FBI moving to Loudoun? (Arlington, Reston: rent, condos, transfer to)

[PolandSprings]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I sure hope they don't. It doesn't seem fair to the employees who chose to buy homes in or close to DC. DC is the nation's capital, after all--not NOVA.

I'll admit I'm biased (being in Arlington), but what I suspect is really behind this is that the new hires can only afford a small condo or TH if they buy close-in. I'm also guessing--I could be wrong--that many of them refuse to live in anything a big house with an attached two-car garage and insist that they have this with one income. So they decide to live out in PW or Loudoun. Fine, their choice--but don't complain about the commute to DC.

On the flip side, staying in DC isn't fair to the newer employees. Eventually the older employees will retire and all you will have are new employees living in LC and PWC because when they came to the area homes were too expensive to buy near work. Maybe this would be a wise move.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by PolandSprings

On the flip side, staying in DC isn't fair to the newer employees. Eventually the older employees will retire and all you will have are new employees living in LC and PWC because when they came to the area homes were too expensive to buy near work. Maybe this would be a wise move.

I think someone who has already invested a large amount of money and gone through all the hassle to buy a home near work where it is now deserves more consideration than someone who hasn't done any of that. And it's not like there are no affordable homes within a resaonable commute of current FBI HQ; there are cheap homes all over the DC region, provided one is willing to sacrifice something (square feet/school district/updated-ness/etc). Besides, if they build a new HQ out west, the housing values nearby will shoot up--and then (let's say in 10 years) one could argue that this future location is unfair to new (year 2023) employees who at that time can't afford to buy a home near work.

As long as we have massive consolidiations of employment centers, the areas within a quick commute to those will have inordinately high housing prices.

[johnsonkk]

The FBI is accepting bids from other government agencies who are interesting in trading locations with the FBI's current Hoover building. Requirement is for at least 2.1 million square feet and bids need to be submitted by March 4th, '13. There can't be that many facilities that large that will want to trade spaces but if this ends up happening, half the FBI workers will be happy while the other half.... The exception would be something like the Marks building where all the workers are not happy.

"The GSA is seeking to up to 2.1 million square and plans to hold a pre-submittal briefing with interested bidders in early January. It has set a March 4 deadline to submit proposals".

http://www.gsadaily.com/Tuesday.pdf

GSA proposes trading Hoover Building for new FBI campus - Capital Business Blog - The Washington Post

[IndiaLimaDelta]

Loudoun or PWC might not be DC, but at least it's not Duluth with its ice fishing...

Mad rep point for the one who gets my reference first.

[NC211]

I would not be surprised if the FBI does indeed come out of the city and towards the "burbs". There are most likely certain security parameters that are going to be required by the developer to deliver to secure such a stellar tenant, that an urban setting probably can't provide in general. The nearest to the city I've seen that was capable of supplying these parameters, granted for a DoD tenant, was Falls Church. I suspect many of the same safety/security requirements will be included for the FBI. It's not about ease of access for the employees, it's about security, which requires lots of land. Train access isn't a plus, it's a negative now, as it provides another level of access threats to the building. Factor in the new infrastructure being installed in Loudoun these days, like new underground utilites and data centers, matched against having Dulles sitting there, and Loudoun begins to paint a pretty good picture as a likely choice for such a tenant who seeks increased security characteristics.

[IndiaLimaDelta]

Originally Posted by NC211

I would not be surprised if the FBI does indeed come out of the city and towards the "burbs". There are most likely certain security parameters that are going to be required by the developer to deliver to secure such a stellar tenant, that an urban setting probably can't provide in general. The nearest to the city I've seen that was capable of supplying these parameters, granted for a DoD tenant, was Falls Church. I suspect many of the same safety/security requirements will be included for the FBI. It's not about ease of access for the employees, it's about security, which requires lots of land. Train access isn't a plus, it's a negative now, as it provides another level of access threats to the building. Factor in the new infrastructure being installed in Loudoun these days, like new underground utilites and data centers, matched against having Dulles sitting there, and Loudoun begins to paint a pretty good picture as a likely choice for such a tenant who seeks increased security characteristics.

I know a few spots (e.g. Colorado, Wyoming, etc.) where security is top notch and accessibility is close to zero. Maybe all government agencies should move there.

[NC211]

I know them too, but would prefer Dakota if I had the chance for a few GSA/DoD outposts. Unfortunately, Treasury and the WH go hand in hand, and they ain't moving to DK until they go BK first!

[IndiaLimaDelta]

Originally Posted by NC211

I know them too, but would prefer Dakota if I had the chance for a few GSA/DoD outposts. Unfortunately, Treasury and the WH go hand in hand, and they ain't moving to DK until they go BK first!

The Dakotas as getting a bit busy with the energy boom.

Nobody gets my FBI/Duluth reference?

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by IndiaLimaDelta

The Dakotas as getting a bit busy with the energy boom.

Nobody gets my FBI/Duluth reference?

I tried. Coming up with Lake Superior, extreme cold etc.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by NC211

I would not be surprised if the FBI does indeed come out of the city and towards the "burbs". There are most likely certain security parameters that are going to be required by the developer to deliver to secure such a stellar tenant, that an urban setting probably can't provide in general. The nearest to the city I've seen that was capable of supplying these parameters, granted for a DoD tenant, was Falls Church. I suspect many of the same safety/security requirements will be included for the FBI. It's not about ease of access for the employees, it's about security, which requires lots of land. Train access isn't a plus, it's a negative now, as it provides another level of access threats to the building. Factor in the new infrastructure being installed in Loudoun these days, like new underground utilites and data centers, matched against having Dulles sitting there, and Loudoun begins to paint a pretty good picture as a likely choice for such a tenant who seeks increased security characteristics.

Are you aware of where the new ATF headquarters is located? NE DC. Quite near the NY Ave Metro, in fact. The thing is a fortress.

Plenty of land in SE DC and NE DC. Even some in SW here and there. Clear a few dilapidated old motels/parking lots, and there you go. (DARPA just did this; its new building is now complete--at Ballston, where the bus-storage lot used to be.)