Photo: Steve Thurston
Monument Sports and Entertainment, which developed the Capitals ice rink and corporate offices in Ballston, owes $100,000 to redevelop the park, at left. They have not paid because the county still needs to issue a certificate of occupancy.
I caught up with Michelle Cowan and Greg Emanuel, high-level county staffers who know about the certificate of occupancy for the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The iceplex is open now, and has been since November 2006, under a temporary certificate of occupancy.
The final certificate nears, they said.
"There were a number of ADA things that needed to be remedied," Emanuel said. Once all of the issues are completed, the certificate will be released, and Monumental Sports, owner of the Capitals, will pay the county $100,000 to help build a park outside the iceplex.
The missing $100,000 came to light when the county unveiled plans for the park for the corner of N. Glebe Road and N. Randolph Street.
In an odd bit of Catch-22, the money the county will collect is supposed to go toward developing that park. However, Monumental Sports does not have to pay until they receive the final certificate. Yet they cannot receive the final certificate until the park is completed.
Two handicapped accessible parking spaces are included in the park plans, and those spaces give needed access to the roof of the Ballston Commons Mall parking garage, where the Caps' iceplex is located. (The Ballston Mall Parking garage is too short for many specialized vans.)
So the county will build the park, including the parking spaces, then Monumental Sports will pay the money, and that money will be turned into further amenities at the park.
The park will house two bocce fields, some seating and game tables and other amenities.
Ted Leonsis owns Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards basketball team.
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Comment FeedADA Compliance
Peter 313 days ago
ADA compliance
Squat Thrust 314 days ago
Run Down Ballston
Resident 314 days ago