2/28/07: The Baltimore Sun - $70,000 Study Set On D.C. United Move

By Childs Walker |Sun Reporter

The Maryland Stadium Authority ordered a $70,000 study yesterday to determine whether Prince George's County would be a suitable home for the D.C. United soccer club.

The study by Crossroads Consulting will examine the county's potential as a soccer market and the potential tax and economic development benefits of attracting the Major League Soccer team.
It will not focus on specific stadium sites. Those would have to be vetted later, though the club has shown interest over the years in several locations near College Park.

It's unclear who would pay for a soccer stadium in Prince George's. "Our commitment here is just to do the study," stadium authority chairman Frederick W. Puddester said.

The report is expected to be complete by July. United has agreed to reimburse the authority for its effort if the club ends up staying in Washington.

United spokesman Doug Hicks said the club is pleased the study will go forward.

United's status in the District of Columbia is murky. Club officials reached out to Maryland leaders about a possible move last fall after funding plans for a new stadium in the city seemed to fall through. But Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty recently refloated the idea of paying $190 million for a stadium as part of a redevelopment project in Southeast Washington.

Fenty previously criticized the use of public money for a new $611 million baseball stadium. Like the Washington Nationals before them, United wants out of RFK Stadium.

Given the uncertainty, United officials remain interested in assessing their options in the Washington suburbs.

Puddester said club executives told him they were caught off guard when Fenty reinitiated talk of funding for a Washington stadium.

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and state Comptroller Peter Franchot have expressed interest in luring the soccer club.

In other business yesterday, the stadium authority heard that construction on the new video and scoreboards at Camden Yards is on schedule. The last pieces of the video screen were expected to go in yesterday, with work on the right-field scoreboard and the main scoreboard set to wrap up next week or the week after.

2/27/08: Washington City Paper - To Build or Not To Build... Who wants a soccer stadium in Ward 8?

An aerial view of the proposed development in Poplar Point
(Courtesy Clark Realty)

The development of Poplar Point would fundamentally change the character of Ward 8, long known as the most economically disadvantaged and restaurant/retail-deprived area of the city. For years, residents have pondered what should become of this 110-acre parcel of land on the banks of the Anacostia River. Now, the city is considering a major development plan created by Clark Realty, which would include two distinct shopping areas, mixed housing, 70 acres of public parkland and a space option for D.C. United’s next soccer stadium, which would require public funding. While the possibility of a sports arena enthralls some, it repels others. This week, we talk to members of communities and hear their takes on the issue:

PRO:

There’s no adjective that I can think of that really describes how intensely I am for it. Having the stadium here in Ward 8 will make this ward a destination point for people in the metropolitan area. In my mind, there are practically no stores that they could put on that point that people could not access is their own communities. So, just putting in retail will not make Poplar Point a destination point, neither will it make it a destination point by just having mixed-income housing. Although the waterfront is there and there will be green space and we would want visitors, why would people think that someone living in Fairfax is going to necessarily come over to enjoy the green space at Poplar point, when there’s plenty of green space in that county? But, soccer will draw people because if you’re soccer fan, you’ll have to come over to where the action is.
-Philip Pannell, Executive Director of Anacostia Coordinating Council

I support the complete development package, which is very important to the new Ward 8. We would get some amenities that we’ve been missing for over 30 years…I work in the District, but I can’t spend my money in the District. All you have is Macy’s downtown! Where can I spend my money? I don’t necessarily want to see department stores. You can have boutiques and other stores. The majority of the local people are [in support of the stadium development plan]. I’ll doubt if you’ll find one that’s not. The soccer crowds will be good for the city, just like the baseball stadium. When you have these different sport activities, people enjoy that. That’s their relaxation, and that’s what they need.
-Mary Cuthbert, Ward 8 ANC commissioner

These days, nobody’s coming to Ward 8 unless you live here. Your cousin might visit you. Once we get the soccer thing and the retail, we’ll have things to give a person a reason to come over to Ward 8. Right now, we got nothing, nothing, nothing…You look at a tourist map downtown, we’re not on it. But then, they’ll expand that map. [Laughs.] We need people to come in and spend money. It’s nice to have visitors; we don’t want them to move here. But, they can visit. Then, we can feel like we’re part of the District. Right now, we’re the only ones here—we can see each other everyday. This would bring a different type of visitor…They pay taxes; the stadium people will be paying taxes; the vendors will pay for their licenses. It will bring in revenue, so Ward 8 can pay its fair share, because right now, we don’t have much to pay in taxes.
-Sandra Seegars, candidate for Ward 8 Councilmember

CON:

I’m always in favor of development and improvement. If you start addressing the quality of life issues first, then I can support a soccer stadium if they were to do that. But, I don’t support anything with this cost. I mean look at the stadium across the river. I’m not in favor of throwing the money in the black hole again. Take care of what needs to be taken care of now, and that’s the people that are here now, not the people, who when you do your projection at the office of planning, and see the type of income that it’s going to sustain the community, blah-bidee-blah, 10, 15 years later. You know, we’re talking now: I would like to see more than one hospital and nursing homes. The two nursing homes that I know over here are horrible. Let’s fix them. Let’s staff them. We’re talking about mental health clinics, recreation centers, low income housing.
-David Brown, resident for 30 years

I’ve been to meetings. I’ve heard people’s pros and cons, and I’ve pretty much been against it from the beginning. And now that I’ve heard it’s going to be built partially with public funds, I’m even more against it. I’m a real outdoorsey type person. Once you lay concrete, it’s hard to take it up, and have a natural setting again, and even though they’re proposing it’s going to have a low impact design, it’s still going to be a major impact on the environment. It’s going to be an impact on the river—and we all know what condition that that’s in. Poplar Point is such a small area, for one. And I know people think visitors are going to be using the Metro, but the stadium’s still going to bring so much traffic. Plus, with everything else they’re going to build on Poplar Point—the area’s not that big.
-Crystal Banks, lifelong Southeast resident

2/23/07: The Washington Post - Funding Plan for Soccer Stadium Denounced

Some District residents are skeptical of public funding.(By Alexandra Garcia -- Washingtonpost.com)

By David Nakamura

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 23, 2008

Ninety D.C. residents and 17 organizations co-signed a letter to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) denouncing a proposal to use public tax money to fund construction of a soccer stadium in Southeast.

In a private meeting with the council last week, Fenty had laid out the possibility of using excess tax revenue that was being collected to service debt on the Nationals ballpark to borrow $150 million in construction bonds for a 27,000-seat stadium for D.C. United. The coalition said in the letter that city leaders should either pay off the baseball stadium debt faster or use the excess taxes for other city services.

"Every penny of public subsidy going into a soccer stadium is a penny that could be used to improve services that DC residents really care about -- health care, education, a clean environment, good libraries, decent housing, and healthy recreation spaces," the letter said.

--

2/16/08: Washington City Paper - MacFarlane Speaks—”Hopeful” of Council Approval

MacFarland (left) Davis (right).

By Mike DeBonis on Feb. 15, 2008, at 6:00 pm

LL wasn’t the only tall, handsome, impeccably dressed gentleman roaming the Wilson Building halls this afternoon.

D.C. United owner and real-estate mogul Victor MacFarlane was making the rounds of D.C. Council offices late today, trying to gauge and drum up support for public funding for a Ward 8 soccer stadium.

LL caught up with MacFarlane on his way out of the building about 20 minutes ago and asked him what his message was to councilmembers today. MacFarlane declined to talk specifics, but spoke in broad terms: “I think we’re focusing on the main principles….We’re going to provide substantial equity that doesn’t require any new taxes.”

Yesterday, a Washington Post article revealed that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty was in talks with MacFarlane about public funding for a stadium at Poplar Point.

MacFarlane has lobbied for a soccer stadium on Poplar Point since the days of Mayor Anthony A. Williams, but the talks came as a surprise, because MacFarlane’s company had declined to submit a bid to serve as master developer of the Poplar Point project after Fenty decided to open the land to other developers.

MacFarlane did say that he’s “very satisfied” with the announcement yesterday of Clark Realty as the master developer and that he and Clark had already begun talks about the stadium.

Asked if he was confident of council approval for any public-private partnership on the stadium, MacFarlane said: “I’m hopeful.”

2/16/08: The Washington Times - United's Stadium Could Help Nationals

Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray: "We could actually have parking for D.C. United used for the Nationals as well."


By Tim Lemke
February 16, 2008

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray yesterday said a new soccer stadium at Poplar Point would help alleviate parking problems across the Anacostia River at the Nationals new ballpark.

"We have a horrific parking problem with the Nationals stadium," Gray said. "I'm not sure people know how close Poplar Point is. If we coordinate schedules, we could actually have parking for D.C. United used for the Nationals as well."

During an interview with reporters and editors of The Washington Times, Gray said there is now strong council support for helping D.C. United find a new home at Poplar Point, and that he has not ruled out using some public funds to construct the new facility.

"I think there are a lot of council members who are excited about how we can do this, and we'd like to reach some sort of conclusion sooner rather than later," he said. "I'm interested in trying to see what we can do to keep D.C. United here. The feasibility side of that I think really will still have to be determined, and that is what is the deal, what is the plan, and what will be required of the District."

Mayor Adrian Fenty on Thursday announced that Clark Realty will head up a massive redevelopment of the 110-acre Poplar Point site and said he is in favor of placing a stadium there.

Neither Fenty nor Gray, however, said they will support financing the stadium entirely with city money, as was done with the Nationals ballpark.

"I don't think there's likely to be any support for a deal in which we'd pay for the entire stadium," Gray said.

Poplar Point is located east of the Anacostia River, within sight of the Nationals ballpark in Southeast. Conceivably, Gray said, fans heading to Nationals game could walk from Poplar Point across a pedestrian walkway on one of the bridges crossing the Anacostia. The Nationals have identified only about 5,000 parking spaces in the ballpark neighborhood, forcing them to use shuttles bus fans from lots at the RFK site.

Gray also said fans parking in Poplar Point would boost economic development efforts east of the Anacostia.

"With Poplar Point becoming a mixed-use site, imagine 81 days with bringing five, 10 or 15,000 back to the other side of the river after games or even before games," he said.

Gray downplayed recent suggestions that the city would try to lure the Redskins back to a new stadium in the District. Early proposals have called for the city to tear down RFK and allow the Redskins to build a new stadium on the site. The city would provide the team with the land for free.

"To the extent there have been discussions with the council, I'm not aware of that at all," Gray said. "RFK has been around for 48 years, and there's absolutely no economic development that's taken place. If economic development is supposed to be the objective of this, how should I believe things will be different after 48 years?"

Meanwhile, Gray said he is hopeful that a new Major League Baseball academy will be under construction within the next year at Fort DuPont.

Gray, who campaigned for the academy when a council member representing Ward 7, said he has had several meetings with Dirk Kempthorne, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, about getting access to the necessary land through either a transfer or long-term ground lease from the federal government. Construction could begin after an environmental study, which will take six to nine months.

Gray also said the Tiger Woods Foundation has had early talks about building a new learning center in Ward 7.

2/15/08: The Washington Times - Fenty Commits To MLS Stadium

Mayor Adrian Fenty now appears willing to negotiate terms with the D.C.'s MLS side.

By Tim Lemke
February 15, 2008

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said yesterday he is committed to placing a new soccer-only stadium at Poplar Point in Southeast, resurrecting hopes that D.C. United will continue playing in the District.Fenty stressed that the city has not struck a deal with the team but said he has had positive discussions with the Major League Soccer team over the last month about building the stadium as part of a $2.5 billion redevelopment of the 110-acre Poplar Point site.

"We understand that playing at RFK Stadium can't work," Fenty said. "We want to find a new stadium for D.C. United. Since Jan. 2, I can't tell you how many meetings I've personally had with D.C. United, let alone my staff, to try and come up with a proposal that makes sense for the District of Columbia."

Fenty made his remarks after announcing that the District selected Clark Realty as the master developer for the redevelopment of the Poplar Point site. Clark beat out several other companies during a competitive bidding process and has proposed millions of square feet of retail, housing and office space along with a 70-acre park.

During the bidding process for the development, Clark had presented plans that included an option for a new soccer-specific stadium. Clark's sister company, Clark Construction, has built several stadiums including FedEx Field and Nationals Park.
"We're just really coming to the table now," Clark Realty Capital managing director Cleve Johnson said. "Obviously, we've built stadiums, and we'd love the job. We're certainly open to working with them."

Fenty said he favored some public subsidy to construct the stadium, whose cost has been estimated at nearly $200 million. He declined to discuss specific financing plans.
One financing option raised to members of the D.C. Council this week was a plan to use excess revenue from business taxes relating to the financing of the Nationals' new ballpark. Such a plan likely would meet some resistance because many city leaders had hoped the excess revenue would be used to pay down the ballpark debt early, or be reimbursed to the business community.

Julie Chase, a spokeswoman for D.C. United owner Victor MacFarlane, said the team and city are discussing proposals that would call for some city subsidy — but no new taxes — as well as a "significant" contribution from the team. She said details, including how much the team would contribute, are still in the works.

"We're certainly happy to be in these negotiations, and we're just going to take it a step at a time," Chase said.

Talk of a stadium had appeared on life support as recently as last summer, when Fenty announced that he broke off talks with United in favor of pursuing a competitive bidding process for the redevelopment of Poplar Point. D.C. United responded by holding talks with officials in places outside the District, including Prince George's County.But council member Marion Barry, Ward 8 Democrat, said he believed Poplar Point would be redeveloped with a soccer stadium as part of the plan, and supported the use of public funds.

"I want to thank the mayor for being committed the concept of a stadium," Barry said. "A lot of work has to be done. We're on the same page. I've canvassed most of the members of the council, and I'm confident most of the members support enthusiastically the concept of a stadium."

2/15/08: The Washington Post - D.C. United Must Chip In to Get Stadium, Fenty Says

Ward 8 residents are pushing to use a soccer stadium as a catalyst to develop Poplar Point, along the Anacostia River. (By Alexandra Garcia -- Washingtonpost.com)

By David Nakamura

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 15, 2008; Page B02

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said yesterday that he would support a public subsidy for a new professional soccer stadium if the team also invested in the project, stating that he opposed spending public money on the Washington Nationals' $611 million ballpark because the deal was too "one-sided."

Fenty (D) made his comments at a news conference near the site of where the project would be built along the Anacostia River. He sought to temper expectations about his administration's commitment to creating a new home for D.C. United, saying no deal had been struck for a proposed 27,000-seat stadium at Poplar Point, a 110-acre swath of neglected parkland.

Yet talk of a new stadium brought swift and divided reaction from residents, business leaders and activists, foreshadowing a replay of the protracted debate over the baseball stadium.

On Wednesday, Fenty told D.C. Council members in a private meeting that he was considering using up to $20 million a year in excess tax money being raised for the Nationals' ballpark to fund $150 million in construction bonds for a soccer stadium. The city also would lease 11 acres, valued by administration officials at $40 million, to United, bringing the public subsidy to $190 million.

"No one ever said there could not be public dollars" for baseball, said Fenty, who voted against the baseball package as a council member. "We said it had to be a fair deal. The baseball deal was completely one-sided. I would never support a deal that is 100 percent city-funded. I would support a deal that is a public-private partnership. Have we seen that deal yet? No."

D.C. government officials and a source close to United's owner, Victor B. MacFarlane, said the team would pay a significant amount of money toward construction, but they declined to be specific.

At the news conference, Fenty announced that Clark Realty of Bethesda had been selected as the master developer for Poplar Point, federal property in Ward 8 that is being transferred to the District. Clark has proposed a $2.5 billion mixed-use development with housing, offices, retail space, a 70-acre park mandated by the federal government, an environmental museum and business hub, and a "deck" that connects Anacostia to the new development. A soccer stadium is optional in the plan.

Fenty did not mention the stadium until it was brought up by council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who supports the plan.

Barry and a dozen civic activists who attended the news conference said the stadium would spur long-awaited development in their ward. Residents, many of whom criticized Fenty for breaking off negotiations with MacFarlane last summer, chanted "Four more years!" as Barry thanked Fenty for "listening to the community."

The stadium "will be an anchor for all the other activity taking place," said James Bunn, head of the Ward 8 Business Council.

But business leaders, environmentalists and social activists raised concerns.

Since 2004, the largest D.C. businesses have been paying a special tax toward the 30-year construction bonds for the baseball stadium project. The debt could be retired several years early if the excess tax money is not used for other projects, according to a recent analysis by D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi, and the special business tax could be discontinued.

James C. Dinegar, president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, said businesses are upset that the council is moving forward with legislation that would require paid sick leave for all workers. He said the Board of Trade would consider the soccer stadium proposal if the city presents a cost-benefit analysis that shows a healthy upside.

But retiring the debt early "is always a prudent business move," Dinegar said. "Obviously, the economy looms large right now. There is unpredictability in the near future and long term. The cost to doing business in the District of Columbia continues to climb."

Barbara Lang, president of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, said: "What we had hoped is that the bonds for baseball would be paid off earlier to relieve the business community of some of the fee."

Gandhi has cautioned city officials to begin conserving money amid a national economic downturn. He also has warned that the city is approaching its borrowing threshold on Wall Street.

Meanwhile, the coalition of environmentalists and social activists that fought the baseball stadium plan drafted a letter to Fenty and the council yesterday stating strong opposition to the soccer plan.

"At a time when the District is likely to face serious budget constraints due to a slowing economy, it is especially appalling to propose a huge subsidy for a luxury like a soccer stadium rather than investing in the basic needs of D.C. residents," the letter said.

2/14/08: The Examiner - United Gets The Ultimate Valentine’s Gift

(Andrew Harnik/Examiner)
D.C. United owners Victor MacFarland (left), Will Chang (right), Brian Davis (right) and Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty (center), at a recent event for D.C. United owners.

By. Craig Stouffer, The Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - In a dramatic turnaround, the District of Columbia government has dropped its long-held resistance to a stadium for D.C. United and instead will announce today that it plans to contribute funds for the construction of a 27,000-seat arena at Poplar Point, the Examiner has learned.

The district will pay between $150-230 million to build a soccer-specific stadium — which will keep D.C. United from moving to the suburbs — on top of $236 million to subsidize infrastructure improvements, The stadium plan will be part of an announcement today of the selection of a primary developer for the Poplar Point site, across the Anacostia River from the Washington Nationals baseball stadium.

D.C. United officials did not return calls seeking comment.

After more than two years of informal negotiations over the development of Poplar Point, talks between the district and team over the development of the site broke down seven months ago. United had offered to pay for a stadium, but after talks broke down, was considering possible stadium sites in Greenbelt and New Carrollton.

If the plan is approved, it will become the largest publicly funded soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer by far, more than double the estimated $65 contributed by Commerce City, Colo., for Dick’s Sporting Goods Park outside of Denver, which opened last year.

Red Bull is paying $180-200 million for a stadium in Harrison, N.J., outside of New York City, according to reports. The Pennsylvania state government also recently approved a package that included $25 million, combined with $30 million from Delaware County and the city of Chester, toward a stadium in the Philadelphia suburb.

2/14/08: The Washington Business Journal - Clark Realty Capital Wins; Soccer Stadium Still In Play

Clarke Realty's Proposal For The Poplar Point Development


By. Jonathan O'Connell Staff Reporter

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty has picked Clark Realty Capital LLC to develop Poplar Point, a 40-acre plot of waterfront property on the Anacostia River.

At the Thursday announcement, held atop the parking garage of the Anacostia Metro station, Fenty said Clark's proposal "was the most superior" and that it would bring amenities east of the river "that residents of this area have desired and wanted for a long time."

A soccer stadium seems likely to be included in the deal.

D.C. asked the final three teams, Clark, Forest City and Archstone Smith-Madison Marquette to work options for a soccer stadium into their proposals and Fenty and Victor MacFarlane, owner of D.C. United, are negotiating a subsidy package to include a soccer stadium, plans Fenty shared with the D.C. Council late Wednesday.

But the mayor refuted press reports that stated the city planned to offer varying subsidies of between $150 million and $200 million. Fenty acknowledged that a stadium would require an agreement on a public subsidy "but we don't have it yet." Neil Albert, deputy mayor for economic development, estimated the cost of a 27,000-seat soccer stadium at between $200 million and $300 million and said MacFarlane had offered to pay a "significant portion" of that.

As a councilman, Fenty opposed $611 million in public financing for the Washington Nationals' stadium and backed out of direct negotiations with D.C. United for a stadium last summer. But Fenty criticized suggestions that the current negotiations represented an about-face from his votes, saying a subsidy for a United stadium would not resemble the "one-sided deal" for the baseball stadium.

Councilmembers Marion Barry, D-Ward 8, and Yvette Alexander, D-Ward 7, were on hand to applaud the announcement.

"I want to thank the mayor for being committed to the concept of a stadium," said Barry, a stadium supporter. He said he was sure there was enough votes on the council to pass a stadium proposal

Whether or not it includes a stadium, Clark has proposed a $236 million public subsidy for infrastructure for the $2.5 billion project. The Arlington-based arm of Clark Enterprises proposed building 1.5 million square feet of offices, 3,200 residential units, 405,000 square feet of retail and 224,000 square feet of hotels. Arlington-based Clark also planned an international environmental facility as a center for sustainable energy education and industry, as well as a pre-K through 12th grade school in partnership with KIPP, the network of charter schools that already serves hundreds of Ward 8 children.

All of the new development would surround 70 acres of park space.

Seven teams initially responded to the city's solicitation for offers, and three were quickly eliminated before the remaining four presented their ideas to the community in December. In the meantime, MacFarlane entered discussions with Maryland officials about the possibility of building a stadium in Prince George's County for D.C. United.

The federal government still controls the land, and D.C. estimates that it will take 12 to 18 months to transfer National Park Service facilities on Poplar Point to another location. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior will then have to certify plans for the site before it is transferred to the city.

Construction is not likely to begin until 2010 or 2011.

2/14/2008: The Washington Post - Fenty: No Deal for Poplar Point Soccer Stadium

Ward 8 residents are pushing to use a soccer stadium as a catalyst to develop Poplar Point, along the Anacostia River. (By Alexandra Garcia -- Washingtonpost.com)


By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; 1:04 PM

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said today that no deal has been struck to use public funds to build a professional soccer stadium in Southeast Washington. He also said his talks with D.C. United about a partnership do not represent a drastic departure from his stance against public financing of the Nationals baseball stadium.

The proposed new stadium would cost as much as $190 million in public money -- $150 million in construction bonds and $40 million in land leased to the D.C. United soccer franchise, according to government sources.

In a private meeting with the D.C. Council yesterday, Fenty (D) said the District has been collecting $20 million a year in excess revenue from city taxes related to the financing of the baseball stadium, the sources said.

Fenty said the city could use that revenue to pay for construction bonds for a 27,000-seat soccer stadium for United, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussion was private. Such a plan could prove controversial in the business community, which has been paying additional taxes since 2004 toward the baseball project. The District instead could choose to use the excess tax money to retire the 30-year baseball stadium bonds early, city officials said.

As a council member, Fenty repeatedly voted against public financing of the $611 million baseball stadium. Since taking office, he has been under increasing pressure from Ward 8 residents to use a soccer stadium as a catalyst to develop a barren 110-arce parcel, known as Poplar Point, along the Anacostia River.

At a morning news conference today in Anacostia, Fenty played down the stadium discussions, saying: "We're not at that point yet. Nothing has been finalized."

When asked how he would square supporting public dollars for a soccer stadium against his previous stance on baseball, Fenty said his position had been misrepresented.

"No one ever said there could not be public dollars" for baseball, Fenty said. "We said it had to be a fair deal. The baseball deal was completely one-sided. I would never support a deal that is 100 percent city-funded. I would support a deal that is a public-private partnership. Have we seen that deal yet? No."

Sources close to D.C. United said that under the latest stadium proposal the team would contribute "significant equity" to the project.

The mayor also announced at the news conference that he has selected Clark Realty Capital, a Bethesda-based company, as the master developer of Poplar Point.

Clark, which won an open competition for the site, proposed a mixed-use development that includes housing, retail, a 70-acre park mandated by the federal government, a hub of businesses dedicated to the environment, a charter school and a three-block "deck" built over Interstate 295 so that Anacostia residents can walk to Poplar Point. An optional stadium was also included.

When asked about the discussions in the meeting, council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who has backed a stadium, said: "My understanding is that a stadium will be part of the deal. The community has been empowered and their voices heard."

Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who voted against the baseball financing, said, "We learned in the baseball debate that the public is leery of public financing, and there are many who will say, 'Here we go again.' "

D.C. United began threatening to move to Prince George's County after Fenty broke off informal negotiations with team owner Victor B. MacFarlane in July. Fenty thought that MacFarlane's plan, which required $350 million in public subsidies for infrastructure, was too expensive for the city.

"We do not have any deal with the District," said Julie Chase, a spokeswoman for MacFarlane.

United plays at the 47-year-old RFK Stadium and will be the sole tenant there after the Nationals move in spring into their new ballpark, near the Navy Yard and South Capitol Street SE.

Fenty has said repeatedly that he would try to keep United in the District. But according to government sources, he has feared supporting a publicly financed soccer stadium lest he become embroiled in the kind of bitter, lengthy political fight that his predecessor, Anthony A. Williams (D), waged over the baseball stadium project.

Williams fought for almost two years before the council gave final approval to the baseball financing package. Among the highlights of the negotiations was a night in 2005 when the council voted to reject one version of the deal, only to reverse course and approve it about 1 a.m.

Fenty, the sources said, wants to ensure that he has the support of the majority of the council before he makes a public announcement.

Even if the council agreed to use public money for a soccer stadium, the larger Poplar Point development project is likely to cost much more in public funds. The Clark proposal could cost $200 million to $350 million for infrastructure, including roads, sewers, lights and the park. Some of those costs almost certainly would fall on the city.

Administration officials will negotiate with Clark Realty for the next six to nine months to nail down the development plan. Environmental remediation could take as long as 1 1/2 years before construction begins, officials have said. The overall plans could take more than a decade to realize, officials said, although the soccer stadium probably would be in the first wave of building, within three to four years.

Amidst Hope There Is Confusion and Doubt...

Clarke Realty's Proposal For The Poplar Point Development

By.Chris Pittman

I can't lie. Yesterday when I heard that our new buddy(?) Adrian Fenty is now planning to propose public funding for the building of a stadium at Poplar Point, I nearly jumped out of my seat. News like this has been a long time coming, and I for one was pretty psyched. But...

After a few hours my conscious started to kick in and I realized just how unjust this is (if true) for the taxpayers within The District. I love D.C. United, but I originally invested myself in this whole debacle because there seemed to be a sort of moral battle in this issue. I didn't like the idea of the government going through with a development that seemed to not have the best interests of the citizens in hand. I firmly believed (and still do) that any development at Poplar Point without a "privately" financed United stadium would be a failure.

Now after getting a little more information regarding what exactly Fenty is proposing I have to honest and say that I'm downright confused. I think the choice to partner with Clarke is wise since they, by far had the best plan for both the city, the people, and the team. I just cannot understand the numbers and logic behind the Mayor's decision. Why would he offer public financing? He has to know that the city will also have to cover the infrastructure costs? This now almost doubles the districts bill?

After politically shooting down United's plan months ago it seemed as if United would never get Fenty's full support. He had cut off all negotiations and publicly distanced himself from the team. So why now all of the sudden has his tune changed? Why now has he decided to throw up more money than was originally asked for?

My only guess would have to be that Fenty must have finally felt some real growing pressure from PG county's bid for the team. Looking at the numbers the Mayor had to have realized that The District is better with United, than without. So now he is about to make, what appears to be a hasty political bid to keep the team in The District... on his terms. Who knows how MacFarland will react to this offer. My gut tells me that he and the United front office will take it as a positive sign and re-start negotiations with The District. They most likely won't be interested in a deal that requires them to submit to the DCSC, so I wouldn't be surprised if this drag's out over the next few months before we get any definitive answers on who will pay for and own the stadium.

This seems to be a positive step, but the team and the city both need to see that this gets done in a way that doesn't forget the peoples interests. United has waited too many years for this stadium to just let it slip by. They'll work hard to see that it gets done right.

2/14/2008: The Examiner - Taxpayers to Foot $150M of D.C. United Stadium Costs

Feb 14, 2008 3:00 AM (6 hrs ago)
by Bill Myers and Craig Stouffer
The Examiner

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Mayor Adrian Fenty has agreed to use at least $150 million in taxpayer dollars to help build a soccer stadium as part of a deal that will keep D.C. United in the city, The Examiner has learned.

Fenty held a closed-door meeting with District Council members Wednesday and told them that Clark Realty Capital LLC will be paid another $236 million to rebuild the Poplar Point development East of the Anacostia River, city hall sources said. As part of the project, Clark will build a new soccer field for D.C. United, the sources said.

The city would contribute at least $150 million of the total cost of $230 million to build the stadium, multiple sources said.

The plan will be announced today at a news conference.

It comes over objections from council members David Catania, I-at large, and Carol Schwartz, R-at large, who balked at shuffling yet more taxpayer dollars into another stadium project after committing large amounts of public money to the Washington Nationals, sources told The Examiner.

The deal represents a reconciliation between Fenty and Victor MacFarlane, United’s owner. MacFarlane, a prominent developer, had threatened to take his team to the suburbs because Fenty wouldn’t commit public money to a new stadium.

Doug Hicks, a spokesman for the team, refused to comment.

Fenty spokeswoman Carrie Brooks also did not respond to requests for comment.

The mayor was apparently persuaded by his deputy, Neil Albert, council chair Vincent C. Gray and member Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, chair of the council’s finance committee. Gray and Evans met with Albert separately on Monday and mapped out plans to help the mayor win support for United’s public financing.

According to sources familiar with Wednesday’s meeting, Catania — an outspoken critic of the publicly financed Washington Nationals stadium — said Fenty was playing fast and loose with the public’s finances.

Poplar Point deal

» $236 million for “infrastructure”

» $150 million-$230 million to build 27,000-seat stadium

» City to control stadium

Got a tip on the new stadium deal? Call Bill Myers at 202-459-4956 or e-mail bmyers@dcexaminer.com.

2/14/2008: The Washington Post - Fenty Eyes Public Funds for Soccer Stadium

Ward 8 residents are pushing to use a soccer stadium as a catalyst to develop Poplar Point, along the Anacostia River. (By Alexandra Garcia -- Washingtonpost.com)

By David Nakamura

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; Page A01

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has proposed using public funds to build a professional soccer stadium in Southeast Washington that would cost as much as $190 million, a drastic departure from his stance against public financing of the Nationals baseball stadium.

In a private meeting with the D.C. Council yesterday, Fenty (D) said the District has been collecting $20 million a year in excess revenue from city taxes related to the financing of the baseball stadium, according to government sources with knowledge of the meeting.

Fenty said the city could use that revenue to pay for construction bonds for a 27,000-seat soccer stadium for D.C. United, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussion was private. Such a plan could prove controversial in the business community, which has been paying additional taxes since 2004 toward the baseball project. The District instead could choose to use the excess tax money to retire the 30-year baseball stadium bonds early, city officials said.

Fenty, who as a council member repeatedly voted against public financing of the $611 million baseball stadium, declined to comment yesterday. Since taking office, he has been under increasing pressure from Ward 8 residents to use a soccer stadium as a catalyst to develop a barren 110-arce parcel, known as Poplar Point, along the Anacostia River.

The mayor plans to announce at a news conference in Anacostia today that he has selected Clark Realty Capital, a Bethesda-based company, as the master developer of Poplar Point.

Clark, which won an open competition for the site, proposed a mixed-use development that includes housing, retail, a 70-acre park mandated by the federal government, a hub of businesses dedicated to the environment, a charter school and a three-block "deck" built over Interstate 295 so that Anacostia residents can walk to Poplar Point. An optional stadium was also included.

When asked about the discussions in the meeting, council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who has backed a stadium, said: "My understanding is that a stadium will be part of the deal. The community has been empowered and their voices heard."

Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who voted against the baseball financing, said, "We learned in the baseball debate that the public is leery of public financing, and there are many who will say, 'Here we go again.' "

D.C. United has been threatening to move to Prince George's County after Fenty broke off informal negotiations with team owner Victor B. MacFarlane in July. Fenty thought MacFarlane's plan, which required $350 million in public subsidies for infrastructure, was too expensive for the city.

"We do not have any deal with the District," said Julie Chase, a spokeswoman for MacFarlane.

United plays at the 47-year-old RFK stadium and will be the sole tenant there after the Nationals move in spring into their new ballpark, near the Navy Yard and South Capitol Street SE.

Fenty has said repeatedly that he would try to keep United in the District. But according to government sources, he has feared supporting a publicly financed soccer stadium lest he become embroiled in the kind of bitter, lengthy political fight that his predecessor, Anthony A. Williams (D), waged over the baseball stadium project.

Williams fought for almost two years before the council gave final approval to the baseball financing package. Among the highlights of the negotiations was a night in 2005 when the council voted to reject one version of the deal, only to reverse course and approve it about 1 a.m.

Fenty, the sources said, wants to ensure that he has the support of the majority of the council before he makes a public announcement.

Even if the council agreed to use public money for a soccer stadium, the larger Poplar Point development project is likely to cost much more in public funds. The Clark proposal could cost $200 million to $350 million for infrastructure, including roads, sewers, lights and the park. Some of those costs almost certainly would fall on the city.

Administration officials will negotiate with Clark Realty for the next six to nine months to nail down the development plan. Environmental remediation could take as long as 1 1/2 years before construction begins, officials have said. The overall plans could take more than a decade to realize, officials said, although the soccer stadium probably would be in the first wave of building, within three to four years.

Conflicting Reports of Progress

So news broke not too long ago that progress has finally been made with Mayor Adrian Fenty. As stated here earlier it seems that (if the current reports are correct) Mayor Fenty does in fact want a United stadium at Poplar Point. It sounds like he wants it so much now that he's now offering to pay for the damn thing. Whether MacFarland and Co. will go for that has yet to be seen, but either way it looks as if a resolution to this debacle might be right around the corner. Here's NBC and ABC's takes on the matter...
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News4 has learned that Mayor Adrian Fenty plans to propose building a $200 million soccer stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River across from the city's new Nationals ballpark.

Sources told News4's Tom Sherwood that the soccer stadium would be part of a $1 billion development deal on about 40 acres of land at Poplar Point along the river. The sources said the mayor will announce as early as Thursday that he has selected Clark Construction to develop the land.

Under the mayor's proposal, which must be approved by the D.C. Council, the city would spend about $200 million on the soccer stadium. Funds to pay for the soccer stadium bonds would come from taxes and revenue that already are being generated by the new baseball stadium, which opens in late March.

If approved by the council, the stadium deal would keep the D.C. United team in the District. Soccer team owner Victor Macfarlane has been talking about moving the team to a suburban location.

In addition to the soccer stadium, the city is expected to spend about $240 million on street, sewage and other public works improvements on the land.
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and now ABC's...
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Sources tell ABC 7 News D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty will announce at a morning news conference the city has offered a deal to D.C. United to build a stadium at Poplar Point in Anacostia, keeping the soccer team in the city.

The mayor briefed council members on his plan Wednesday, according to sources, saying he would like the immediate backing of the majority of the council before moving forward with the deal. It's not clear what will happen if the seven members don't come forward. Sources say under the mayor's plan, the city would lease 11 of the 110 acres at Poplar Point and provide the land to D.C. United for a stadium. The rest of the land would go to Clarke Construction, which the mayor has chosen as having the best plan to develop the area.

An earlier plan, which Fenty rejected, would have given the entire site to D.C. United and it's backers to develop.
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Well there you have it. If I was a betting man I'd have to say that the odds are looking pretty good for a United park within The District. Who knows which report is correct and which way United will go on the offer, but either way, for the first time in a long time it seems as if our local government wants us again. It's a nice feeling. I'll be back tomorrow with an update...

No News Must Be Good News... Right?

So it's been quite awhile now since we've heard any concrete information on DCU's stadium search. This could either be good or bad. This week I'm leaning towards good, and I'll tell you why...

Right now United has two solid stadium site options within two separately governed areas. This is unchartered territory for this organization since beginning this ordeal years ago, and they finally now have some leverage to use when negotiating with the D.C. government. It's a well know fact that all three of the developers bidding for master development rights at Poplar Point are in talks with Victor MacFarland and D.C. United. It's also known that all three of those developers now have officially outlined their plans with a United stadium as an option. D.C. United has gained substantial support in the D.C. council. Many members have voiced their support of a stadium and it's safe to assume that if somehow a master plan is put forth for a vote that does not include a United park, they would vote it down. It seems that anyone who is involved in this debacle has to realize that Poplar Point needs a catalyst for economic change, and the only suitable catalyst that can be seen at this time is a D.C. United stadium.

This, of course doesn't mean that a United stadium is right around the corner. No, first Victor MacFarland and Co. have to agree to a suitable timeline for the development. The Poplar Point development could possibly take over a decade to finish. A United stadium would have to be the first thing built in the development, and even before that could happen their would have to
to be an enormous effort from the city to environmentally clean the area. This also could take quite awhile. I'd like to believe that Kevin Payne and former Mayor Anthony Williams took all of this into account years ago, but with the way things have gone I really don't know. Either way it's beginning to look more and more likely that United will have it's choice of location when this is all said and done.

The bright side to all of this might actually be the fact that, for the Redskins to move back into the city, United must first vacate RFK. I don't see the district running DCU out of town to build the Snyder Dome, rather I'd like to think that this is just one more reason for the District to work with United in completing a stadium deal in Anacostia. Maybe I'm a glass half full kind of guy, but it just seems the more logical option.