A DC Council committee voted to give Dominion Development extra time after residents criticized economic development officials' decision to seek another developer for the project. It has until mid-December to sign preliminary lease agreements on the property.

Dominion, which has partnered with Baltimore-based Manekin LLC has played up its DC roots and said it was given exclusive rights to develop the property. City officials deny such rights were ever granted.City officials have long wanted to build a shopping center on the 25-acre site. The Southeast DC neighborhood doesn't have a shopping center. A movie theater, grocery store and other stores have been proposed for the site.

DC officials also disagree with residents about how to use the land, which is split by a steep slope.While residents want an all-commercial development, city officials believe that would attract too much traffic and require road improvements that would be too costly. They say it should be a mix of housing and shopping instead.