PROGRAM SUMMARY

March Program:
Bats and Bricks…Baseball's Effect on Washington Real Estate

DC CREW's first evening program for 2005 consisted of a panel of experts who discussed the impacts of baseball on DC's real estate market.

Phyllis Fordham, Senior Account Executive of EMCOR Facilities Services introduced the panel, which consisted of Lane E. Welter, Senior Project Architect- Renovation of RFK Stadium, HNTB; Stephen Green, Director of Development, Deputy Mayor's Office of Planning and Economic Development; and Merrick Malone, President & CEO, Metropolis Development Co./Harris Malone Development Co.

Lane Welter reviewed the scope of the RFK renovation project. As RFK was originally designed for baseball, converting the stadium to JUST baseball shouldn't be as hard as most would think. However, the real challenge lies in the fact that the stadium must be converted from a baseball stadium to a soccer stadium in 48-72 hours. In order to accomplish this, the following modifications were incorporated into the renovation:

• An electronic moveable seating system (no need to be towed, like other older stadiums)
• New locker rooms
• New batting tunnel for the home team
• New baseball offices
• New drainage system
• Installation of a pitching mound which can be raised and lowered from an elevated platform.

Converting RFK wasn't the only challenge to introducing baseball to DC. Stephen Green discussed the challenges DC faced in bringing baseball back to a city that has been without for 33 years.

Stephen and the Deputy Mayor's Office of Planning and Economic Development felt that baseball could have a great impact on the city if the right site was chosen. Great changes have been made to developing neighborhoods in cities like San Francisco and Denver . The same changes could be brought about in DC. The team felt that North Capitol, New York Avenue , and Southeast all had the right pattern for development. In addition, a site was needed that would meet all security concerns. After much debate, it was agreed that southeast would be the best location. Locating a 41,000 seat stadium here would help evolve the Anacostia River as an amenity and would push growth patterns east of the Capitol. The goal is for the area to become a retail town center with residential. The area surrounding the stadium should become a destination.

The new site would make Maine Avenue the thoroughfare. Development could lead to the rebuilding of the Frederick Douglass Bridge and accelerate improvements of South Capitol. Eventually, the goal is to build a mixed use facility for soccer across from the ballpark with a bridge connecting the two destinations.

Growth in this area is already improving with the addition of the Southeast Federal Center , Copper Hope 6, the redevelopment of the Waterside Mall and the Department of Transportation Headquarters. Southeast is expecting the introduction of 17,000 new workers in the next 2 years.

Washington DC will see over a billion dollars in benefits from the reintroduction of baseball. Some of which include:

• The generation of $24-$30 million in tax collection.
• An estimated $48 million in out of park revenues in the city
• 360 jobs within the ballpark

Merrick Malone, President and CEO of Metropolis Development Co., felt that is was important for the city to see and understand these benefits. Merrick felt that it was important for the city and the investors to fully understand the following:

• Unknowns must be dealt with: hidden costs, infrastructure, and public opposition must be dealt with before the project can be a success.
• Developers and government must fully understand “the vision”. Who is the beneficiary of this development and whose vision are we implementing?
• Urban renewal can be a very sensitive subject. Constituents must buy into this plan and be assured that this plan with benefit them.
• Politics. The change in the city council could easily stop development in this area. Constituents concerns must be addressed to prevent slowing development.

In order for baseball to be successful, Merrick stated that the residents of DC must support this development and understand that the stadium is merely one component of a major development opportunity. Merrick Malone, Stephen Green, and Lane Welter agreed that bringing baseball back to Washington can only stand to benefit the city and increase development in Southeast.

Click here to download the PowerPoint Presentation

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