ZoolanderANDtheBoYz says: (9/11/14 11:14 PM)
We all knew this will happen sooner or later. I am very happy Monument is out though. I would not be surprised if Akridge announces the same deal.

I was hoping the cash kings DC developers like Douglas development and JBG would have already made their offer on Akridge half street development.

202_cyclist says: (9/11/14 11:38 PM)
$12.5M seems like an incredible deal for a property that has already been excavated and that is located both right next to the Nationals stadium (Lets go Nats!!!) and a metro station.

JD says: (9/12/14 8:21 AM)
Since MacFarlane was already a partner in part of the land, I imagine the sale price isn't exactly equal to the value of the land.

JES says: (9/12/14 9:51 AM)
Akridge isn't bankrupt though; aren't they in fairly decent shape financially? Makes much more sense for Monument to exit than it does for Akridge.

smokie says: (9/12/14 10:23 AM)
Thanks for the great reporting, as always, JD!

JD says: (9/12/14 11:16 AM)
I was too harried in trying to get this written last night to go look at the soil boring permit for the Domino's site at South Capitol and M, but here's some of the included text: "THE SOIL BORINGS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AS PART OF A DUE DILIGENCE INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION."

Packinblackandred says: (9/12/14 1:58 PM)
@JES

My guess is that Akridge is in pretty good shape financially, but they may be cautious about putting out a ton of cash developing their parcels until they know how the DC United/Buzzard Point deal ends up.

Under the current framework, Akridge would need to pay DC ~$35 million in cash (in addition to ~$21 million in land) to get the Reeves Center. That amount will probably change based on horse trading for the final deal, should it be approved.

202_cyclist says: (9/12/14 2:23 PM)
@Packinblackandred:

Unfortunately, it looks like the DC Council and the next mayor could very well find a way to screw up the DC United stadium proposal: link .

dbt says: (9/12/14 2:43 PM)
All the development in the neighborhood over the last decade has been great, but I've long thought that the Monumnet Valley (or Forest?) site is the lynchpin, given its location directly across from the ballpark entrance that almost everyone uses. Once it gets built, I think the perception of the area among denizens of the DMV will change (for the better), and we'll be able to start dreaming of things like hosting the MLB All-Star Game; unitl then, not so much. Hopefully, this sale will bring us closer to that day.

Alex B. says: (9/12/14 3:02 PM)
Akridge is looking for a new capital partner for Half Street, per the WBJ:

link

conngs0 says: (9/12/14 3:02 PM)
dbt, you're absolutely right about the All Star game. It's not happening with that hole in the ground right across from the ballpark. Likewise, development of that site, the Half Street Fairgrounds area and the movie theater are necessary to complete the perception that the neighborhood has graduated from "up and coming" status.

As to the DC United stadium deal at Buzzards Point, I certainly wouldn't put it past the DC Council or any DC Mayor to screw up anything that could be beneficial to the city. However, I think they've already messed up that project by undermining the streetcar plans to get people from the Waterfront and/or Navy Yard Metro Stations to the proposed new stadium.

JD says: (9/12/14 3:06 PM)
@Alex, looks like WBJ eventually got the same tip I already had, hence my sly comment about Akridge's next move. :-)

JES says: (9/12/14 5:43 PM)
MLB is so full of sh*t with the all star game. So our up and coming neighborhood can't have one because we "aren't there yet," but stadiums surrounded by seas of parking lots are perfectly ok? (Coughstlouis). Sure, that makes sense...

KLB says: (9/15/14 12:37 PM)
@JES - I don't think the current development around the stadium has anything to do with the lack of All-Star game in DC. The game alternates between an NL and AL ballpark each year, and currently (after Cincinnati hosts next year) there are still a couple of NL teams with older newer ballparks than the Nats (Philly and San Diego) that haven't hosted the game yet either.

Jaybird says: (9/15/14 7:16 PM)
I'm not so sure that the Half Street situation will be a factor in the choosing of the MLB all-star game. I'm guessing other cities were chosen when the surrounding neighborhoods had issues.

The Commissioner has his hands full with other factors, such as trying to please all the owners who want one, anniversary dates, etc. Pittsburgh got selected twice due to their sagging franchise situation (plus it is a great ballpark).

I'd say the Half Street situation is the least of our worries for trying to get the MLB All-Star team. The cameras will pan to the all good stuff already happening in JDLand, and will be accented during the VIP tour.

ZoolanderANDtheBoYz says: (9/17/14 2:29 PM)
Sorry boys, construction won't start till 2016 link

JD says: (9/17/14 2:36 PM)
From that link:

"The price was roughly $34 million for two residential, ground-level pads and one air rights hotel site. We had originally reported the price as $12.5 million, based on the deeds and information from Monument, but Lynch said the partnership "cut a check for $34 million.""

(I wonder if MacFarlane got a rebate on some of that, though, since it was a partner in the original incarnation.)

JD says: (9/17/14 2:37 PM)
And this: "While the project is expected to remain a mix of residential, retail and hotel, Lynch said he is now considering condos in addition to apartments, tweaking unit sizes, adding green features and amenities and bringing in a "completely different retail mix.""

In other words, it's basically going to be the same (hotel, residential, retail). Especially since the "current" retail mix was *nothing.*

Not like they're suddenly making it into a concert space or something.

JD says: (9/17/14 3:20 PM)
And Monument had condos in their original plans: link The more things change....