D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off the demolition Thursday of two buildings at St. Elizabeths East campus to make way for a sports and entertainment complex for the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics expected to bring a much-needed economic boost to the Congress Heights neighborhood, NBC4 reports.
Protesters disrupted the news conference but Bowser — who climbed a backhoe to begin the demolition — said the deal would be transformative for Southeast D.C.
“Some may scream, and some may shout, but I’ll be back, I’m going to invest, I’m going to keep our promises, and it won’t just be today,” said Bowser, according to NBC4. “It will be every day.”
The deal was unveiled in September 2015 and will feature a $55 million, 5,000-seat entertainment venue serving not only as a pro sports training facility but as a home for cultural events.
The District will invest $23 million in the 118,000-square-foot venue. Events D.C. will put in $27 million, and Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Wizards and Mystics owner, $5 million toward construction. Monumental will provide an additional $10 million for “St. E’s redevelopment and community philanthropic investments.”
Work is expected to be finished in 2018.
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