When Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced the plan in November, there was some talk of potential office space. A mention of office development even made its way into legislation introduced to the council, but was later edited out.

Baliles said he was surprised to hear that office space is now “significantly back in.”

“It just seems like a significant change at the 11th hour,” said Baliles, who has raised questions about the plan but hasn’t indicated support or opposition.

Marshall said the Squirrels have agreed to the $1.7 million annual rent payment and that the city has agreed to let the team keep the naming rights, which puts the onus on the Squirrels to find a sponsor that can alleviate their rent costs.

Marshall said the Squirrels are taking the agreement to their management committee today.

VCU’s board of visitors also has to approve the deal, Marshall said.

“I don’t have a sense that that’s going to be a problem since the president (Michael Rao) is in favor of it,” Marshall said.

The mayor’s office also published a detailed news release Thursday laying out an archaeological review process designed to protect and memorialize Shockoe’s history as a hub of the slave trade.