UPDATED, 6:45 p.m. Feb. 7: Councilmember Wendell Felder announced Friday that he will host a meeting on the Future of RFK Campus with Mayor Muriel Bowser 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Eastern High School (1700 E. Capitol St. NE). More info here.
UPDATE 2, Feb.12 10:40 a.m.: The Washington Commanders Football team has asked to postpone their attendance. They were expected to attend another meeting hosted by the FOKP RFK Futures Task Force at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church (330 21 St. NE).
Commissioner Ebony Payne (7D05) told the crowd at a Friends of Kingman Park (FOKP) meeting that representatives of the Washington Commanders told her they were planning for a 65,000 person stadium with parking for about 10-12,000 vehicles in two garages with limited surface parking lots.
The information, shared by Payne at the start of a Feb. 4 meeting hosted by the Friends of Kingman Park (FOKP) and attended by 125 concerned neighbors, was the first insight into possibilities the NFL team might be considering for RFK Campus. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has repeatedly indicated that no deals have been made.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has been clear that she believes that RFK Campus is the best site for a new Commanders stadium. So far, the Mayor’s office has been keeping mum about any discussions, declining to answer questions posed by the Hill Rag and instead referencing a statement issued after DC Council ed legislation that finalized the transfer earlier the same day as the meeting.
Ideas Sketched Out
Payne said she met with representatives of the team in October, prior to the general Election and before Congress ed legislation transferring control of the property to the District. “So, a lot has since changed,” Payne said. ANC Commissioner Brett Astmann (7D07) met with them briefly in December. He and Payne have shared information about these early plans with attendees at previous FOKP meetings and with their constituents.
Commissioners say that the team had a site plan, a map indicating what type of development would go where on the campus, but no concept designs or drawings. Payne said the team did mention that they were considering a super dome style stadium. Both commissioners emphasized that no agreements have been reached.
Astmann told the Hill Rag that from his brief meeting with Commanders representatives, he understood that about 75 percent of the parking would be provided in parking garages.
Two retail zones were indicated on the campus, one near the metro entrance, according to information representatives conveyed to the commissioner. Another located near the water was indicated as including market rate housing. The area currently north of the fields was slated to include affordable housing. No numbers were mentioned.
While The Fields at RFK are expected to remain, no other community recreational facilities are currently planned for the campus. That’s despite the $60 million Mayor Muriel Bowser earmarked in 2022 to advance a 100,000 square foot indoor recreational arena for the site. The Mayor has said that “all things are possible” at the site, affirming at an October 2023 meeting with FOKP and the wider community that both housing and the sports and recreation complex were deliverable.
While welcomed by most attendees at the FOKP meeting, it’s not clear if the preservation of The Fields is precisely a win for the community. Preservation of open recreational space is written into the opened in 2019, occupy 27 acres on the campus.
Commanders ‘Open’ With Commissioners
The conversation between Commanders representatives and individual ANC commissioners took in the fall and winter, little news about the advanced nature of planning has leaked to the public outside of the commissioners’ constituents. But both Payne and Astmann say the team was open with them about what they were considering for the site, and that they were not discouraged from sharing with their constituents.
It is unknown what information the Commanders are preparing to share at the Feb. 20 FOKP meeting. Astmann, who shared the above information in a newsletter sent to his constituents, said he expects that the ideas will have evolved since, and will continue to evolve over time.
The Commanders did not respond to questions but a spokesperson issued a statement. “While the city determines what to do next at the RFK site, we appreciate the continued excitement and opportunity to gather input,” the statement reads. “After an incredible season, we are grateful for the outpouring of and look forward to providing the best experience possible to our fans at any future home.”
In June, the city released a report from consulting firm Robert Bobb Group and Brokerage JLL that argues that bringing the NFL to DC would produce $1.26 billion to the economy and more than 2,000 jobs. That same month, the District paid $565,000 to a private firm to study the feasibility of redeveloping the RFK Campus and of relocating the NFL team to the site. But the public has not seen the report they paid for. WUSA 9 reported that in response to their FOIA request, the city redacted most of the material they shared, saying the city needed to protect their negotiating position. A discussion about the future of RFK Campus featuring Bowser and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson planned by the DuPont Circle Civic Association for Feb. 3 was cancelled after Bowser withdrew.
Community Concerns
The Feb. 4 FOKP meeting was focused on collecting input from the community on what they would like to see on RFK Campus now that the city has fully gained jurisdiction of the property. About 125 attendees at the meeting split into groups, each focused on a particular area of concern, including economics, recreation, environment, transportation and “other”. Attendees were also encouraged to write down questions for Mayor Bowser, DC Council and Commanders representatives. The FOKP RFK Task Force will gather the comments and questions and use them to facilitate discussion Feb. 20.
There were some in the room who said they would an NFL stadium at the site, “if it was done right.” A large contingent of people were concerned about the fate of the 1500-square-foot Maloof Skate Park on campus and the adjacent DC Vault facility, as well as programs that use the fields and facilities. Other attendees had questions about the level of environmental remediation that might be necessary to develop the site and concerns about the potential impact on the river. Many discussed the economic impact of a stadium for better or worse, and the eternal question: who would pay for it. Some were worried about the use of eminent domain, with one man wondering out loud if he should sell his home before it is taken for a parking lot. The two commissioners said they also have concerns about parking, crowds on residential streets and traffic.
DC Council unanimously ed emergency legislation completing the transfer of the campus to District control earlier that same day. The legislation does not provide for an NFL stadium. It does allow the District, rather than the federal government, to decide what should be built there.
It’s unclear what process the Commanders would follow to select a site, whether that would be a bidding process between the District and Virginia or Maryland and what role, if any, the public would take.
Mixed from Elected Leaders
Payne Hail No campaign, arguing the site should be used for additional housing, business, and river access, sentiments he reiterated Tuesday.
The stadium is within Ward 7. Councilmember Wendell Felder (Ward 7-D) was Chair of ANC 7D prior to January, when he was sworn in on DC Council. His office has not yet replied to inquiries. Asked about an NFL stadium at RFK during his campaign, he said there was a need for community discussion about the fate of RFK Campus, but that he would defer to the desires of the community. Felder has made the development and improvement of community economic corridors a key element of his campaign. In his speech as he was sworn in he said that “we can redevelop the grounds of RFK in a manner that makes Ward Seven the envy of the region.”
Payne said while there may not be a deal for an NFL stadium at RFK, the city has clearly spent a lot of time and money have been spent, both in securing the space and in talking through ideas. While the Commanders will attend a meeting the community, representatives from the city haven’t engaged on the future of RFK Campus since control was transferred. “I think that the community should be engaged –and this is the most important time to be engaged,” she said.
The Commanders are expected to attend the FOKP meeting, to be held 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church (330 21 St. NE) in the Imperial Room (enter from 20th Street NE, south of C Street NE).
FOKP plan to post a summary of information on the RFK Future Task Force website www.rfkfuture.org. Additional are welcome. Use the form on the website to get involved.
