Breakfast links: Wizards, Capitals plan to move to publicly financed Potomac Yard stadium
Proposed mixed-use development at Potomac Yard by JBG SMITH used with permission.
Wizards, Capitals to move to new Potomac Yard stadium in 2028 while Mystics to move to Capital One Arena
On Wednesday morning, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Monumental Chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis confirmed, subject to approval of Virginia’s General Assembly, that Monumental plans to move the Washington Capitals and Wizards from the downtown DC Capital One Arena to a new, publicly financed arena in Potomac Yard in Alexandria in late 2028. Leonsis affirmed Monumental’s intentions to retain Capital One Arena and announced plans to make it the home of the Washington Mystics WNBA team, who currently play in the Congress Heights neighborhood of DC’s Ward 8. (Michael Neibauer / Business Journal, ALXNow)
Prince William hearing on opening agricultural land to data centers hits 14 hours…and keeps going
As of early Wednesday morning, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors was in a public meeting that had stretched for 14 hours and counting, about the Digital Gateway plan to open up 2,000 acres of agricultural land to the development 37 data centers. Residents expressed concerns about environmental, energy use, and traffic impacts. (Prince William Times)
Montgomery County officials react to proposed state cuts to Ride On
Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service could lose more than $17 million as part of more than $3 billion in proposed state transportation funding cuts. County officials, including Council President Andrew Friedson, are concerned about the impact on lower-income riders, who make up the majority of ridership. (Kate Ryan / WTOP)
Half of DC’s “Vacant to Vibrant” homes remain vacant
Half of the 56 vacant properties auctioned off in 2018 and 2019 through DC’s “Vacant to Vibrant” program to create workforce housing remain vacant or underdeveloped. The shortfall is attributed to failure to enforce 1.5-year development deadlines, bureaucratic hurdles in permitting, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors. (This article may be behind a paywall). (Post)
GSA stays firm on FBI headquarters location decision in Congressional hearing
FBI official Nicholas Dimos raised concerns in a Congressional hearing about the decision to locate the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, instead of an advisory panel’s recommended Springfield, Virginia. An FBI review noted that the Maryland site came out ahead based on site selection criteria that differed from a previously established site selection plan. The GSA defended its decision in the hearing. (Jacob Fischler / Maryland Matters)
Median home price in Washington region has risen for six straight months
In the Washington area, home prices have risen for six straight months, reaching a median of $570,000 in November, a 5.8% increase from last year. This trend is driven by high buyer demand and a significant shortage of listings, which have decreased by 12.4% year-over-year. While Arlington County experienced a 21.5% price increase, DC proper and Fairfax County bucked the regional trend with price declines. (UrbanTurf)
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