Washington Commanders Anchor $24B DC Development With 6,500 Homes

Washington DC officials unveiled a $24.2 billion master plan on Tuesday to redevelop the Robert F. Kennedy Campus in the Hill East neighborhood, with the Washington Commanders anchoring the project. The 180-acre site, formerly occupied by RFK Stadium and its parking lots, will be transformed into a mixed-use development that includes 5,000 to 6,500 new housing units, with approximately 30% designated as affordable housing. The plan also incorporates office, hotel, and retail spaces, alongside parks and open areas, with the city retaining about a third of the land for these amenities. The Washington Commanders are set to invest $2.7 billion into a new 65,000-seat stadium, with a target completion date of 2030.

This extensive redevelopment project is projected to create 30,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs, generating an estimated $5.1 billion in tax revenue for the district over the next 30 years. The master plan follows years of public engagement and input regarding the future of the RFK stadium site. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that the project aims to deliver not only a world-class stadium but also a community-focused, year-round campus designed to drive economic growth.

The city is currently soliciting public feedback on the master plan through mid-August, with a final approval anticipated in September 2026. The Washington Commanders previously played at the RFK Campus before relocating to a stadium in Landover, Maryland, in 2004. The RFK Stadium itself was closed in 2019 after years of use for various events. The federal government owns the stadium site property, but Congress approved its transfer to the district for a 99-year lease in 2024, paving the way for the stadium's construction.