WASHINGTON D.C., DC — On Monday, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a new task force charged with creating a new vision for the Gallery Place-Chinatown area. Mayor Bowser would not commit to saying that Capital One Arena would be torn down, but she did say if Monumental moves, the entire five acres is up for grabs.
You can call it a powerful plan B. The mayor fast tracking the task force to re-imagine the area without the city’s beloved sports teams or Capital One Arena.
“Monumental has an obligation by their lease to have the Wizards and Capitals play here and if not, we’re going to move on from that.”
The task force includes several D.C. heavy hitters including two former mayors known for bringing big changes to the city’s landscape: Anthony Williams who’s credited with bringing the Washington Nationals to Southeast and Adrian Fenty known for updating the city schools and rec centers and adding bike lanes. Leading the task force, the two women behind successful Union Market in NE and The Yards development in SE: Jodie McLean and Deborah Ratner Salzberg.
"I have worked with these women for several years," said the mayor, "and I can tell you it's going to be fast. They are working quickly on the timeline so we can move forward with the vision."
But crime in Chinatown continues to be a major concern for businesses and forced many out long before Monumental Sports considered moving to Northern Virginia.
“We have an unacceptable level of crime not only in the downtown but throughout (the city),” said Mayor Bowser, “so we’re going to listen to the businesses and listen to what our data says and put in place whatever is necessary.”
“Small improvements like lighting in some of our alleys and dealing with some of our abandoned buildings,” added Gerren Price, president of Downtown DC Business Improvement District. Price said the BID will also be taking advantage of city grants to help businesses hire private security in addition to MPD patrols.
“We’re looking at all different types of ways to have more eyes on the street to address challenges as they emerge,” said Price.
“We need to move much faster,” said CM Brooke Pinto, chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, “but I am hopeful that when dollars go out the door this month for the safe commercial corridors people will start feeling a difference downtown.”
The mayor hopes once crime numbers creep down, residents will move in confirming that five downtown office spaces are already being converted into apartment buildings and eleven more are in the pipeline.
In fact, the mayor will be introducing legislation offering a 20-year property tax break to developers as an incentive.
Residents are encouraged to submit their ideas for the Chinatown-Gallery Place area here.