November 02, 2005
Whattaya need with a Ford when you gotta horse?
When last we left our friends on the D.C. city council, you will recall, the cost of acquiring land for the new Washington Nationals stadium had just soared by $20 million, and this after the project was already just $4 million shy of its $585 million legal limit. Now, council chair Linda Cropp says that additional construction cost overruns could force the district to start lopping off such items as underground parking and retail space to save money: "There would be overruns if it were a Cadillac stadium. They may no longer do a Cadillac, but they may do a Buick or Ford." Replied David Catania, one of two councilmembers to vote against yesterday's "technical amendments" to the stadium's financial plan: "If we want a Buick, we have one - it's called RFK."
The stadium plan still faces a final council vote on December 6, and the city and MLB also have yet to finalize the Nats' lease terms.
