ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The announcement that the Washington Capitals and Wizards could move to Alexandria is getting mixed reviews from neighbors in the growing Potomac Yard neighborhood.
A Virginia commission made up of state lawmakers approved a plan Monday night to offer an incentive package to lure Monumental Sports from Capital One arena in Downtown D.C. to the Northern Virginia neighborhood.
Monumental Sports owns the Washington Capitals and Wizards.
Native Alexandrian, Obie Lovelace says he welcomes all the new development coming to his neighborhood of Potomac Yard including a potential new stadium. "It's a good idea they're coming. You know, this city do need something," he told WUSA9.
Another neighbor who identified herself only by her first name, Diana, says the development would usher in a walkable community and booming economy.
"I'd like to see people sitting in a café and talking, building the community. I want to see the possibility of people walking everywhere. That you don't need a car," she said.
Others like Rodney Nelson who also was born and raised in Alexandria say the teams should stay at the Capital One Arena in downtown D.C.
"They're doing all this building around here. They don't need nothing else around here. I don't understand why they're trying to get more. They need to stay in D.C.," Nelson said.
The Virginia state lawmakers that form the Major Employment and Investment Projects Commission and voted in favor of the plan Monday night have declined to comment and have referred all questions to the Youngkin Administration.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office has declined to comment on the incentive package.
Wednesday morning, Youngkin will hold an event in the Potomac Yard neighborhood to announce what his office says is a "Remarkable Economic Development Project for the Commonwealth."
The area that is being considered for the potential mixed-use commercial space that includes an arena for the two sports teams is near the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the Potomac Yard Metro Station opened this year.
The commission's vote is the first step to draft and introduce a bill that will be introduced in Virginia's General Assembly.
If the legislation is approved and signed by Gov. Youngkin, then the proposal would be presented to Monumental Sports to decide between Virginia or the District's bid.