Where does the DC Council stand on the RFK deal?

The nearly billion deal on the table to redevelop the RFK Stadium site and bring the Washington Commanders back to the District necessities the blessing of at least seven members of the D C Council but a current tally appears to show more negotiations may be needed When it comes to the current agreement released Monday by the city and squad owner Josh Harris only four members appear poised to put their backing behind the deal When inquired after the announcement on Monday if they endorsement the deal At-Large Council members Anita Bonds and Kenyan McDuffie along with Ward Council member Brooke Pinto all mentioned yes So too did Council member Wendell Felder whose Ward jurisdiction would be home to the new stadium I think people will get excited once they see the project once they know how they fit into the project what jobs are going to be created both temporary and permanent and really the way that we bolster our hospitality tourism our sports financial market McDuffie revealed on Monday At the announcement Felder also called the plan a once in a lifetime opportunity for the city As the Ward Council member I have one agenda and that s to make Ward the best ward in the District of Columbia And with investments like this I think we re headed in the right direction Felder disclosed Those in assistance of the deal talked about the economic boom they believe it would create at the mostly dormant campus with new retail restaurants hotels entertainment recreation and housing proposed alongside it One big point for the project is the price tag for taxpayers as estimates show redeveloping the campus which is roughly the size of the Glover Park neighborhood would cost over billion Both Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Ward Council member Brianne Nadeau noted the sticker shock is a big concern for them and the main reason they cannot help the deal at this time I continue to be concerned with investing any population money into a stadium while we have constrained budgets and revenues and unmet requirements Mendelson declared in a report to WTOP on Monday When it comes to a stadium at RFK it s a no for me The District cannot afford to spend billion in taxpayer money on a sports stadium for a privately held group a stadium that will sit dark the majority days Nadeau declared in a message on Monday Mendelson also expressed concern that funding for Metro is not a part of the current agreement There was a strong no from Council member Charles Allen who stated while he has enjoyed sitting down with the group and others to talk about the plans he called it a bad deal for the city At the end of the day though I think this is a community capital that is way way too much when we have so a large number of other clear and pressing necessities Allen commented While he announced he would patronage the redevelopment of the RFK site which is now under the city s control Allen declared he doesn t believe the stadium requirements to be the anchor for the project At-Large Council members Christina Henderson and Robert White Jr as well as Ward s Matthew Frumin commented they are undecided at this point In a announcement while calling the agreement a once-in-a-generation opportunity White reported he is still reviewing the terms of the deal and expressed concern for the city s price tag White also reported he wants to see long-term employment pipelines for residents youth sports and arts programs funded through the deal as well as the evolution of a society innovation hub or tech corridor which he believes would start new opportunities We must approach this deal with transparency and fairness so we can preserve D C s legacy and secure its future White explained For Henderson WTOP was directed by her office to a Reddit Ask Me Anything or AMA in which she has expressed concern about the parking garages and what will happen if the revenue expectations are not met She also wants to learn more about labor agreements associated with the project and more details on the affordable housing Source