New stadium parking to be aboveground

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The D.C. Council on Tuesday agreed to finance three freestanding parking garages at the new Southeast ballpark, ending any hope in the near term for mixed-use residential and retail development adjacent to the stadium.

In approving the $36 million proposal, 10 council members voted for the most unpopular alternative for parking at the under construction Washington Nationals’ stadium. But the 1,225 aboveground garage spaces should be ready by Opening Day 2008 as required under the agreement with Major League Baseball, proponents of the plan said, saving the city tens of millions of dollars in penalties for late delivery.

The downside? Building non-reinforced freestanding garages shatters plans for revenue-generating development on the city-owned site, at least for now. The Nationals’ ownership, led by developer Ted Lerner, has only agreed to reconsider development there sometime in the future.

“Our new elected leadership of the District of Columbia must safeguard our development rights,” said Ward 5 Council Member Vincent Orange, who backed the resolution, which exempts the project from a zoning requirement that all garages go underground.

Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty, Ward 4 Council member, was among those who struck the deal with Lerner and culled the 10 votes, though he had nothing to say during Tuesday’s debate.

Though he had sought a parking plan with immediate benefits for the District, Mayor Anthony Williams said he was “pleased” with the Council’s decision.

“Today’s vote allows the entire project to continue moving forward in a way that should satisfy all sides, including the Lerner family,” Williams said in a statement.

The proposal was vehemently opposed by Council Members David Catania, Carol Schwartz and Marion Barry.

Stadium supporters have “lost all credibility,” Catania said, saying the aboveground garages will produce no economic benefit for the city.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com

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