Michael Neibauer, The Examiner
2008-02-15 08:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

Critics lined up Thursday to slam the idea of a tax subsidy to build D.C. United a stadium east of the Anacostia River, as Mayor Adrian Fenty insisted that public financing would be necessary for the project but denied a final deal had been struck.

“There is nothing final in place,” Fenty said from the upper deck of the Anacostia Metro station parking garage, which overlooks Poplar Point, the likely new home of a 27,000-seat soccer stadium. “There are a lot of different proposals.”

Fenty named Clark Realty Capital as project manager for the $2.5 billion redevelopment of Poplar Point, the largest economic development project ever undertaken by the District, and one that will “hopefully provide some of the amenities that residents of this area have deserved and wanted for some time,” the mayor said.

The mayor floated the idea of public financing by the council Wednesday, and sources say he found at least seven initial supporters. That plan called for up to $230 million in subsidies, and threatens to drag the government back into a vitriolic debate over stadium financing.

“I think most people understand if the city’s involved there will be a public subsidy,” Fenty said.

The mayor is weighing whether to use $20 million in excess tax revenue collected for the baseball project to subsidize construction of a $200 million soccer stadium

But opponents were quick to emerge. An e-mail circulated late Wednesday by the People’s Property Campaign urged members to contact the council and “tell them what you think of this plan for yet another giveaway.” Parisa Norouzi, co-director of Empower D.C., said a new stadium should be Fenty’s last priority.

“It’s disheartening that elected officials think that type of development will uplift people, she said.

Julie Chase, spokeswoman for MacFarlane and D.C. United, said the team is “still committed to the District…” She declined to discuss specifics of any negotiations, except to say that the city’s costs would be fixed and no new taxes would be needed.

“There would be a significant equity infusion from D.C. United,” Chase said.

D.C. United has long pegged the 110-acre site for its new stadium, but Fenty threw that plan into chaos last summer when he opened up the project to competitive bidding. Developer Victor MacFarlane, the team’s owner, responded by threatening to move the team to Maryland.

Examiner staff writer Craig Stouffer contributed to this article.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com