The big scoop everyone's buzzing about today is that Wal-Mart is sniffing around for a location in D.C., maybe in Poplar Point, maybe elsewhere. Jonathan O'Connell first reported the news in the Washington Business Journal, and has since updated with more comments from Wal-Mart, in which the company basically says that it's looking, but it's not likely to happen in the immediate future. more ›

As if it wasn't enough that key city officials have not been willing to agree to support $225 million in public financing for a new stadium at Poplar Point (they've been holding at $150 million for the last month), City Paper's Mike DeBonis reports that more than a dozen people were laid off from United owner Victor MacFarlane's company last week -- including Linda Mercado Greene, a former top aide to Marion Barry who helped secure the Ward 8 Council member's pro-Poplar Point stance. Sounds like MacFarlane has rid himself of anyone who could still help shepherd a deal between the District and D.C. United. more ›

Big story this morning on the longstanding controversy over whether the District wants to help build a new soccer stadium for DC United. The on-again, off-again Poplar Point location for a new stadium appears to be on again in the minds of the Fenty administration. The Mayor is set to announce that he has selected Bethesda-based Clark Realty Capital as the developer of Poplar Point, and the Post reports that Fenty suddenly has in mind to pull together $190 million in public funding to make the stadium a reality. more ›

Welcome back to work, Washington. Perhaps you're struggling to focus this morning, having only barely recovered from the weekend's Halloween festivities. Perhaps you just had a difficult time extricating yourself from your bed on this first cold morning of the year. Whatever the case may be, DCist recommends a strong cup of coffee with a dash of Rumbler to get your motor running today. The Rumbler is described as a "high-tech blaster" being used in... more ›

The Post's David Nakamura says some Maryland officials would like to lure D.C. United across the border. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, noting the derailed talks between D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. United owner Victor MacFarlane, wrote a letter to the Maryland Stadium Authority asking them to look at snagging United for themselves."In the wake of these developments, I would strongly urge the Maryland Stadium Authority to meet with representatives from the United to learn... more ›

D.C. Council members Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) announced the creation of the Poplar Point Coalition over the weekend, just days before the RFEI's are due from developers for interest in the 130 acre site known as Poplar Point. The announcement comes as tension has been building between the DC United owner, Victor MacFarlane, Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry, and Mayor Fenty. Several months ago a disagreement over total figures... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Jesse Kaye T-21 days. The countdown is on for what may determine the fate of a large part of Southeast D.C. October 19 is the date set by the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development when all RFEI's, or requests for expressions of interest, are due -- and the date by which we ought to finally have an idea of what will happen to Poplar Point. A year ago, the... more ›

>> Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry feels "disrespected and misled" by Mayor Adrian Fenty regarding the changes the administration made to the development of Poplar Point, where plans for a new stadium for D.C. United have now been abandoned. [WTOP] >> The accused "D.C. Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey, is alleging that national security concerns related to the fact that Muslim men used her escort service before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks might... more ›

Yes, you heard it here first -- the District's pro soccer team might be moving out to Loudoun County. Or Baltimore. Anywhere but here. Why? The stadium, of course. D.C. United had long ago requested the rights to build a stadium at Poplar Point, an unused stretch of federal land along the Anacostia River. But, unlike the publicly financed $611-million baseball stadium it would sit across from, D.C. United owner Victor A. MacFarlane promised to... more ›

Yesterday's legislative action in the D.C. Council, typical of end-of-session days, was jam-packed with votes. Here's a few more you may have missed: >> The Council moved ahead on a bill that restricts interest rates levied by the so-called payday loan industry, an issue we've looked at before. The bill passed on an initial reading, and if implemented would place a 24 percent annual percentage rate cap on interest charged by lenders. The Examiner notes... more ›

Former Editor-in-Chief Ryan Avent writes a weekly column about neighborhood and development issues. It isn't particularly surprising, I suppose, that in Zachary Schrag's Metro history The Great Society Subway the role of central city savior is played by, you know, Metro. What is somewhat surprising, even to an unapologetic transit supporter like me, is how convincing his case is; faced with riot scarred neighborhoods and a downtown abused by suburban office and retail growth, the... more ›

For months, there have been virtually no developments in United's attempts to build a soccer-specific stadium at Poplar Point, east of the Anacostia River. That changed yesterday, when Steve Goff's indispensible Soccer Insider ran a post announcing a potential roadblock to stadium development. Given the abundance of Goff's own reporting on the blog, we were surprised when he went and posted a press release in its entirety. The "press release" was titled in forboding capital... more ›

Ever since the District agreed to build the Washington Nationals a brand-new, $611 million stadium, pretty much everyone in the region who owns a sports team has been demanding a handout of their own -- D.C. United has announced plans to build itself a new stadium on Poplar Point in exchange for the development rights of the surrounding land, and even the Washington Redskins have expressed interest in moving back to the city. Now Abe... more ›

You'd think that the a city just recovering from one bout of stadium shellshock would approach building a whole other new stadium carefully. Not the District. They're looking to build two more. Today Marc Fisher updates us on two stadium projects we reported on long ago, neither of which seemed destined for completion given the legislative conniptions the D.C. Council had to go through just to get the new stadium for the Washington Nationals off... more ›

Yesterday, D.C. United announced that the Anschutz Entertainment Group had sold the team's operating rights to an ownership group led by Victor MacFarlane, a real estate and urban development executive. While rumored for several months, the sale came as a surprise, given the details of the deal that emerged yesterday. more ›

Even if today becomes the commuter apocalypse being predicted, at least the heavens won't open up and swallow you whole. After yesterday's violent storms, D.C. can expect a balmy 63 degrees and partly-cloudy skies to ease you into the weekend. So roll up your sleeves and get ready for some fun. Freaky (Freight) Friday: Are you one of the thousands of people are stranded this morning due to the Thursday night derailment of a freight... more ›

D.C. United is on the verge of being sold to an investment group with local ties. Okay, so we've heard this before. In July, 2005, the team was sold to an investment group led by local real estate investor Willi Lauterbach for $26 million. In what has become somewhat of a mystery, the deal fell through as in-fighting sprouted up amongst the investment group. more ›

Arguments over where to put new monuments on the National Mall have grown increasingly frequent and divisive as the front lawn has filled up. In 2003, Congress banned new construction on the Mall's cross-axis, beyond what had already been approved. In 2004, the National Museum of the American Indian and the World War II Memorial opened, and recently, a trapezoidal spot just northeast of the Washington Monument was chosen as the location for the National... more ›

Even when the ground is broken on the new stadium for the Washington Nationals, District pols, analysts, and residents will look back and ask, "Now why was that so hard?" Beyond the debate that is to be expected with any large, publicly-funded construction project, the year-long political conflict over the South Capitol Street stadium has been particularly intense. more ›

Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Ca.) is just one of those guys you wish you just wouldn't hear from anymore. more ›

Today's weather is being described by local weathermen as "blustery." So while it may be sunny and the world outside your office may look inviting, be forewarned -- temperatures will feel cooler than the mid 50s predicted as wind whips across the area. Mayoral Candidates Engage in Lively Debate: The District's five mayoral candidates engaged in lively debate last night at the University of the District of Columbia, defending their records and promoting their... more ›

WTOP is reporting that President Bush plans to send legislation to Congress today that would cede parcels of federal land to the District, a plan he first proposed in early February. The lands slated to be turned over include parts of Reservation 13 alongside RFK Stadium and pictured at right, Poplar Point along the Anacostia River, the old naval hospital located on Capitol Hill, and Mount Vernon Square. Meanwhile, the federal government will assume full control of the western half of St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast, which has been eyed as a potential site for a new Coast Guard headquarters. more ›