Grading Recent Prince George's County Development (Clinton, Waldorf: live in, restaurants, fence)

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

The Census moved to Suitland when it was still farmland. Not a good comparison.

It's doubtful they would choose to locate in the area today.



History: Suitland Federal Center

I understand that. I actually work there. My point was that they just recently built two new buildings in the past 6 or 7 years there, when Suitland was an awful area. There has been many times when the government has just decided to move an agency to a completely different area (i.e. parts of USDA, Homeland Security, Patent & Trade, NOAA-NCPC). They had every reason to simply move the Census or the NOAA to a new area, but they decided to keep them there.

[Khemistry]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

The Census moved to Suitland when it was still farmland. Not a good comparison.

It's doubtful they would choose to locate in the area today.



History: Suitland Federal Center

I'm fairly sure that person was speaking on the BRAND NEW replacement Census Buildings that were constructed in the last decade... something the feds clearly didn't have to build and could have relocated. Having a blonde moment?

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Khemistry

I'm fairly sure that person was speaking on the BRAND NEW replacement Census Buildings that were constructed in the last decade... something the feds clearly didn't have to build and could have relocated. Having a blonde moment?

No but why would they build somewhere else when they have the available land and infrastructure? The Census is like Fort knox over there at this juncture they might as well go all out.

Btw how much economic activity does the Census generate in the immediate area anyway?

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

I understand that. I actually work there. My point was that they just recently built two new buildings in the past 6 or 7 years there, when Suitland was an awful area. There has been many times when the government has just decided to move an agency to a completely different area (i.e. parts of USDA, Homeland Security, Patent & Trade, NOAA-NCPC). They had every reason to simply move the Census or the NOAA to a new area, but they decided to keep them there.

Ok please tell me where in this area one can get 50 acres near a Metro Station? Well not in PG atleast. Picking up and moving isn't that easy. I guess the Feds could do it but it wouldn't be cheap.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Ok please tell me where in this area one can get 50 acres near a Metro Station? Well not in PG atleast. Picking up and moving isn't that easy. I guess the Feds could do it but it wouldn't be cheap.

It's not that simple. There are many agencies in that complex. If the Census or NOAA moved it wouldn't require finding as much land else where because they only take up a portion of that facility. The Census building is huge but there are other metro stations that have land that would at least fit one agency like Census or NOAA. I think the campus looks way bigger than what it is to an outsider but there is a lot empty land in the complex. I mean honestly if someone held a gun to your head, would you choose to be in Suitland or Largo?

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Ok please tell me where in this area one can get 50 acres near a Metro Station? Well not in PG atleast. Picking up and moving isn't that easy. I guess the Feds could do it but it wouldn't be cheap.

Well, for one thing, the FBI headquarters doesn't occupy 50 acres in DC at the current moment. They just occupy one city block. Second, the GSA has come to the conclusion that it would be cheaper for the FBI to relocate than to try to upgrade their current building, which is why they are proposing to look for new digs elsewhere. Currently, the GSA is pushing TOD locations. (Not sure what they were thinking with the Mark Center fiasco in Alexandria. Politics I guess). Out of the 15 metro stations in PG, there are at least 4 that has the space. All have reasonable access to 495 or 95 as well.

1. Largo
2. New Carrollton
3. Greenbelt
4. West Hyattsville

[Jobworkinger]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

It's not that simple. There are many agencies in that complex. If the Census or NOAA moved it wouldn't require finding as much land else where because they only take up a portion of that facility. The Census building is huge but there are other metro stations that have land that would at least fit one agency like Census or NOAA. I think the campus looks way bigger than what it is to an outsider but there is a lot empty land in the complex. I mean honestly if someone held a gun to your head, would you choose to be in Suitland or Largo?

Well, it is PG County so the chances of having a gun held to your head would be higher there then in Montgomery County or across the river in VA. I'm just saying, you set yourself up for an answer like this with the way you phrased the answer(so if it wasn't me that said it, someone else would have). Honestly, I think all of DC is just a rolling opportunity for gentrification and eventually the poor areas become the only affordable areas and therefore are prime locales for rehabing and upgrading. I also believe that there is only so high a cost that the high-cost areas can sustain, and eventually that bubble will pop too.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Well, for one thing, the FBI headquarters doesn't occupy 50 acres in DC at the current moment. They just occupy one city block. Second, the GSA has come to the conclusion that it would be cheaper for the FBI to relocate than to try to upgrade their current building, which is why they are proposing to look for new digs elsewhere. Currently, the GSA is pushing TOD locations. (Not sure what they were thinking with the Mark Center fiasco in Alexandria. Politics I guess). Out of the 15 metro stations in PG, there are at least 4 that has the space. All have reasonable access to 495 or 95 as well.

1. Largo
2. New Carrollton
3. Greenbelt
4. West Hyattsville

I was referring to the feasability of moving the Census Bureau from its current location in Suitland.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

I was referring to the feasability of moving the Census Bureau from its current location in Suitland.

Oh. My bad. I thought we were talking about the FBI at first before the Census Bureau. Yeah, I don't see a reason why they would move the Census. I'm also not sure why there hasn't been much development over the past ten years around the complex.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Oh. My bad. I thought we were talking about the FBI at first before the Census Bureau. Yeah, I don't see a reason why they would move the Census. I'm also not sure why there hasn't been much development over the past ten years around the complex.

Money. They have had big plans for Suitland but then the recession hit. They started on some of it by tearing down some of the old drug infested apartments, building a new building for Suitland Elementary and building a new affording housing complex (Windsor Crossing). That is as far as they got. They were supposed to reface the entire strip of stores, make them uniform and give them an old town look with a mid-century type font on street signs and business signs. I also heard they were supposed to tear down Suitland Corner (strip mall at the corner of Suitland and Silver Hill Roads), but that is also still there. They have their work cut out because most of the Federal buildings on site have their own stuff like banks, gyms, coffee shops, convenience stores, etc.