Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond
LET’S PAINT AT THE DUCK POND!
SEP. 28, 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. SATURDAYS: The Little Farm Stand
THRU NOVEMBER
• Organic Produce • Baked Goods & Preserves from Loudoun County • Maryland Maple Syrup and Honey
SEPTEMBER 26th - Waterfront Happy Hour at Cantina Marina
28th - SW ArtsFest
“Let’s Paint at the Duck Pond” with Amidon-Bowen PTA
OCTOBER 18th - Fall Fun & Fitness Fair with Girl Scout Troop 4298
NOVEMBER 9th - Veterans Day Pet Parade with PAWS of Southwest
Let’s Get Connected! Facebook: Southwest Duck Pond Twitter: SouthwestDuckPo Join our list serve: southwestduckpond@gmail.com Special Events Welcome Visit our website www.southwestduckpond.org for more information. Just two MetroRail stops from Eastern Market to SW Federal Center. Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond (NSWDP) is a fiduciary subsidiary of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (www.swdc.org), a 501(c)3 organization headquartered at 1101 Fourth Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024. NSWDP is a participant in the District of Columbia Park Partner program and is the ANCendorsed community organization representing the interests of the Southwest Duck Pond. The Southwest Duck Pond is bounded by Sixth, I (Eye), K Streets, and Makemie Place, S.W.
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Stadium Design
The team will be permitted to develop ancillary uses within the stadium footprint to enhance the game day experience (retail, hotel, etc.), but that development should be designed in such a way that it provides amenities to the surrounding neighborhoods on non-game days. From the looks of the stadium renderings designed by Gensler and HKS, the playing field will take up two blocks from R Street, SW to T Street, SW and one block from 2nd Street, SW to First Street, SW, so the stadium can be built even if Pepco doesn’t give up their land. First Street, SW will curve towards Half Street, SW north of T Street, SW and appears to be a pedestrian plaza (at least on game days). Ancillary development will occur on the east side of the stadium footprint from First Street, SW to Half Street, SW.
Term Sheet
The term sheet states that the District will “pursue (i) re-sequencing options so as to advance construction of the Buzzard Point/Downtown streetcar line and (ii) the construction of a streetcar stop adjacent to the Stadium Site.” The District will not provide parking spaces at the site and it’s unknown how many parking spaces will be provided on site by the team for fans. At least 51% of the jobs at the stadium (excluding United players, coaches, training staff, and front office management) will go to District residents. In addition, at least 35% of operation contracts for the stadium, including security, food service, janitorial services, etc., shall go to businesses certified by DSLBD. Throughout the term of the ground lease, the team is not permitted to leave the District of Columbia or move its principal offices outside of the city. In addition, the team must make reasonable efforts to locate its practice facilities within the city. The terms of the ground lease are still being negotiated, but it will most likely be for the estimated useful life of the stadium (25 to 35 years).
Milestones
Milestones for the project include:
• October 1, 2013: A transaction agreement will need to be completed that explicitly states the terms between the District and DC United.
• January 1, 2014: The District must have site control of the stadium site, except for the Pepco substation block, as well as DC Council approval and Congressional approval (if necessary).
DC United must provide evidence that it has the ability to fund the construction of the stadium within 30 days of the District completing the above tasks.
• March 1, 2015: The District must have the site prepared for construction, including infrastructure work and utility relocation, demolition of existing buildings on the stadium site, environmental remediation, as well as any street or alley closings. In addition, DC United must have obtained all Zoning Commission and Zoning Adjustment approvals, as well as advanced the stadium design at least to the design development completion level. • July 1, 2015: DC United needs to enter into a construction contract for the stadium. • January 1, 2017: The stadium shall be substantially complete, but both parties are aiming for completion by March 1, 2016, in time for the beginning of the 2016 MLS season.
If the two parties do not reach the milestone dates, there are options available for either party to walk away from the deal.
Community Support
Support for the stadium in the community is mixed. In a recent letter to Mayor Gray, Southwest Neighborhood Assembly president Kael Anderson stated: “Southwest’s Buzzard Point is an attractive site to locate an anchor development project like a major league soccer team…With community engagement throughout the planning process, the stadium has the potential to be the lynchpin of a turnaround at Buzzard Point.” But not everyone is pleased with the idea of a stadium in Buzzard Point. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Roger Moffatt represents the area of Southwest that includes the stadium footprint. “I’m definitely in favor of developing Buzzard Point, but I don’t believe it is a good place for this proposed development which would include a stadium with 24,000 seats and a 2,500-seat music venue nearby at The Wharf, said Moffatt. “When these two venues and the ballpark have concurrent events, it would create a possibility of over 60,000 people in the confined area. And that number does not include people visiting the other proposed development in the area. “Poplar Point is a better site because it is less congested and has another huge Metro stop nearby.” H