The Prince George’s County Council approved a resolution creating what’s called an Extraordinary Development District at the National Harbor site where the Sphere is going to be built. Related stories New details emerge on proposed $1B Sphere at National Harbor National Harbor Sphere revenues would ‘dwarf’ those from Commanders, Six Flags, Braveboy says ‘Mini-Sphere’ planned for National Harbor in Maryland The vote was 8-0, and the discussion about the creation of the zone was briefer and far less substantive than discussions surrounding the project that will play out over the coming months. “It’s just creating the district,” Council Chair Krystal Oriadha said.
“It allows for the county executive, park and planning, all of the stakeholders behind the scenes to start working on the framework.” The creation of the zone will, among other things, allow the county to also create a Tax Increment Financing plan to help finance the project. “The establishment of the Extraordinary Development District gives us the tools we need to ensure that the financing package that we are proposing moves forward,” County Executive Aisha Braveboy said. “I think today’s unanimous vote shows that we’re all aligned in bringing this very important project to the county.” Several on the council were clear, however, that certain terms must be met in order for the project to win final approval.
While that question wasn’t on the table Monday, leaders from several unions were on hand to address the council at the start of the meeting. They all called on the council to condition approval of the Sphere with a project labor agreement. “The Prince George’s County Sphere project should include a project labor agreement to ensure this historic development delivers lasting economic benefits to the residents of Prince George’s County,” said Roxy Mejia with the Painters and Allied Trades Union.
“It’s time for the Sphere development team to begin negotiating labor agreements with us,” said Victoria Leonard of the Baltimore-D. “These labor agreements are essential to ensure that jobs created by this project are quality, family-supporting jobs for county residents.” Sam Stern, of UNITE HERE Local 25, told the council that union representatives have not yet been able to sit down with corporate officials behind the Sphere to negotiate labor agreements.
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