With surrounding the proposed new stadium at the old RFK Stadium site, 7News asked D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson what changed between the initial and final votes of approval, as well as what is the new timeline for the project to be completed.
In addition to a new NFL stadium, the redevelopment of the long-blighted site is set to – about 30% of which will be designated as affordable housing.
Patricia Stamper is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) near the RFK Stadium site, and told 7News the mixed-use development is crucial for the community’s needs.
“Our biggest thing is we want a grocery store. I know they want to entertain, go football, go Commanders, go team, sports capital of D.C. However, we still gotta eat,” said Patricia Stamper, an ANC near the stadium site.
The new stadium is still expected to be ready for kickoff in 2030.
However, Mendelson told 7News he expects the mixed-use development will be complete by 2040 to 2042.
“Everything is on track for the stadium for 2030. What will take longer is the mixed use development, and that’s going to take longer because we had the change at the last minute – the zoning exemptions for the property,” Mendelson said.
That last-minute zoning change approved by the D.C. Council requires the mixed-use projects would still have to go through the standard city approval process, and will not be exempt.
7News On Your Side asked Mendelson what prompted this change between the first and .
“We just looked at the legal issues around exempting property from zoning. I have to emphasize, it doesn’t affect the stadium. It only affects the mixed use. It was just to make sure there were no legal issues with regard to the legislation,” Mendelson said.
The requirement for to include housing and retail was a major selling point for D.C. residents who raised concerns about a plan that would require tax dollars.
7News On Your Side also asked Mendelson for his response to residents who may use this delay as vindication for their skepticism.
“This is going to be a couple-million square feet of mixed use residential and commercial. It takes time to absorb all of that. You can’t just dump 6,000 units – besides the fact you can’t build 6,000 units in a year,” Mendelson said. “It’s probably going to take a couple of years – I’m going to say two or three years – to get through the zoning process. That’s all, it’s just the additional time to go through the zoning process. Is that a surprise? No.”
Mendelson told 7News he does not anticipate these delays to have an impact on infrastructure and other surrounding projects related to this redevelopment.
In the meantime, Stamper said she and other community leaders won’t merely be spectators.
“We can hold the council, and everyone accountable to ensure we get the mixed use that we need,” Stamper said.