FBI moving to Loudoun? (Manassas, Washington: tenants, taxes, live in)

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Call it a campus, call it a federal fortress, ether way LC would be happy to have it. In my opinion, of course.

as would PG, as I have pointed out.

[MountainMen]

This idea makes way too much sense for government. They couldn't possibly be that logical as to make a headquarters where there is open land by a Metro and a major airport.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I wouldn't doubt we are better suited to it, but that doesn't mean it's what we'd want.

It seems to be what your County Bd wants

Loudoun Station - Comstock Partners - Real Estate - Metro 7 Office, Commercial, Residential, Hotel

http://www.rclco.com/generalpdf/gene...County_TOD.pdf

FAQ for Loudoun Available Land Database (http://www.biz.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=450 - broken link)

"PD-TRC (Planned Development - Transit Related Center)
Established to provide for a compatible mixture of commercial, cultural, institutional, governmental, recreational, and high density housing uses in compact, pedestrian oriented, transit oriented developments and transit-designed supportive areas serving as focal points for nearby related activity centers and residential areas. Planned rail and bus facilities are integral to this mixed-use concept and the County will consider density increases as roads, bus and rail service are available to the district. These higher intensity, mixed-use development projects will serve to promote linkage of employment and residential uses.

FAR/density maximum: 2.0 maximum with potential to 3.0. "

Loudoun Chamber of Commerce - News

"Loudoun County’s staff and Planning Commission have created an impressive land use and economic development plan for the Route 28 Corridor. With the Dulles Metrorail Project arriving in 2016, now is the time to establish the land use plans that will allow Loudoun to leverage the Transit Oriented Development opportunities that a commuter rail line will offer,” said Chamber President Tony Howard."

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

Theres still much other land in LC available for campuses, IIUC.

So what, they specifically want a campus near a metro station. LC specifically wants to attract agencies like that. End of story.

The FBI is a stable employer that will not go out of business in this recession. Unless there is a guaranteed list of tenants, building a multi-use property is not as stable a venture. Government agencies are non polluting. Numerous residents in LC work there already, so having the campus here could reduce strain on the eastward bound roads. Each agency that moves here makes it attractive for the next one, which is healthy for our economic future. There's still much other land in LC available for high density multi-use stuff if someone wants to build that. That's the way we will see it.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

It seems to be what your County Bd wants

Sure, those are all nice things. But if the FBI wants a campus next to the metro station they'll give it to 'em.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

There's still much other land in LC available for high density multi-use stuff if someone wants to build that. That's the way we will see it.

Land away from a metro is less competitive for high density multiuse. And this is office space we are talking about, so I dont think pollution levels will differ between the FBI and private tenants (or for that matter govt tenants without the same security needs)

As for the FBI, yes they want land NEAR a metro station. Perhaps we are getting lost because of the question of what "near" means. The GGW piece was arguing against an FBI building within a short walk of the metro (specifically the Greenbelt metro) and supported a building within a short shuttle drive of the station. Given the likely layout of the FBI building, Im not sure being a short walk from the metro is really going to be that valuable for them. I think in either PG or Loudoun they are likely to end up a short shuttle bus ride away from metrorail. IF they insist on being closer, then I suspect its equally likely that Loudoun and PG will bid on it - DESPITE GGW (which doesnt really represent the outlook of the PG govt) The issues for both counties are about the same - the main difference being that for PG, with several metro stations unsuited to TOD, the opportunity cost of a campus/fortress/whatever very close to a metro is less than it is for LC.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Sure, those are all nice things. But if the FBI wants a campus next to the metro station they'll give it to 'em.

quite possibly. My point was just that LC DOES want to use the metro stations for TOD, and that the same issues presented in PG are there in LC as well. If not more strongly in LC.

[Caladium]

The thing is, you are arguing for what you think would be best, which is all very interesting, but meaningless since you don't have a vote in this matter. The people with power in Loudoun County may agree that some of the things that you like are nice, but that doesn't mean they share your priorities. If they have to choose between a campus with a guaranteed and stable tenant, or reserving the land in hopes that someday a developer would want to use it for multi-purpose tenants, they're going to choose the campus.

I know you like urban areas and apparently you think that if you argue over and over about how you wish the people of Loudoun County felt the way you do that someday your wish will come true. I'm sorry, but it's just not going to happen. We are a suburban area, and the people who have power here like living in a suburban area--after all, that's why we chose to live here. Yes, we're open to the idea of having some projects with density, and to a degree we'll see some of that happen. However, the reality is, if given a choice, we'll choose a campus over density.

All I can say is, watch and see what happens. If the FBI wants a campus out here, we'll go out of our way to give them something they'd like. It doesn't really matter if someone once wrote a blog about what he'd like to see happen in Loudoun--it's sort of like saying you want to have a hamburger for dinner but then someone calls you up and says let's go get a steak and the idea of the hamburger disappears.

[oneasterisk]

Just a few years ago they built a facility in Manassas: FBI — Territory/Jurisdiction

There's plenty of land out in that area, with decent access to the VRE. They could easily setup a shuttle system if they decide to build out there.

[Carlingtonian]

The recently completed ATFE HQ building is near a Metro station (NY Avenue). It's not on some giant campus, but it looks almost indestructible and reportedly has all kinds of blast-resistant measures.

No idea what its parking situation is, though--or how that's played out with its employees.