With the stadium now moving forward, attention will turn to the areas immediately surrounding it and the mixed-use developments the city wants to see in order to make the Ballpark District a year-round destination. In Friday's Post article "D.C. Stadium Likely to Open Without Entertainment Area," developers are quoted as saying that first phases probably won't be done before 2009. The four developers chosen by the AWC have hired urban planning firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners to create the master plan for the 40 acres of mixed-use development. In the meantime, Monument Realty says it expects to begin construction in early 2007 on the land it owns in the blocks just north of the stadium footprint. So, be prepared to walk through a lot of construction to get to the stadium in the early days. (On the other hand, the delays that everyone seems to anticipate will occur with the stadium could help get the ballpark district further along before the ballpark debuts.) Also, the article mentions that the plans for the stadium itself incorporates retail space within the park's facade along 1st Street, and also manages to sneak in another mention that the parking garages raising eyebrows in the stadium renderings will most likely disappear.

The Washington Navy Yard's U.S. Navy Museum has for the past year been running a once-a-month family-oriented program called "Little Skippers," teaching children about the history of the Navy. On Saturday the 18th at 1 pm the topic will be "'Shooting the Breeze'- Target Kites in World War II." After learning about the history of target kites the children will be given the supplies to make their very own target kites. The parents can participate, helping their children with their creations. The program is free, but requires an RSVP 24 hours in advance (see the story for details). You can also subscribe to a monthly e-mail from the museum.

For those of you filled with breathless anticipation.... I just called the DC Office of Zoning, and they say that as of yet a zoning application as not been filed for the stadium. Back in Fall 2005 an amendment to the Capitol Gateway Overlay (which covers the South Capitol Street Corridor and environs) was passed, which changed the zoning laws to allow for a baseball stadium to be built and set forth general requirements and regulations for the stadium, but the stadium itself is required to get Zoning Commission approval as well. Tick tick tick!

It doesn't appear on the web site yet, but the grapevine informs me that on Tuesday the DC Bureau of Zoning Adjustment approved JPI's variance application for their 700-unit, two-building project at 70/100 I Street. With a building permit application already submitted, this project would appear to be on track for the beginning of construction later this year. JPI's other residential project in Near Southeast, 901 New Jersey, will have its own BZA hearing on May 16. Hopefully now I can get some renderings of the projects.... UPDATE: And like magic, a new building permit app for 70 I appeared in the DCRA database today.

Other Day Two stories on the new baseball stadium, these from the WashTimes: "Ballpark's Look Could Be a Hit," "As Long as It's Here, The Ballpark's Grand," and the inevitable "Nats' New Stadium Among Most Costly."

The Post's Marc Fisher has a column today about the stadium and its environs, "South Capitol Street Will Have to Play Catch-Up": "But the plans released this week are a vision of the future, and indeed the District has an impressive concept for a new Anacostia River bridge and a reconfiguration of South Capitol Street that would replace the ugly ramp with green space. The truth, however, is that for quite some years, the stadium will come smack up against the city's befouled underside." He also was wise enough to catch the sleight-of-hand in the stadium design drawings: "[B]oth Metro riders and motorists will approach from the north, where, rather than a grand entrance, the architects offer a cramped plaza sandwiched between two boxy parking structures. But wait: Those boxes are really a political ploy and a sales pitch. The D.C. Council nixed the money for underground parking, but designers nonetheless intend to put the parking below ground, as they should. The ghastly parking towers are in the drawings to scare the Nationals' new owner and developers into coughing up the $28 million needed to dig the hole for parking; investors would then get the right to build retail, residential or offices above the garage." His Raw Fisher blog has a follow-up about the column as well. (And gives this site quite the nice shout-out, too.)

More posts: parking, South Capitol St., Douglass Bridge, Nationals Park