Dear Neighbor,
Today, the Council announced we have reached a deal with the Washington Commanders to return to DC and serve as a magnet for the revitalization of the RFK campus and deliver community benefits from housing to recreation space for families to retail opportunities!
I want to thank the many residents, advocates, and stakeholders who have made your voices heard about what you want to see in the plan over the last several months – and years! Next week, the Council will continue to hear from the public on the deal on Tuesday, July 29th, and will also have a hearing with government and team representatives on Wednesday, July 30th. Then the Council will take our first vote on the deal on Friday, August 1st and a second and final vote on September 17th! You can sign up testify or submit testimony here for the July 29thhearing.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the RFK campus that has sat vacant for three decades. I have been working diligently for months with members of the public, the Commanders, the Mayor, the Chairman, and all of my Council colleagues, and I am incredibly proud of the deal we have secured for our city. Below is a breakdown highlighting the wins including those I have fought for in this deal.
New Housing
We have heard from residents across the District that the deal with the Commanders must include new housing to address the housing crunch we are feeling District-wide.This plan includes approximately 6,000 new housing units, one third of which will be affordable.
Fields at RFK
Families across the District enjoy using the Fields at RFK to play and told me for years that they were concerned this access would be disrupted during the construction of a new stadium. We have proudly ensured that the Fields will remain open and untouched throughout the entirety of construction so families can continue to enjoy that space.
New Mixed-Use Development
The District will build a new sportsplex near the fields that will host year-round sporting events and tournaments for our kids. The District will also develop a new Kingman Park District, which will include housing, hotels, retail, and open space and recreational space.
Job Opportunities
The redevelopment of the RFK campus is estimated to generate 14,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs in retail, hospitality, and more. I have been working with the Commanders to develop a training pipeline for formerly incarcerated people reentering our communities so they can benefit from stable employment at the site!
Revenue to the District
I have heard from residents who want to ensure that we are securing a fair deal for taxpayers and am thrilled to share that the District will now be receiving parking revenue as well as a portion of sales tax revenue, elements that were not included in the initial deal.
This development will revitalize this area of Ward 7 and it will also serve as a beacon of spirit and activity for residents across the city who will once again have a football team to call our own, a state of the art sports plex for our kids, and offer housing, retail, and hotels as a boon to our economy. There will be no other football stadium in the country where you can cheer on your team as you overlook the water and our National Monument. Let’s fill the seats at RFK again – let’s vote on the Commanders deal and strive towards a DC where every person is welcome, has opportunity, and can proudly believe in the future of our city.
Let's go Commanders!
Yours in Service,
Brooke
