Congress considers giving rusting RFK Stadium campus to DC for revitalization

Mar 1

Ray Bogan Political Correspondent

By Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent)

Washington, D.C., is known for its beautiful architecture showcased in landmarks like the Capitol, White House and monuments. But away from the National Mall, parts of the city have been left to rust, including RFK Stadium and its 174-acre campus.

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The campus is the largest unused tract of land in the district, and there’s a bipartisan effort to transform it into a thriving community with restaurants, office buildings and apartment complexes.

“This economic development will help revitalize the RFK Stadium campus creating new jobs and tax revenue for the district’s residents,” Rep. James Comer, R- Ky., said.

The stadium campus is federal land, and it is currently under the control of the Interior Department. A bill that just passed the House would transfer administrative control to the local Washington government for commercial and residential development, recreation and a stadium.

“This allows the District of Columbia to revitalize this site, turning what was once a blight on our nation’s capital into a thriving area of commerce and community,” Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., said. “Importantly, the bill also imposes any remediation or environmental costs onto the District of Columbia, saving taxpayer dollars that would otherwise be spent by the National Park Service.”

RFK is set to be demolished, which is perhaps emblematic of its collapse.

The stadium, once home to the Redskins and host to major concerts featuring bands like Aerosmith, also served as the Nationals’ home for three seasons before they departed in 2007. D.C. United called it home until 2017.

Both the Nationals and D.C. United went to Navy Yard, a gentrification success story in D.C. also located along the Anacostia River. Nationals Park and Audi Field are surrounded by new apartment, condo complexes, stores and restaurants.

“During my tenure, Congress has passed several bipartisan bills to transform underutilized land in D.C. into thriving mixed-used developments,” Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-District of Columbia, said.

In a place where politics is national, much of the opposition to this bill was local. Representatives from Maryland voted against the bill because the Commanders currently play at FedEx field in Prince George’s County. However, the team’s contract to play there ends in 2027. A new stadium and gentrified community around it may be just enough to convince the Commanders’ new owners to bring them back to Washington.

“I believe Prince George’s County in Maryland should be able to compete on a level playing field to keep the Washington Commanders,” Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said. “But this bill would give an unfair advantage to D.C. It’s most certainly not a level playing field when one interested jurisdiction receives a free transfer of federal government subsidized land.”

Norton countered that there is a multi-billion-dollar project backlog preventing the revitalization of this land without the passage of this bill.

“The National Park Service does not have the money to transform the RFK Stadium site from acres of asphalt into parks or mixed uses,” Del. Norton said. “There is precedent for Congress giving title to or administration jurisdiction over federal land to states and other jurisdictions for no consideration.”

The bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by President Biden for this to come to fruition. After that, it’ll be on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to create a development plan.

Tags: James Comer, Washington Commanders, Washington DC

[Ray Bogan]
DC is known for its beautiful architecture – the Capitol, the White House and the monuments. But away from the national mall, parts of the city have been left to rust, including the RFK stadium and its 174 acre campus.

It is the largest unused tract of land in the district, and there’s a bipartisan effort to transform it into a thriving community with restaurants, office buildings and apartment complexes.

[Rep. James Comer]

“This economic development will help revitalize the RFK Stadium campus creating new jobs and tax revenue for the District’s residents,” Rep. James Comer, R- Ky., said.

[Ray Bogan]

The stadium campus is federal land currently under control of the Department of the Interior. A bill that just passed the House would transfer administrative control to the local DC government for commercial and residential development, recreation, and a stadium.

[Rep. Nick Langworthy]

[Ray Bogan]

RFK is set to be demolished – perhaps emblematic of its collapse. The stadium was once home to the Superbowl champion Redskins and hosted massive concerts for bands like Aerosmith.

The Nationals played there for three seasons and left in 2007; DC United called it home until 2017.

Both the Nats and DC United went to Navy Yard, a gentrification success story in DC also located along the Anacostia River. Nats Park and Audi Field are surrounded by new apartment and condo complexes, stores and restaurants.

[Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton]

“During my tenure, Congress has passed several bipartisan bills to transform underutilized land in D.C. into thriving mixed-used developments,” Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., said.

[Ray Bogan]

In a place where politics is national, much of the opposition to this bill was local.

Representatives from Maryland voted against it because the Commanders currently play at FedEx field in Prince George’s County. But their contract to play there ends in 2027.

A new stadium and gentrified community around it may be just enough to convince the Commanders new owners to bring them back to Washington.

[Rep. Glenn Ivey]

“I believe Prince George’s County in Maryland should be able to compete on a level playing field to keep the Washington Commanders. But this bill would give an unfair advantage to DC. It’s most certainly not a level playing field when one interested jurisdiction receives a free transfer of federal government subsidized land,” Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said.

[Ray Bogan]

Holmes countered.

[Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton]

“The National Park Service does not have the money to transform the RFK Stadium site from acres of asphalt into parks or mixed uses,” Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., said. “There is precedent for Congress giving title to or administration jurisdiction over federal land to states and other jurisdictions for no consideration.”

[Ray Bogan]

The bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by the President for this to come to fruition. After that, it’ll be on DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to create a development plan. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.