Battle Brews for Control of Stadium Project

To the Lerners, the ideas lacked clarity and common sense. They say they believe that building offices and shops above parking garages would result in construction going on as fans entered the stadium during the first season and beyond, Kasten said. And if the city built one massive garage as high as 10 stories, he added, it would take motorists way too long to exit after a game.

"When things don't make sense to us, we try to explain why we think those things don't make sense," Kasten said. "The construction experts at our ownership group are trying to point things out that are absolutely critical to getting the goals met. We don't want anyone to make mistakes that will derail them."

Goldsmith and Williams were out of the country late last week and unavailable to comment. Earlier, Goldsmith had said he was still seeking a compromise by June 26, when the city faces a hearing on stadium parking before the D.C. Zoning Commission.

With no firm plans on the table, sports commission Chief Executive Allen Y. Lew, who is overseeing stadium construction, said he has had no choice but to pursue aboveground parking. Lew and his boss, commission Chairman Mark H. Tuohey, stressed that the District has a contract with Major League Baseball to provide the stadium and garages by 2008 or face significant financial penalties.

Underground parking garages are estimated to cost $50 million, Lew said, well more than the $21 million earmarked for garages in the council-approved stadium budget.

"We've listened to the view of the owners and . . . it's unlikely we will have full underground parking," Tuohey said. "The problem is that the underground parking issue is expensive and time-consuming."

But behind the scenes, private developers have tried to assure city leaders that money is available. In February, Goldsmith provided the D.C. Council with a letter signed by two major developers -- Thomas W. Henneberry of Forest City Washington and Herbert S. Miller of Western Development -- agreeing to pay the city up to $70 million in exchange for the right to develop on stadium land.

Miller, who helped develop the mix of stores, condos and offices at Gallery Place next to Verizon Center, said recently that he has lined up a major Japanese construction firm to guarantee that the underground parking lots would be completed by April 2008.

"There are several ways to provide great parking and access and not impinge on the development potential at the site," Miller said. "The Lerners just have to pick one. I don't know what is in their minds, but whatever it is they need, we can solve and make them happy."

Kasten has said the city and its developers failed to produce funding guarantees in time for a deadline last month set by the three construction companies that are building the stadium.

"The Lerners say, 'This sounds great, but show us your plan.' But guess what, we don't have one," said council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large). "All the developers say they have money, but where's the money?"

That's a question Ambrose said she intends to ask the Lerners, whom she expected to chip in money.

"Apparently, the Lerners aren't interested in anteing up at all, which is unfortunate," Ambrose said. "I thought that was the reason to have a local owner, so they would feel a sense of pride and a sense this could be a real legacy for them."

Kasten said the Lerners believe the stadium budget is sufficient and that the ballpark will bring new revenue that will build a more competitive ballclub. Only then, he added, will fans flock to the stadium, allowing development outside the ballpark to flourish.

"Nothing works if that first phase is messed up -- nothing," Kasten said. "And so that's why all of us need to put all of our attention into making sure that first phase works, which is a successful stadium that all of us can be proud of, that all of us want to attend games at, that draws 3 million people a year. If we achieve that, and I believe the Lerners can help achieve that, then everything else is possible. If we don't achieve that, then everything else fails."