Days after revealing a $2 billion investment in low-carbon construction projects at federal facilities, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has identified 23 properties to begin the disposition process as it accelerates its efforts to right-size and modernize the federal buildings portfolio.
The announcement represents a potential reduction of 3.5 million square feet and more than $1 billion in estimated cost avoidance over 10 years. This is the first step in the GSA’s disposal process, under which the properties could be transferred, exchanged, or sold to a federal, state, or local entity, or to the public, after robust input and engagement with stakeholders.
The agency recently testified before Congress on the need to optimize the federal portfolio. This involves reinvesting in many buildings the federal government already owns while also reducing reliance on costly leases and moving underutilized and underperforming assets out of the federal portfolio. The GSA said these combined efforts will help increase occupancy in federally owned assets, reduce the overall federal footprint, and provide significant taxpayer savings.
“GSA is committed to right-sizing and optimizing the federal buildings portfolio in ways that benefit local communities and taxpayers,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “GSA and our agency partners will continue to assess space needs and accelerate the disposition of federal buildings that are underperforming, underused, or otherwise don’t use taxpayer dollars effectively.”
The GSA said it will be working closely with customer agencies whose spaces are impacted by disposition decisions, noting that its FY 2024 budget includes funding for relocation to other GSA-controlled spaces.
Elliot Doomes, the agency’s public buildings commissioner, added, “GSA’s robust process includes ongoing dialogue with local communities and thoughtful planning to help ensure we maximize the benefits of new uses and minimize any potential adverse impacts.”
This announcement builds on the GSA’s efforts to drive efficiencies and savings throughout its real estate portfolio. The agency divested of five properties in FY’23, and in FY’24, it plans to complete the disposition process for an additional six properties that were previously announced.
Over the past decade, the GSA has helped reduce the footprint of tenant agencies housed in office buildings by disposing of almost 12 million square feet of owned space and reducing 18 million square feet of leased space.
The 23 properties that will begin the disposition process are:
- Huntsville Post Office and Courthouse – Huntsville, AL.
- George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse – Pine Bluff, AR.
- John F Shea Federal Building – Santa Rosa, CA.
- Frank Hagel Federal Building – Richmond, CA.
- Nebraska Avenue Complex – Washington, DC.
- The Webster School Building – Washington, DC.
- Fort Lauderdale Federal Building and Courthouse – Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- U.S. Customs Warehouse – Hilo, HI.
- William O Lipinski Federal Building – Chicago, IL.
- Captain JF Williams Coast Guard Building – Boston, MA.
- Hastings Keith FB – New Bedford, MA.
- Sammy Davis Federal Building – Overland, MO.
- 8930 Ward Parkway – Kansas City, MO.
- Bridgeton SSA Trust Fund Building – Bridgeton, NJ.
- GSA Motor Pool Site – Santa Fe, NM.
- Howard Street Garage – New York, NY.
- Joel W Solomon Federal Building and Courthouse – Chattanooga, TN.
- E Kefauver Federal Building – Nashville, TN.
- La Branch Federal Building – Houston, TX.
- Pearsall Federal Building and Post Office – Pearsall, TX.
- San Antonio Federal Building West – San Antonio, TX.
- 58 Pearl Street – Burlington, VT.
- Louisa Swain Federal Building – Cheyenne, WY.