D.C. Council Holds Decisive Public Hearing on Final 180-Acre RFK Campus Master Plan as Bowser Advances 1,200 New Homes

D.C. Council Convenes Landmark Hearing on 180-Acre RFK Campus Redevelopment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a defining moment for the future of the District of Columbia’s eastern riverfront, the Council of the District of Columbia convened a high-stakes public oversight hearing on September 30, 2026, to evaluate the finalized RFK Campus Master Plan. Transmitted by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Office of Planning, the comprehensive framework outlines the multi-decade transformation of the 180-acre federally controlled campus along the Anacostia River.

The centerpiece of the ambitious proposal is a state-of-the-art 65,000-seat multi-purpose stadium envisioned as the future home of the NFL's Washington Commanders, targeting completion ahead of the 2030 season. Beyond hosting professional football, the stadium complex is designed for international soccer tournaments, marquee concerts, and public civic gatherings, projected to generate over $4 billion in direct municipal economic impact.

6,500 Mixed-Income Homes, Waterfront Parks, and 30% Affordable Housing Mandate

Addressing the District's urgent housing priorities, the master plan dedicates vast parcels for between 5,500 and 6,500 residential units, with a legally binding requirement that at least 30 percent remain permanently affordable for low- and moderate-income working families. The neighborhood concept includes over 1,200 hotel rooms, 287,000 square feet of street-level retail, neighborhood health clinics, and spaces reserved for local minority entrepreneurs.

Nearly 76 acres—over 40 percent of the site—will be permanently preserved as public open space, featuring community athletic turf fields, a modern youth Sportsplex, and ecological wetland trails extending the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail network.

New Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit and WMATA Modernization

To ensure seamless, multi-modal access without overwhelming neighborhood street networks, the plan establishes the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), connecting Union Station directly to an on-site RFK transit center along dedicated transit lanes on H Street and Benning Road NE. Concurrently, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) confirmed plans to increase train frequency and expand mezzanine capacity at the Stadium-Armory Metro station.

Alongside the RFK hearing, Mayor Bowser advanced executive housing packages delivering over 1,200 new housing units across Wards 7 and 8, ensuring comprehensive residential investments across the capital.