Shabnam Mogharabi, Editor
Field of Dreams- When the D.C. Nationals needed a home, a new stadium met the need. But will a reverse “build it, and [they] will come” approach succeed in L.A.?
Last month, I went to a ball game at the new Nationals Ballpark here in D.C. It was a perfect spring day, made even better when the D.C. Nationals defeated the New York Mets after a 6th inning grand slam by Felipe López. I stood, cheering with the thousands of fans. From my seat, I could see crowds of people flowing from the metro station two blocks away through the stadium’s gleaming steelentrance. And off in the distance, the Capitol building and Washington Monument reminded me of the sport’s American roots.
But this picturesque ball game experience was a far cry from what the site held less than fi ve years ago. Where vibrant blue and red banners now snapped in the wind were once questionable bars, rundown auto repair shops, and a public housing project in serious disrepair. All of that is gone now, as towering cranes, vivid marketing displays, and the giant sports center off er a preview of what the community will look like in a few years.
A short walk away, much of the dilapidated federal Navy Yards has also been slated for redevelopment. Located on the Potomac riverfront, the historic buildings are being gutted and redeveloped
into residential housing and retail storefronts. The community will include mostly luxury condos and apartments, as well as affordable rentals and subsidized for-sale homes—and residents from the now-gone public housing project will have first dibs.
Earlier that day, we heard the story of how this once derelict area is evolving into the city’s next urban destination. Representatives from Monument Realty, MacFarlane Partners, Forest City Washington, and the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District gave us a tour of the Half Street and Yards developments
around the ballpark. Ultimately, the BID will have nearly 15 million square feet of offi ce space, 9,000 residential units, 1,200-plus hotel rooms, 800,000 square feet of retail, and four public parks.
Yet, to me, the most interesting part of the tale belonged to Monument. In a move that was part luck, part calculated strategy the firm amassed the majority of its land holdings in the area prior to the ballpark’s location being announced. True, the availability of suitable sites was limited, but the decision will likely yield big returns as the project comes to fruition. Indeed, the groundwork Monument lays today will enable the firm to deliver a live/work/play environment that will redefi ne Southeast D.C. Th e energy of
this emerging neighborhood is a testament to how a single landmark can revolutionize a neglected area.
Meanwhile, across the country, developer Edward P. Roski Jr. announced his plans for a 75,000-seat, $800 million NFL stadium in the City of Industry, outside of Los Angeles. It’s a gutsy move—no team has committed to the site. But Roski’s hoping one will.
Had I heard this news before touring the Ballpark District, I may have thought Roski a mad man. I’m an L.A. native, and post-Raiders football seems like a hard sell to Angelenos. Now, I’m not so sure. If Monument could amass its holdings in hopes that the stadium would fall at its doorstep, then maybe Roski can do the same. Build it, and they will come? We’ll find out soon enough.
