D.C. Launches Task Force To Reimagine Chinatown, Led By 2 Developers

After last month's shocking announcement that D.C.’s NHL and NBA teams are set to leave Capital One Arena for Northern Virginia, the city is launching an effort to revitalize the blocks immediately surrounding the 26-year-old sports complex.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, at a Monday afternoon press conference held at Chinatown's Shakespeare Theater Co. in the shadow of posters advertising Capitals hockey games, announced a new task force to recommend ways to reposition the arena property and the surrounding blocks. 

The Chinatown-Gallery Place area has been hit especially hard by rising vacancy, increased crime and diminished foot traffic in the years following the onset of the pandemic. But the task force appears to be a direct response to Monumental Sports & Entertainment's plans to relocate the Capitals and Wizards – yet another gut punch in a slew of hardships for the neighborhood. 

“This is about how old uses become new spaces, and we know we’ve done it before,” Bowser said.

Bowser first alluded to the task force at her press conference in December, just hours after Monumental’s announcement that it intends to move the teams to Virginia’s Potomac Yard. But she officially released the names of the committee and gave initial details about its plans on Monday.

The task force will be co-chaired by Edens CEO Jodie McLean and Uplands Real Estate principal Deborah Ratner Salzberg, previously head of Forest City Washington. They will work in conjunction with Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. 

“I know we will actually bring the right vision, we will get the right support, guarantee the right investments,” McLean said at the event. “We can unlock a greater set of uses that will only continue to strengthen this neighborhood for years to come.” 

McLean and Ratner Salzberg are the developers behind two of the District’s fastest-growing neighborhoods over the last decade, Union Market and The Yards, respectively. They will be joined by six executive committee members, including famous restaurateur José Andrés, Fivesquares Development co-founder Andy Altman and Pepco Vice President of Governmental and External Affairs Valencia McClure. 

Former D.C. mayors Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty will serve as honorary co-chairs. Williams is now heading the Federal City Council, and Fenty is founding managing partner of MaC Venture Capital.

The task force will focus on four priority areas, according to Monday’s release: undertaking a strategic visioning of the two blocks encompassing Capital One Arena and Gallery Place, seeking out temporary and permanent activation programs, developing and sourcing capital investments for the area, and focusing on marketing and community engagement efforts.

At the press conference, Bowser reiterated that while she believes the city is the best home for the teams and that D.C.'s $500M offer for an arena revamp is still on the table, the city is committed to reimagining the area with or without the teams.

The plan to move the teams to Virginia still needs approval from the Virginia General Assembly on the proposed incentive package, which reportedly totals over $1.3B.

Albert also said that while the city is still “hopeful” that the teams might stay in D.C., they must prepare for their potential departure. 

“No matter what happens, we must invest in Gallery Place-Chinatown so that it is one of the top cultural and entertainment districts in the nation. It can be and it will be,” Albert said. “And if the teams do move, and we have to anticipate that they will, we have an opportunity to reposition almost two city blocks, five acres, right in downtown D.C. for a new use.”

Monumental Sports CEO Ted Leonsis said that he plans on keeping the arena active with collegiate sports, concerts and expanded entertainment opportunities even as the Wizards and Capitals are set to leave. But Bowser seemed to suggest that a total reimagining of the land under the arena would be on the table if the teams depart.

“Monumental has an obligation by their lease to have the Capitals and the Wizards play here,” she said. “If they're not, then we're going to move on from that discussion.”

“We have to have a vibrant space here, and we can’t have it underused,” Bowser added after a question about Leonsis’ proposed future plans. “We will not allow an underused arena.”