UTILIZATION OF OWNED FACILITIES
PBS is committed to maximizing the utilization of our existing inventory and avoiding costly build to suit lease construction projects. We intend to invest in the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco to consolidate the FBI in an owned building, avoiding the need for a lease project. This proposal is similar to | |
the McNamara project from the FY2011 program that is still pending funding, which is also an investment in our existing inventory and which, if funded, will allow us to avoid a costly lease solution. The Prevedel Federal Building in Overland, MO presents another opportunity to renovate a facility for further government use. The U.S. Army Personnel Center and U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting are departing due to BRAC, which would have led to the disposal of the |
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building. The renovation will allow us to backfill with the Veterans Benefits Administration, maintaining a high-performing asset in GSA's inventory, avoiding the need for acquisition of additional leased space. Also of note, we identified unneeded parcels at the campus and are able to move forward their disposal, significantly reducing the vacancy rate for the facility.
As you know, in his FY2012 budget proposal, the President announced an effort to accelerate the disposal and consolidation of the Federal Government's properties. The Administration is proposing a civilian property realignment initiative that will be led by a board composed of respected figures from the private and public sectors. This initiative will enable us to move currently excess and surplus properties out of the inventory of the major Federal landholding agencies, including GSA, and thus realize a financial return, the improvement of the government's sustainability, and the benefit of no longer having to keep the properties up. The effort will also help to implement large-scale consolidations across common assets and among agencies.
Moreover, as we work with Federal agencies to embrace the new "mobile workplace" and new workplace technologies and office strategies, we will reduce the amount of space they need to carry out their missions. This initiative will free up other Federal space that we will be able to move out of the Federal inventory.