GSA proposes trading Hoover Building for new FBI campus (dorms, maintenance)

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

+100

There are many redevelopment opportunities at and around Beltway Plaza Mall.

1. The mall itself. I call it Laurel Mall's little sister (parking garage in front.) There were plans to redevelop it before the recession. Those plans were in the VERY early stages though.

2. The Staples building across 193 from Target.

3. The block with the drive-through liquor store and the SECU building is/was.

4. Springhill Lake apartments (new name that I can't remember).

I agree. They could begin to transform that entire area. Although I expect that the shovel wouldn't hit the ground until after an award. Renewing the planning effort could start today. Infrastructure and safety improvements could start today as well as making investments in the public schools that could potentially benefit from employees that could (potentially) move into the area. That would go a long way in influencing a panel on the viability of the area. I am sure that any real estate near those potential sites will be snatched up as soon as they hit the market.

Do you know of any illustrations that show what they were planning for the mall? Going with the town center concept with a residential area (similar to what they are doing with Landmark and Beauregard in Alexandria) would be the best bet. They also need to eradicate Springhill Lake off the face of the planet. No name change will make it any better.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by Khemistry

Why is this process taking so long? It seems like I first heard about this need for a new campus YEARS ago! And now it's gonna take two more years to just reach final approval, not taking into consideration the time to actually build the damn place?? Man! I really don't want to be hearing about this until 2020. Seems like any development that takes place in this area, takes a decade to go from first proposal until first hole dug! Look at Metro. The Silver Line won't be finished until 2018 ... Silver Spring Transit Center is still a hot mess and not completed ... the 7000 Series cars have began to arrive, but they won't be in actual revenue service until way next year! Who knows when this new PG Hospital will enter construction. Purple Line still in "talks." What gives?? The friggin' MGM Casino will be up and operational before the FBI event decides on a site lol!

That's bureaucracy and public financing for you. The FBI project was always targeted for a 2019-2022 completion. Remember this is a big project with a lot of moving parts so those types of things take time. Those proposals are going to be ungodly long and complicated so reviewing those and negotiating with offerors is going to be a long process. Not to mention the land trade. That is a new concept to the government and they may need time to figure out how that will work.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

I agree. They could begin to transform that entire area. Although I expect that the shovel wouldn't hit the ground until after an award. Renewing the planning effort could start today. Infrastructure and safety improvements could start today as well as making investments in the public schools that could potentially benefit from employees that could (potentially) move into the area. That would go a long way in influencing a panel on the viability of the area. I am sure that any real estate near those potential sites will be snatched up as soon as they hit the market.

Do you know of any illustrations that show what they were planning for the mall? Going with the town center concept with a residential area (similar to what they are doing with Landmark and Beauregard in Alexandria) would be the best bet. They also need to eradicate Springhill Lake off the face of the planet. No name change will make it any better.

Here's what I could find. I did recall some renderings I viewed at the time.

Springhill Lake gets OK for overhaul
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rethin...7594588512538/
John Reagan Architects - Springhill Lake
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES - Merging the Old With the New In a Washington Suburb - NYTimes.com

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Here's what I could find. I did recall some renderings I viewed at the time.

Springhill Lake gets OK for overhaul
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rethin...7594588512538/
John Reagan Architects - Springhill Lake
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES - Merging the Old With the New In a Washington Suburb - NYTimes.com

Sounds like a pretty solid plan. Doesn't seem like they would have to do much to reinitialize it. I wonder has the County or Greenbelt begun talking to dust off their plans.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

Sounds like a pretty solid plan. Doesn't seem like they would have to do much to reinitialize it. I wonder has the County or Greenbelt begun talking to dust off their plans.

I'm sure the county will begin to talk to property owners in the area to see where they are in terms of being open to redevelopment. I'm not sure how much incentive the county and state can give to these property owners to help start putting "lipstick" on the area to woo the FBI. Springhill Lake, even if the FBI selected Greenbelt, would probably take 20 years to redevelop. So, it could be 2022, 6 years after a decision is made, before a shovel hits the ground to redevelop anything in that area. Unless some rich suitor swoops in and buys up all the property so that development can be fast-tracked. But I think even the best case scenario would still be a 2 to 4 year process from concept to construction.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I'm sure the county will begin to talk to property owners in the area to see where they are in terms of being open to redevelopment. I'm not sure how much incentive the county and state can give to these property owners to help start putting "lipstick" on the area to woo the FBI. Springhill Lake, even if the FBI selected Greenbelt, would probably take 20 years to redevelop. So, it could be 2022, 6 years after a decision is made, before a shovel hits the ground to redevelop anything in that area. Unless some rich suitor swoops in and buys up all the property so that development can be fast-tracked. But I think even the best case scenario would still be a 2 to 4 year process from concept to construction.

That's true but remaking Springhill Lake and Beltway would go a long way towards changing the area. Personally, I would just be happy with it transitioning whether it took 10, 15 or 20 years.

[adelphi_sky]

I've been thinking about the Quantico argument found in a lot of comments in articles on the FBI HQ move and the fact that Springfield should be chosen because it is the closest to Quantico. From reading these comments I've learned that there are labs at Quantico and a training facility; the academy.

Stepping back, consider the overall reason the FBI is looking for 2.1 million sqft. They want to consolidate FBI operations in the DC region into one campus. Assuming that this is the case, why wouldn't Quantico also be involved in this consolidation? If there are a certain number of employees traveling back and forth to Quantico, wouldn't it make sense to consolidate those activities as well? And if they are consolidating activities at Quantico, is the fact that Springfield is closer to Quantico still relevant? I think a lot of people are overlooking this.

[YellowKing]

I've seen plenty of arguments that the majority of the FBI workers live in MD or DC and not Virginia. I can tell you that the Hoover building is full of more people slugging it up 95 from points south or taking the Blue/Yellow line than anywhere else.

Most of the specialized workers (IT contractors) and actual Agents definitely live in Virginia. Most of the administrative staff and other lower-skilled professionals live in DC and MD. Which do you think are going to be easier to replace?

Combine that with Quantico being much closer and I think you all already know your answer. Unless MD comes up with some crazy incentives to relocate to Greenbelt, it's not going to happen.

[YellowKing]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I've been thinking about the Quantico argument found in a lot of comments in articles on the FBI HQ move and the fact that Springfield should be chosen because it is the closest to Quantico. From reading these comments I've learned that there are labs at Quantico and a training facility; the academy.

Stepping back, consider the overall reason the FBI is looking for 2.1 million sqft. They want to consolidate FBI operations in the DC region into one campus. Assuming that this is the case, why wouldn't Quantico also be involved in this consolidation? If there are a certain number of employees traveling back and forth to Quantico, wouldn't it make sense to consolidate those activities as well? And if they are consolidating activities at Quantico, is the fact that Springfield is closer to Quantico still relevant? I think a lot of people are overlooking this.

There is no intent to consolidate the academy. It will remain at quantico, which requires a lot more than just office space.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by YellowKing

There is no intent to consolidate the academy. It will remain at quantico, which requires a lot more than just office space.

Okay. Seems kind of odd given the opportunity to eliminate some trips to Quantico even if Springfield is chosen. I thought at least the labs and classrooms could be housed in a building on a 2.1 million sqft. 80 acre campus. It would certainly cut down on the need to travel back and forth between the main campus and Quantico. I understand that some facilities naturally won't work on the new campus. Oh well.

Any reason why no part of Quantico is included in the consolidation?