Wizards Reportedly in Talks to Open Training Facility in Shaw
Move over, D.C. United deal: The city may have a new stadium plan to get riled up about.
NBC4 reports that the city is in discussions with the Washington Wizards to build a basketball training facility in Shaw. The facility would cost $30 to 40 million and would be paid for with a tax increase on Wizards ticket sales.
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At first look, this is very unfortunate- taking public play and recreation space being very very actively used (all those dog walkers in the dog park, and the skate park, and the old city guild pop up), and building a sports facility at public expense. Oh, and taking those amenities away right next to a site in theory slated to be a new middle school, when DCPS middle schools are widely considered to be problematic, a few ones aside. Without massive community benefit offsets, I cannot see this as anything but a terrible idea for taxpayer and community. Linked article (http://m.wamu.org/#/news/14/11/10/dc_considering_training_facility_for_washington_wizards_in_shaw) mentions Alex Padro of the local ANC expressing concerns that the facility not impact the parks or school rebuilding- but he doesn't shut the door to the principle of the idea. I just don't see how this is development that the broader Shaw-Logan-Ledroit-Bloomingdale area needs, warranting so much public money and land and giving up several public amenities in very active use for mostly private benefit.
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