The skyline of the 4200 block of Massachusetts Avenue SE has long been dominated by the graceful, two-story brick sanctuary of New Macedonia Baptist Church. Since November, though, the church has had competition: The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) repainted a midblock nondescript silver water tower in an eye-catching cobalt blue. At a December community meeting, residents griped that WASA hadn’t bothered to show them paint chips before choosing the vivid color. Spokesperson Libby Lawson says the agency has held public meetings to explain its $40 million plan to refurbish the water system east of the river but has not discussed aesthetics. Engineers, Lawson says, studied pictures “to see how [the tower] blends into its natural environment.” Neighbors say the experts missed the mark. “It looks awful,” complains Ruth Cobb, who lives a block away. “It just messes up the atmosphere of the whole block.” —Annys Shin