Posted on 01/04/2005 2:29:02 PM PST by Angry Republican
Md. Officials Celebrate End of 8-Year Fight to Build Complex
Developer Milton Peterson joined elected officials from across Maryland yesterday to mark the culmination of an eight-year political fight to begin transforming 220 acres of shrubs and dirt on the banks of the Potomac River into National Harbor, a $2 billion complex of hotels, shops and restaurants.
The groundbreaking ceremony also signaled the beginning for construction crews preparing to build the project's centerpiece, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, which alone is expected to cost $565 million.
Described by some as the largest single commercial venture in state history, National Harbor is expected to roll out in phases over 10 years. The convention center, its first phase, is scheduled to open in March 2008.
"We've made it," a giddy Peterson said to a cheering crowd of business executives, community activists and lawmakers, including Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D), Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D), Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D) and Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D).
Peterson purchased the property in 1996, after other developers failed to achieve their vision for the site, which at various stages included building a world trade center, luxury condominiums and a marina.
Peterson said yesterday that the project was a symbol of what happens when the "private and public sector come together in unison."
The state has provided more than $200 million in upgrading roadway interchanges near the development, and Prince George's County dedicated $160 million toward the project.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Traffic in that area is intolerable most of the time as it is...I predict gridlock when this thing is finished. That patch of ground should have been turned into a graveyard or something....not anything that attracts automobiles.
Hopefully the traffic concerns will be remedied.
Geez. How much more is it gonna cost to fix the ground they broke?
LOL
It'll be over $10 Billion when it's completed...
You got a problem with that?
But, seriously, this "National Harbor" is a perfect symbol for the FedGuv. The Potomac is a singularly inappropriate place for a harbor, since it is impossible to get ships up the shallow shoal bound river, and one of the greatest natural harbors in the World is available in Baltimore just up the road. So this will not be a harbor at all.
Rather it will be a "Potempkin Harbor", designed to look like the silly little downtown attractions that were plunked down to replace the urban blight that afflicted the old harbor areas in port cities all across the country. But now we are just skipping the "urban blight" phase and just skipping directly to useless downtown attraction.
The purpose of this project is to make some developer rich. I'm sure he'll spread the money around to all the politicians mentioned in the article...
If they're building a harbor, shouldn't they have broken water?
Good thing they weren't building a windmill...
Now THAT'S funny!!!
Just the start towards casino/slots there, the amount of gambling money leaving D.C./MD is huge...
Where exactly is this located? What existing crowded highways will become more crowded as a result? (I lived in the DC area thirty years ago, so my local knowledge is a bit outdated, but I was just wondering)
I'm sure this is in the plans, if it is ever legal here.
We have enough to worry about here without legalized gambling.
Wow, what are they thinking? Massive traffic jams 24/7?
Traffic is the cost of doing business here in DC, kind of good when you think about it slowing down the govt...
I will work HARDER!!!
Boxer the Horse
LOL! Good thing they're not building an airport then...
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