Gray officials propose forgoing taxes for D.C. United stadium in exchange for revenue cut Three members of the council and a Gray administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the briefings were intended to be private and negotiations are ongoing, outlined the preliminary deal. Two members were told United would owe no sales tax on any commercial activity on the stadium footprint - including tickets, concessions and even businesses like restaurants that might locate adjacent to the stadium - throughout the team's 30-year lease. Property taxes would also be abated on a rolling schedule, according to two council members. For the first five years of the 30-year lease, the team would pay no property tax. For each subsequent five-year period, the team would pay an additional 25 percent of the tax normally due, with 100 percent owed for the last 10 years of the lease. A Gray administration official confirmed that the mayor's stadium proposal includes a sales tax break and phased property tax break, but said that in exchange the city would be given 50 percent of the team's revenue beyond a certain threshold that remains under negotiation. A council member said Monday that provision remains in flux, with some pressing Lew to negotiate more guaranteed tax dollars for the city rather than engage in a revenue-sharing agreement whose benefits are more speculative and could potentially be evaded through team accounting maneuvers. Lew is attempting to assemble enough land for the team to open not only a Major League Soccer stadium but also restaurants, retail and housing or a hotel between Half and First streets SW, south of Potomac Avenue. In July Gray proposed a deal in which the District would provide land, infrastructure and tax incentives to the team valued at around $150 million, about half the cost of the stadium. Lew said at the time the deal could include a sales and use tax abatement worth as much as $2.6 million in its first year. The scope of the tax abatements now under discussion stretch throughout the 30-year stadium lease and have raised questions among council members about the returns the city can expect on its $150 million investment. The stadium proposal requires approval from the council because it calls for the District to trade away at least one city-owned property, the Frank D. Reeves Center on U Street NW, and to give the team tax breaks. Lew said he would send legislation to the council by November, then pushed the deadline to Christmas. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) said Lew told her that negotiations were ongoing with Buzzard Point landowners. While deals with Akridge, a D.C. developer, and Pepco appeared to be near consummation, she said, talks with businessman Mark D. Ein and the owners of an adjacent salvage yard were not so far along. None of the council members said Lew mentioned any city properties besides the Reeves Center that stood to be traded away. Cheh said she was led to believe that the proceeds from the Reeves swap would be sufficient to fund the deal. Lew and Akridge have not yet made public their appraisals of the Reeves Center or the Buzzard Point sites. Lew spokesman Tony Robinson issued a statement following a request for comment: "While the city administrator is sharing aspects of the soccer stadium transaction with council members, he is indeed still in the midst of final negotiations on key aspects of the deal with all parties and will not make any public comment until the definitive legislative package is complete and submitted to the D.C. City Council."