Tomatoes and potahtoes and the mess in the kitchen left for the next Mayor

Proposed Washington Nationals Stadium Design, northwest aerial perspective. Rendering from the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission.

I hadn't read the Post yet when I wrote the earlier entry about the baseball stadium district debacle. Apparently there is an effort to increase the spending cap to bring forth the money to build underground parking. See "Cropp Pushes for Decision on Parking," subtitled "Council to Consider Mayor's Proposal to Add $75 Million for Underground Lots." From the article:

The District has a deadline of September 2007 to begin a mixed-use development project. After that, it would have to consult with the team owners, headed by Bethesda developer Theodore N. Lerner, on what to put on the site. "You lose your development rights, folks," said Cropp (D), speaking forcefully. "You just throw it away."

She said she was upset because the city could forfeit its original vision for the stadium. The mayor and council debated the issue yesterday in one of the final breakfast meetings of the Williams administration. Williams and Cropp leave office at the end of the year. ...

During the debate, council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) asked his colleagues to give developer Herbert S. Miller another chance to work on a development plan for the parking and multiuse project. Williams had backed a plan by Miller this year, but Miller was unable to agree on financing terms with the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission. Cropp said she opposed working with Miller. "Have you seen anything to show that he has the funds to do it? He can't do it. That's a fact," she said.

Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) said the ballpark should be viewed as a long-term investment whose full development would appreciate in value. He compared it to the 1997 completion of MCI Center, now Verizon Center, where shops and restaurants were developed along with Gallery Place over a decade. "I think we're about to make a decision that we will regret later on" if the underground parking is rejected, he said. ...

Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), who has opposed the stadium project, told Williams that the city should ask for a 10 percent stake in the Washington Nationals if it invests more in parking. Williams laughed when Catania and council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) suggested a new meeting with the Lerner group to discuss the project.

"Dealing with the Lerners is a problem for the new administration," Williams said.

It sure is.

But the new administration is screwed because of the ultra-favorable contract written and signed by the current (soon to be previous) administration. As citizens and legislators, we're all stuck with a lopsided deal.

Were there a philosophy guiding the District Government on how it proceeds with such deals, one with provisions protecting the government's interest, and making mixed use a primary goal and objective for all developments involving District funds and other assets, then the contract would have been written differently, and likely the city wouldn't be in the position that it is.

And note the desire in some quarters to give Herb Miller the development rights, the same Mr. Miller who is a leader of the "Growth Machine," and major contributor to pro-business Council candidates.

Index Keywords: stadiums-arenas