a decision with some common sense ???
Maybe there is hope.

socalspud of CA 3:02PM April 22, 2011

my larger question would be why are we spending a 1Billion on this project to begin with? we are suppose to be closing down facilities and streamlining. there are enough GOVmint buildings already. what is the purpose of this facility. Great we saved the $600,000 anyone think this will amount to a real savings. the money will still be spent somehwere else on this project.

king of MO 1:54PM April 22, 2011

Isn't anybody watching the store?
Unless the regulations have changed, only GSA was authorized to purchase fine art. This is fine art, freestanding art, not wall decoration.
I can't believe the Corps would even propose something like this, and can only hope this was another trial balloon proposed by a contractor.

George Hanley of KS 8:42AM April 22, 2011

"...the Army is considering a focus on the initiative to enhance the aesthetics of the long blank concrete wall..." -- what the heck does that mean? I think it says we're going to think about thinking about it.

Jeff of GA 1:37PM April 21, 2011