National Capital planning commission unanimously backs preliminary stadium design while flagging concerns about massive parking structures.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Commanders cleared a major hurdle Wednesday toward bringing NFL football back to the nation’s capital, winning unanimous approval from a key federal planning commission for their new stadium design at the old RFK Campus — but a battle over massive parking garages next door may just be getting started.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve preliminary site and building plans for the new 70,000-seat stadium, praising the design from HKS Architects for its sweeping roofline, its architectural nods to the monumental character of Washington, and its carefully engineered sightlines that preserve views of the U.S. Capitol dome along the East Capitol Street corridor. Construction is expected to be complete in 2030.
Commissioners were effusive in their praise for the stadium itself. But it was the parking garages — not part of Wednesday’s vote — that generated the most friction.
Two multilevel parking structures are planned to surround the stadium on opening day, together accounting for roughly 6,000 of the project’s maximum 8,000 parking spaces. The proposed garages would rise up to 110 feet — eleven stories — more than half the height of the stadium itself. For comparison, the parking decks at Nationals Park stand just four stories tall.
NCPC Commissioner Tammy Stidham put it plainly, saying the garages are “in the way” of important views and that understanding how they coordinate with the stadium design, “is really important in approval of the stadium.”
NCPC Commissioner Evan Cash struck a more optimistic tone — but made clear the bar is high.
“I think we have an opportunity here where we have a stadium that’s really panning out to be beautiful — a lot of people didn’t think we could do what we’re doing there on the site,” Cash said. “And let’s see if we can maybe make the garages do the same.”
The commission’s chairman William Schaffer was more blunt: “I have rarely if ever seen a beautiful parking facility.”
The harshest opposition came from the community closest to the proposed G2 garage — the structure planned near Oklahoma Avenue and Benning Road, NE, along the Anacostia River.
A representative from the Kingman Park Civic Association told commissioners the neighborhood flatly opposes any multilevel parking garage near their community, warning it would bring pollution, traffic, and crime. The association called instead for a new Metro station — arguing it would eliminate the need for the garages altogether.
The NCPC staff report had already flagged the G2 garage’s height and proximity to Kingman Park as a concern, recommending the applicant consider lower heights and alternative orientations in future submissions.
Critically, the parking garages were not subject to Wednesday’s vote and will return to the commission for an entirely separate review and design process — meaning Kingman Park’s fight is just beginning.
The Commanders and the District’s project team have not yet designed the garages. Officials told commissioners Wednesday that a request for proposals to design the structures is currently being prepared. The commission is expected to take up final approval of the stadium itself in June or July 2026.