Developer Herb Miller, who is angling to construct a mixed-use development on the north side of the new Southeast baseball stadium, says he hasn’t been on such touch-and-go political footing since he proposed Gallery Place.
But at least with Gallery Place he had time to maneuver, Miller said Friday, to transform Seventh Street from the South Bronx into one of the most-visited District neighborhoods.
“That was four years,” Miller said. “This is four months.”
Miller, chairman of Western Development Corp., will likely be back in City Hall today as a D.C. Council committee considers a resolution to sell the two parcels he needs to move his stadium project forward.
On that land, Miller has planned nearly 700 condominium units and an 180-room hotel, wrapped around 1,825 above- and below-ground parking spaces. The 925 above-ground spaces would be dedicated for ballpark use.
Action on the resolution has come fast in recent days, as it must. The council will soon retreat into summer recess, and Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has said construction must begin by Labor Day if the parking is to be finished by Opening Day 2008.
On Thursday, the D.C. Zoning Commission backed Miller’s proposal, which is also supported by Mayor Anthony Williams. On Friday, the government operations committee unanimously agreed to declare the parcels surplus, allowing the District to sell them.
Today, the economic development committee will likely approve the resolution, which will then go to the full council Tuesday.
“I’m confident this will come together,” said Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans.
Council members have long advocated development on the two parcels. But concerns remain that any above-ground parking will limit revenue the city had expected to garner from its “development rights.”
Miller still has to address the private financing of his $281 million project. Gandhi, who must certify the deal before construction starts, last week said he couldn’t bless it because there are so many legal and financial hurdles left to clear.
Even if Miller is unable to answer all the questions in the next 24 hours, Evans said the council can still approve the project contingent on Gandhi’s approval down the road.
