FBI Says No to New, Huge L.A. Headquarters

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Plans to build a massive new headquarters for the Los Angeles office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may be scrapped in favor of a smaller alternative.


Bowing to concerns raised by nearby residents that a planned 937,000-square-foot office building at the site of the Federal Building in Westwood would cause major traffic congestion, officials Wednesday floated the prospect of a significantly reduced project.


Instead of building two mid-rise buildings adjacent to the Federal Building, the agency is considering demolition of the 500,000-square-foot, 17-story structure where the FBI occupies floors nine through 17, in favor of two new buildings or adding only one building to the existing structure.


Either option would involve the relocation of the facility’s other tenants, including the Office of Veterans Affairs and passport and postal distribution offices.


“If it can be shown that the end result is a total reduction of car trips to that site, then it’s probably okay,” said David Heldman, a member of the Brentwood Glen Association board. “The traffic on Wilshire keeps getting worse but we’re allowing more housing and businesses around the area.”


The FBI and the General Services Administration, which oversees government facility needs, first learned of residents’ concerns at a scoping meeting that kicked off the Environmental Impact Study process last May.


“We need to look at all the alternatives and evaluate them equally against the FBI requirements,” Mary Filippini, spokeswoman for GSA’s Western region. “We are not at a point of saying what will work and what won’t work.”


Groundbreaking on the first building would commence in four years and take four years to complete. If a second new building is approved, construction would begin upon completion of the first.

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