Northrop Grumman Coming to NoVA

[JD984]

Maybe. The lure of Ballston wasn't enough to persuade Hilton, SAIC, Volkswagon or Mobil (pre-merger with Exxon) to pick Arlington over Fairfax, although Northrop and other defense contractors already have offices in Arlington. I'd be happy if they picked Fairview Park if it spurred some of the redevelopment efforts near Merrifield that hit a wall when the economy tanked.

Ultimately, I doubt the C-level execs at Northrop will decide a location for corporate HQ based on whether there are more sidewalks or bike paths in Arlington, or a good food court at Ballston Commons. And, while some of those who are relocating might decide to live in Arlington, at least as many will gravitate toward Great Falls, McLean, Bethesda/Potomac, Vienna and/or Fairfax Station.

[iamlegend69]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Only the top 75 people will be coming here. Of course they will only hire people who can help them get government contracts. Isn't that what NG DOES?

Pay attention. I said "charge contracts," nothing about getting contracts.

Most of the 75 people coming here are the top level execs and their assistants that run the company and deal with wall street and schmooze with politicians...not work directly on proposals or on projects themselves while charging contracts.

[iamlegend69]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

I really hope they decide to choose the new office building under construction in the Ballston section of Arlington. If we want to minimize the impact of traffic congestion in NoVA from the incoming jobs (and potential future jobs) with Northrop Grumman, then why not push for them to locate onto a site well-serviced by Metrorail, Metrobus, bike paths/lanes, sidewalks, and ART so many can eschew their vehicles to get to work? What are the benefits of moving to the other site in unincorporated Falls Church? It's not within walking distance of much, if any, mass transit that I'm aware of. It's also not in the most lively of areas. In Ballston these workers can then walk over to the mall or to neighborhood haunts like Carpool for lunch. With $200,000 average salaries they can easily afford the sky-high housing prices in Arlington. It just seems foolish for them not to consider Ballston.

Most of these execs won't be eating in the ballston food court or shopping in that medium end mall.

That unincorporated part of Falls Church is a high end office area where I think CSC also has its headquarters and much closer to high end Tysons.