photo by Ian Will
From the Sierra Club:
“The DC Council today approved legislation providing more than $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies to the billionaire owners of the Washington Commanders for a new stadium at the RFK site. Though Councilmember Charles Allen was able to secure some resources for transit improvements, a pause on a third parking garage, and energy efficiency standards for the stadium, the Sierra Club DC Chapter opposes the deal because it prioritizes a handout to wealthy team owners over protecting residents, the climate, and the Anacostia River.
“DC families deserve investments in clean energy, affordable housing, public transit, and clean rivers, not giveaways to billionaires that saddle DC residents with air, water, and climate pollution,” said Sierra Club DC Chapter Chair Mike Litt. “Instead of protections for neighbors and nearby nature, the deal brings DC residents more traffic, more trash, and more pollution.”
The Sierra Club’s Sustainability Platform for RFK calls for commonsense standards to protect residents, the river, and the climate. The Council passed the bill with few environmental safeguards.
Clean energy: The legislation fails to prohibit fossil fuel use in all buildings on the site, potentially locking in decades of climate and air pollution, ignoring DC law committing that new buildings must be all-electric, highly energy efficient, and maximize renewable energy generation.
Flood protection: Despite the increased likelihood of flooding due to climate change, the deal calls for commercial and residential development on the floodplain along the Anacostia River, rather than preserving the area for recreation and natural habitat.
Transportation and land use: The bill lacks plans to move a majority of stadium visitors by Metrorail, fails to dedicate revenue from District-funded parking on stadium event days to the District, and offers insignificant penalties if the Commanders delay or never build affordable housing.
Zero waste: The Commanders were unwilling to accept any binding waste prevention measures. The legislation does not ensure the stadium will be a state-of-the-art model of effective waste prevention measures, like requiring all drinks to be sold in reusable cups and allowing fans to bring their own refillable water bottles. Instead, the team agreed to some waste reduction measures in an updated “commitment letter.”
The Sierra Club will seek to improve the environmental protections in the deal and monitor implementation of the RFK law to ensure its limited environmental protections are carried out.”
From the Office of Councilmember Charles Allen:
“Councilmember Allen led the efforts to include many changes now reflected in the Chairman’s final Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to the deal – in addition to those changes at first vote – including:
Ensuring the stadium will be built and operated to the newest and strongest green building standards to date, making it a leader in sustainability and a new model to follow;
Protecting our oldest and largest trees on the site to maintain the canopy and ensure the new campus has shade and green space;
Ensuring the newly created Transportation Improvement Fund must go to investments in public transit and transportation like Metro, bus, bike, and pedestrian accessibility;
Locking in a joint evaluation between DDOT and the Commanders no sooner than 2032 for deciding to construct a third parking garage;
Securing a commitment from the team to aim for zero waste in stadium operations; and
Planning for a new fire station now, to be located on the RFK campus, to serve the tens of thousands of residents, retail, businesses, and the stadium itself.
Statement:
“The deal approved today allows for the redevelopment of the RFK campus, which has sat largely empty and unused for a generation. Because of the Council’s leadership in getting a better deal for DC residents and taxpayers, rather than a sea of asphalt, we will have 6,000 new homes and new businesses to support residents and visitors, world-class sports facilities, and improved access to the Anacostia River for all. And yes, there will also be a new stadium.
Instead of tens of thousands of parking spots for the eight home games per year, we will have the most transit-friendly NFL stadium in the country. This stadium will set the new standard for how the US can build big, ambitious projects while delivering on climate change and environmental stewardship, and it is poised to take advantage of DC’s strong renewable energy marketplace. This deal creates good-paying union jobs. It has stronger accountability measures to ensure the team builds affordable housing with the same energy and focus brought to the stadium. It now prioritizes kids and community sports, including during construction. And this is a deal that delivers $800 million more back to residents over the next 30 years than the original deal.
I’ve long been clear that an NFL stadium alone isn’t a good investment for the city. But building 6,000 new homes, creating good-paying jobs for DC residents, protecting the Anacostia River and Kingman Island, and expanding the number of youth sports fields and facilities are huge positives. And the investments in transit and meeting our environmental goals improve the deal a hundred-fold.
Fans can rightly celebrate the Commanders’ return to the District as a major moment in our city’s proud history. But football fan or not, every resident should be eager to see these 180 acres become DC’s next neighborhood and a point of pride. I want to thank the many, many residents who reached out and shared their diverse views over the past nine months. I also want to thank the Commanders for our many negotiations over the details that helped deliver a better deal for Ward 6 and one that better serves all DC residents.”