D.C. Officials Near Decision On Convention Center Plans

Members of Washington's independent Convention Center Authority recently held what was described as a "positive" meeting with the National Capital Planning Commission, which must rule on plans for a new convention center.

The $500 million center would be built at Mount Vernon Square, a six-block area north of the current convention center. The building will be constructed in two phases, with Phase I consisting of the four south blocks of the site. This facility, which will offer more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, will open in 1999. Phase II, which will open at a later date, will include the two north blocks of the site and, when completed, will bring total exhibit space at the center to more than 800,000 square feet.

Once the entire project is finished, the center is expected to boost Washington to a ranking of among the top 10 convention facilities in North America. The existing center, with 381,000 square feet of exhibit space, will be sold when the first phase of the new building is completed.

The NCPC will issue its decision by late May on the acceptability of the Authority's plans. At that point, the Authority will go to Congress for authorization to issue bonds for the construction.

The city's business meetings and travel industry maintains that the new center will allow the nation's capital to again become competitive for major conventions. Many trade shows that used to be housed at the existing center have become too big for the facility.

Although some community groups have voiced concern about locating the new convention center downtown, travel industry officials argue that without a downtown site, the center won't be an effective draw for the trade show and meetings business.

In related news, a task force of District of Columbia, federal government leaders, private developers and the Smithsonian Institution has issued a proposal for a major revitalization of downtown Washington that would use the new convention center as one of the project's anchors. Other major renovation and construction projects now under way, including the addition of a downtown sports arena and an opera house, also would be key to the effort.

The area would be linked by a walkway, underground parking and a trolley system. Components of the plan, which would take 10 years to complete, include museums and retail stores.