Mayor Anthony Williams and a contingent of private builders Tuesday laid out their vision for development adjacent to the Washington Nationals’ new stadium, proposing more than 1,600 above and below ground parking spaces masked by a mixed-use project of offices, hotels and apartments.
The deal, struck between the District and three developers — led by Herb Miller’s Western Development Corp. — is a compromise between the city’s desire for underground parking on the north side of the South Capitol Street ballpark and team ownership’s call for easier-to-build above-ground parking, proponents said.
“This project has always been about more than a baseball stadium,” the mayor said. “It’s about building a living, breathing neighborhood.”
The proposal calls for more than 700 parking spaces underground, a four-level garage with 928 spaces above ground and a 10-story development consisting of condominiums, office, retail and a “hip, New York-based hotel,” Miller said.
Much of the parking would be curtained behind the development, not unlike what Western Development fashioned at Gallery Place.
The developers, including the Jair Lynch Cos. and the Jarvis Co., would be expected to have the parking ready to go by opening day 2008, the first dayfor fans in the new stadium.
“It’s a lot of work,” Miller said. “It’s hard work. We will make those dates.”
The proposal, which Williams estimated could generate $300 million in tax revenue over 30 years, will soon go before the D.C. Zoning Commission.
Williams is putting his foot down on the parking issue, a contentious subject between the city and the Lerner family, the Nationals’ owners. At some point, the mayor said, someone has to make a decision, and the stadium construction deal signed with Major League Baseball gives the executive that authority.
The Lerners have been thoroughly briefed on the mayor’s plan, said City Administrator Robert Bobb. Lerner representatives could not be reached for comment and were not present for the press briefing.
The city has set aside $21 million for parking construction. Additional costs will be financed, officials said, with the revenues generated by the sale of the property, valued at roughly $70 million. The mixed-use development will be privately financed.
Proposal at a glance
» 928 baseball parking spaces, 771 for residences
» 660 residential units, 180 which are to be affordable
» 23,600 square feet of retail
» 88,280-square-foot hotel
