DC unveils plan for 180-acre Commanders stadium development
The local government in Washington, D.C., unveiled its preliminary master plan for the massive 180-acre development that will surround the future Washington Commanders stadium.
The 89-page draft plan, released by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Office of Planning on Tuesday, includes up to 6,500 new housing units, roughly 1,200 hotel rooms, and a grocery store on the redeveloped RFK Campus. The plan takes into account the residents and businesses that may want to relocate to the sprawling development once completed.
The mayor is releasing the plan in her final year of office after she finalized an agreement with the Commanders to bring the team back to its home in the federal district.
“We are taking another step forward in our promise to District residents and businesses — to plan not just for a world-class stadium, but for a community-centric 365-day campus that will drive growth for years to come,” Bowser said in a statement. “Now, let’s work together toward the final goal — to finalize a plan rich in amenities like housing, parks, and entertainment.”
The city intends to make 30% of the new housing units affordable for lower-income residents and allocate 30% of the 180-acre land parcel to parks and open spaces. There will also be a section of commercial development, including retail businesses, hotels, and office space.
Additionally, there will be increased access to the Anacostia River and the Kingman and Heritage Islands Park in northeastern D.C.
The development is expected to generate over $4 billion in new tax revenue for the district and create 2,000 permanent jobs in addition to roughly 14,000 construction jobs.
About 6,000 new garage parking spaces will be created to accommodate the inflow of fans who will be coming to the new RFK stadium for football games, among other events. NOTUS reports that parking may be an issue for the redesigned 65,000-seat venue, especially when compared to the roughly 20,000 parking spaces outside Maryland’s Northwest Stadium, where the Commanders play their home games.
The NFL team’s future stadium is a $3.8 billion project, with the Commanders paying $2.7 billion for construction and the D.C. government contributing $1.1 billion toward surrounding infrastructure, parking spaces, and recreational areas. If the project timeline holds up, the stadium could open in 2030. Construction is officially set to begin in spring 2027 after the demolition of the old structure.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the 45-day public comment period on the master plan, which runs through Aug. 14. A final version of the plan is expected sometime in the fall. Bowser leaves office in January 2027.