The New Stadium, Now at What Cost?

Local journalists got a tour of the Nationals stadium construction site today. While it’s hard not to be impressed with how the $350 million dollar stadium is coming together after five months, a big question now looms over this project. How come the cost of building a couple of underground parking garages and one above ground garage has climbed so high so suddenly that the Mayor is asking the DC Council for another $100 million dollars? Clark construction says if the garages are to be ready by April, 2008, Opening Day, they’ll need approval in days, not weeks.

I may be wrong but it seems to me the Council, including the Democratic Mayoral nominee, Councilman Adrian Fenty has been backed into a corner. Forget the spending cap of $611 million for the entire stadium project. Approve another $100 million or abandon underground parking. If you believe the Mayor, that would mean losing all that above ground economic development in the form of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and condos. This was to have been the District’s return for spending millions in public dollars on a new stadium for rich private owners. The new Nats owners, the Lerners want above ground parking. It’s safer, cheaper, can be ready on time and provides easier access to the stadium for the twelve hundred best paying customers. Word is a compromise between the Williams administration and the Lerners could see three temporary above ground lots built for opening day. With the new Mayor left to figure out what to do next to salvage Mayor Tony Williams plans of using the publicly funded stadium to spur an incredible entertainment and residential district along the Anacostia River that would generate millions of tax revenue for years to come. . Stay tuned. I’ve got a feeling that $100 million is just the beginning.