It’s no secret that the J. Edgar Hoover Building (935 Pennsylvania Avenue) is an eyesore. The 2.4 million square foot behemoth has been the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters for 38 years. But its fortress-like presence and hulking concrete structure stifles the streetscape, especially as Downtown has evolved into a more vibrant and inviting urban core. Even the General Services Administration agrees, conceding the Hoover building, which sits atop a 6.66-acre square block, is outdated and overcrowded. Last month, the GSA sought to change all of that. With the government looking to save money and reduce its real estate holdings, the agency issued a Request for Information that asks developers to submit ideas for building a new FBI building in another location. In exchange, the GSA is willing to swap the current headquarters building and land, undoubtedly prime real estate.
The implications are huge. This is a first step in a lengthy process that could lead to the GSA issuing a formal request for proposals. Then, the crumbling Hoover building could either be demolished or reused (the Government Accountability Office estimates it could cost at least $1 billion to refurbish). Visions of potential options—including a mixed-use development with inviting ground floor retail and restaurants—are already swirling through people’s heads.
For now, developers have until Monday, March 4, to submit responses to the RFI. Click here to view the solicitation and obtain more information, including a mid-January pre-submittal briefing planned to take place at GSA headquarters