Prince
George's County needs the new FBI headquarters; deserves the new FBI headquarters and is best situated to provide
the infrastructure for the headquarters. A GAO report explicitly notes that "[a]ccording
to FBI and GSA assessments, the FBI's headquarters facilities--the Hoover
Building and the headquarters annexes--do not fully support the FBI's long-term
security, space, and building condition requirements."[1]
In a recent news story, Senator Cardin is quoted as saying that "[t]he FBI
urgently needs a new home...The sheer overcrowding at the J. Edgar Hoover
Building and the lack of physical and information security there and at 20
overflow offices scattered throughout the area at best complicates the FBI's
important work and at worst severely compromises national security."[2] The
detailed federal report "..identified a need for a headquarters facility
containing an estimated 2.6 million gross square feet—including 2.1 million
useable square feet—to house nearly 11,600 personnel. Required site sizes were
estimated at between 55 and 65 acres based on zoning assumptions for suburban
and more urban locations."[3] Prince George's Countym vt rgw qT, has a "quarter of
the region's federal work force, but contains only about 4 percent of the
region's federal office space."[4]
Bringing
the hi tech jobs that go with the FBI headquarters represents the type of
economic development to which this county should be dedicated. Prince George's
County needs to become more than a sleepy bedroom community that serves the
needs of other jurisdictions. It is good to see the County Executive move quickly
to assemble a team to bring this project to the county and taking advantage of
existing infrastructure. This is the kind of development that can rejuvenate
our established communities or enhance our developing tier.
Senator
Cardin took a leadership role that resulted in the Senate's direction to build within
two miles of a Metro station and 2.5 miles outside the I-495 Beltway, though these same conditions make it possible for Montgomery County to pounce
on this choice project too. Mr. Cardin also worked to ensure that the project contain
about 2.1 million square feet of rentable space with 170 square feet per
employee. This will create demand for retail and will address sustainability
issues at the same time. And, the
Seantor supported a limitation of 4,300 parking spaces, again strongly
supporting a ecologically sensible and sound development project for Prince
George's County."[5] The Prince George's County Executive's office
said that the resolution's criteria bode well for the county; that is good to hear.[6]
[1] GAO-12-96.
Actions Needed to Document Security Decisions and Address Issues with Condition
of Headquarters Buildings. November 8, 2011. [accessed January 16, 2012] http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-96
[2] Charles
S. Clark. Plan To Relocate FBI headquarters advances. GovExec.com December 9,
20125 [accessed January 16, 2012] http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1211/120911cc1.htm
[3]
GAO. Actions Needed to Document Security Decisions and Address Issues with
Condition of Headquarters
Buildings.
November 2011. [accessed January 16, 2012] http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/586151.pdf
[4] Philip
Langdon. GSA will put federal agencies near Metro stations. New Urban News
Publications. December 20, 2012. [accessed January 16, 2012] http://bettercities.net/article/gsa-will-put-federal-agencies-near-metro-stations-15724
[5]
Andy Medici. Washington-area counties ready proposals for new FBI HQ site. Federal Times. January 12, 2012. [accessed
January 16, 2012] http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20120112/FACILITIES02/201120301/
[6] GSA
will put federal agencies near Metro stations
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