GSA avoids having Federal office space in P.G. County (Waldorf: appointed, leases)
Washington, DC suburbs in MarylandCalvert County, Charles County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County
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GSA avoids having Federal office space in P.G. County
I know "Meatkins" and others discussed this issue here, last year, but here is a portion of Steven Pearlstein's column in the Washington Post business section, January 15: He comments:
PG County offers the greatest gap between the potential for development and redevelopment in the inner ring (of the region) and market realities. High crime rates, inferior schools, rampant corruption and sheer ineptitude on the part of local officials have scared away many developers. Racism has been a factor as well. At this point, however, what has long been considered a PGC problem is now a regional problem. If the Wash. area is to grow, a lot of that growth is going to have to happen in PGC. (in short, because NoVA is already sprawled-out to the max).
Given the strength of the market resistance so far, only the Fed. Govt. has the clout to jump-start that development process. A study by Univ. Md. found that although PG county accounts for 1/3 of the land in the region and 1/5 of the population, only 4% of the govt's leased office space is within its borders - and that despite some of the region's lowest rents and land values. Although 26% of the region's Federal workers live in PGC, less than 8% of them work there.
The General Services Admin. made a knuckle-headed decision in 2011 when it extended a big lease for 3,000 Fed. workers at a building in Montg. Co. rather than take up an offer to relocate the work to New Carrollton, Largo or Hyattsville, all with Metrorail stops nearby. The GSA cited lower cost as the key factor, reflecting a sizable subsidy that Montg. Co. taxpayers provided to keep the jobs. That kind of bidding war among local jurisdictions is just plain stupid, whether it is for Northrop's headquarters, or a GSA lease. If GSA Regional Administrator Robert Peck is to be taken seriously on his promise to locate Fed. employment in PGC, he should be pressured to issue a rule discounting the effect of local subsidies in evaluating competing lease proposals. On a level playing field, PGC ought to win most of those competitions hands down. Even that, however, probably won't be enough. Given the endemic corruption and favoritism surrounding development in PGC, it also will be necessary for MD to step in and create a Capital Regional Redevelopment Authority whose director and board majority are appointed by the Governor. Such an authority would need to have the power to borrow money, buy and assemble land (by taking if necessary), override local zoning in extraordinary circumstances, and provide an open and fair mechanism for private delopers to compete for rights at Metro stops, highway exits and other prime locations. Because of the potential to raise land values and generate additional revenue for the state and its counties, such an authority could easily be self-financing.
Pearlstein goes on to say "There are natural limits to how much a metropolitan region can expand its economy and its population by expanding its geographic footprint, and Wash. is probably getting pretty close to them. The evidence can be found in the horrible commutes, in the divergent trends in land values at the core and at the periphery, and in the extraordinary cost of extending Metrorail to Loudoun County".
Last edited by slowlane3; 01-16-2012 at 10:19 AM..
I know "Meatkins" and others discussed this issue here, last year, but here is a portion of Steven Pearlstein's column in the Washington Post business section, January 15: He comments:
PG County offers the greatest gap between the potential for development and redevelopment in the inner ring (of the region) and market realities. High crime rates, inferior schools, rampant corruption and sheer ineptitude on the part of local officials have scared away many developers. Racism has been a factor as well. At this point, however, what has long been considered a PGC problem is now a regional problem. If the Wash. area is to grow, a lot of that growth is going to have to happen in PGC. (in short, because NoVA is already sprawled-out to the max).
Given the strength of the market resistance so far, only the Fed. Govt. has the clout to jump-start that development process. A study by Univ. Md. found that although PG county accounts for 1/3 of the land in the region and 1/5 of the population, only 4% of the govt's leased office space is within its borders - and that despite some of the region's lowest rents and land values. Although 26% of the region's Federal workers live in PGC, less than 8% of them work there.
The General Services Admin. made a knuckle-headed decision in 2011 when it extended a big lease for 3,000 Fed. workers at a building in Montg. Co. rather than take up an offer to relocate the work to New Carrollton, Largo or Hyattsville, all with Metrorail stops nearby. The GSA cited lower cost as the key factor, reflecting a sizable subsidy that Montg. Co. taxpayers provided to keep the jobs. That kind of bidding war among local jurisdictions is just plain stupid, whether it is for Northrop's headquarters, or a GSA lease. If GSA Regional Administrator Robert Peck is to be taken seriously on his promise to locate Fed. employment in PGC, he should be pressured to issue a rule discounting the effect of local subsidies in evaluating competing lease proposals. On a level playing field, PGC ought to win most of those competitions hands down. Even that, however, probably won't be enough. Given the endemic corruption and favoritism surrounding development in PGC, it also will be necessary for MD to step in and create a Capital Regional Redevelopment Authority whose director and board majority are appointed by the Governor. Such an authority would need to have the power to borrow money, buy and assemble land (by taking if necessary), override local zoning in extraordinary circumstances, and provide an open and fair mechanism for private delopers to compete for rights at Metro stops, highway exits and other prime locations. Because of the potential to raise land values and generate additional revenue for the state and its counties, such an authority could easily be self-financing.
Pearlstein goes on to say "There are natural limits to how much a metropolitan region can expand its economy and its population by expanding its geographic footprint, and Wash. is probably getting pretty close to them. The evidence can be found in the horrible commutes, in the divergent trends in land values at the core and at the periphery, and in the extraordinary cost of extending Metrorail to Loudoun County".
He's right but there is another alternative, build higher.
I know "Meatkins" and others discussed this issue here, last year, but here is a portion of Steven Pearlstein's column in the Washington Post business section, January 15: He comments:
PG County offers the greatest gap between the potential for development and redevelopment in the inner ring (of the region) and market realities. High crime rates, inferior schools, rampant corruption and sheer ineptitude on the part of local officials have scared away many developers. Racism has been a factor as well. At this point, however, what has long been considered a PGC problem is now a regional problem. If the Wash. area is to grow, a lot of that growth is going to have to happen in PGC. (in short, because NoVA is already sprawled-out to the max).
Given the strength of the market resistance so far, only the Fed. Govt. has the clout to jump-start that development process. A study by Univ. Md. found that although PG county accounts for 1/3 of the land in the region and 1/5 of the population, only 4% of the govt's leased office space is within its borders - and that despite some of the region's lowest rents and land values. Although 26% of the region's Federal workers live in PGC, less than 8% of them work there.
The General Services Admin. made a knuckle-headed decision in 2011 when it extended a big lease for 3,000 Fed. workers at a building in Montg. Co. rather than take up an offer to relocate the work to New Carrollton, Largo or Hyattsville, all with Metrorail stops nearby. The GSA cited lower cost as the key factor, reflecting a sizable subsidy that Montg. Co. taxpayers provided to keep the jobs. That kind of bidding war among local jurisdictions is just plain stupid, whether it is for Northrop's headquarters, or a GSA lease. If GSA Regional Administrator Robert Peck is to be taken seriously on his promise to locate Fed. employment in PGC, he should be pressured to issue a rule discounting the effect of local subsidies in evaluating competing lease proposals. On a level playing field, PGC ought to win most of those competitions hands down. Even that, however, probably won't be enough. Given the endemic corruption and favoritism surrounding development in PGC, it also will be necessary for MD to step in and create a Capital Regional Redevelopment Authority whose director and board majority are appointed by the Governor. Such an authority would need to have the power to borrow money, buy and assemble land (by taking if necessary), override local zoning in extraordinary circumstances, and provide an open and fair mechanism for private delopers to compete for rights at Metro stops, highway exits and other prime locations. Because of the potential to raise land values and generate additional revenue for the state and its counties, such an authority could easily be self-financing.
Pearlstein goes on to say "There are natural limits to how much a metropolitan region can expand its economy and its population by expanding its geographic footprint, and Wash. is probably getting pretty close to them. The evidence can be found in the horrible commutes, in the divergent trends in land values at the core and at the periphery, and in the extraordinary cost of extending Metrorail to Loudoun County".
PGC has a lot of problems, so MD and Federal should come with money to fix them?
PGC has a lot of problems, so MD and Federal should come with money to fix them?
Why?
Because, if 26% of local Federal workers already live in PGC, then it's common sense that more Federal jobs should be there, instead of just the 8% that are there now. The whole region, during my long lifetime, has gotten extremely unbalanced and out of kilter, with the western D.C. suburbs landing all the white-hot economic growth, while the eastern suburbs have to make do with basically only the same major employers that existed 60 years ago when I was born. This is why PGC and So. Md. residents have statistically the longest average commutes of any counties in the nation. Furthermore, Pearlstein claims the cost of his proposed regional development commission would pay for itself, in revenue generated and increased land values. Since 4 Metro lines exist in PGC, why not develop offices near some of those stations?
I know my analogy is greatly exaggerated, but PG County along with Waldorf-St.Charles make me think of what I have heard about Soweto, the satellite city of 1.3 million outside Johannesburg, South Africa where people endure long commutes due to few jobs or industry (although I'm sure living conditions are much worse there than here). Or the sterile satellite city of Nezahualcoyotl (1 million people) outside Mexico City that I've read about.
Last edited by slowlane3; 01-16-2012 at 05:42 PM..
Column also talks about White Flint Mall, never a prime shopping destination, IMHO. I went mainly to go to Border's Books and, secondarily, to see movies. I don't know that people are turning away from enclosed malls. Turning towards what? Open malls in the DC area in winter? I don't think so.
Because, if 26% of local Federal workers already live in PGC, then it's common sense that more Federal jobs should be there, instead of just the 8% that are there now. The whole region, during my long lifetime, has gotten extremely unbalanced and out of kilter, with the western D.C. suburbs landing all the white-hot economic growth, while the eastern suburbs have to make do with basically only the same major employers that existed 60 years ago when I was born. This is why PGC and So. Md. residents have statistically the longest average commutes of any counties in the nation. Furthermore, Pearlstein claims the cost of his proposed regional development commission would pay for itself, in revenue generated and increased land values. Since 4 Metro lines exist in PGC, why not develop offices near some of those stations?
I know my analogy is greatly exaggerated, but PG County along with Waldorf-St.Charles make me think of what I have heard about Soweto, the satellite city of 1.3 million outside Johannesburg, South Africa where people endure long commutes due to few jobs or industry (although I'm sure living conditions are much worse there than here). Or the sterile satellite city of Nezahualcoyotl (1 million people) outside Mexico City that I've read about.
This isn't some grand conspiracy. First of all does your stat about federal workers residency include postal workers?
A lot of the growth and auxillery businesses the federal government generates has to do with defense. The Pentagon was built well before PG became majority Black. So PG has always been playing catch up.
PG as Pearlstein points out has real impediments. Now one can argue they are race related. Honestly I think it's what the culture that is associated with many Blacks (high crime, low educational emphasis over reliance on government as opposed to business etc.) that leads to these impediments being a barrier.
However as prices drop in PG and development potential becomes scarce elsewhere in the region maybe things will improve in PG.
At the end of the day developers want to make money if there is money to be made building commercially in PG it will get built.
Column also talks about White Flint Mall, never a prime shopping destination, IMHO. I went mainly to go to Border's Books and, secondarily, to see movies. I don't know that people are turning away from enclosed malls. Turning towards what? Open malls in the DC area in winter? I don't think so.
Evidently the Town Center model is what's in. It's part of this whole urbanist movement I guess.
A lot of employees in GSA's Public Building Service (PBS) have cozy relationships with developers. Sometimes leases are renewed even when it's not the best use of funds. Talk to federal workers who have been moved out of leased space due to health hazards in buildings. Speak with workers who had to deal with mold in buildings constructed less than five years ago. Take a look at where some former GSA employees are working now. Decades worth of corruption to wade through at the agency.
Column also talks about White Flint Mall, never a prime shopping destination, IMHO. I went mainly to go to Border's Books and, secondarily, to see movies. I don't know that people are turning away from enclosed malls. Turning towards what? Open malls in the DC area in winter? I don't think so.
Again its another political Desperate attempt to Demolish every potential upscale enclosed shopping malls in Maryland knowing that it will further push Maryland Tax Payers into spending money at Virginia Malls like Tyson's and Pentagon City....
There is no way in Hell they are going to demolish any upscale or potential upscale enclosed shopping Malls in Virginia.....
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