To get more perspective on FBI’s future HQ, we talked to Cassidy Turley federal properties expert Darian LeBlanc. (ICYMI: GSA narrowed down its search to two sites in Maryland and one in Virginia.) Darian, whom we snapped with colleague Mark Sullivan back in April, ranked the sites on the likelihood of getting chosen: 1. Greenbelt Metro; 2. Springfield; and 3. Landover Mall. One major factor is the 350-foot security setback FBI wants. Greenbelt and Landover are well suited for it, says Darian. The CIA presence at the Springfield site makes it too small for the maximum setback, unless the agency can be relocated. It's unlikely a site and developer will be chosen before spring '16.
We snapped the Springfield site yesterday, where GSA has several large warehouses. Darian says public transit will also be a factor for FBI’s 10,000 employees. Greenbelt and Springfield are walking distance to Metro; Landover would need a shuttle. All three are close to major highways, but Landover may have a problem being so close to Fedex Field and its game day gridlock. One big unknown is whether the FBI facility will be federally owned or if a private owner will lease it back to the government. That will be determined in the next phase.
We snapped the new facade on the Springfield Town Center, set to open a stone’s throw from the proposed site in October. (If FBI moves there, Brookstone will make a killing on pens that are actually cameras.) The next step is GSA’s environmental impact studies and developers submitting proposals for one or all of the sites. Darian says there could be fewer than 10 companies in the country that can design and deliver a 2.2M SF HQ and purchase and redevelop the Hoover building. FBI may not attract many of its contractors to take up office space around the HQ, but expect some development, lodging, and retail to service such a large workforce.
So what do YOU think? Which site would be the best new home for the FBI? Tell us here.
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