Mayor Expresses Disappointment with Army Decision to Turn Over Walter Reed to Federal Agencies

Contact (Media Only): Vince Morris (202) 727-5011; Sharon Gang (202) 727-5011;  Valca Valentine (DMPED) (202) 727-4707

(Washington, DC)  Mayor Anthony A. Williams today expressed his displeasure with the Department of the Army’s decision to make the Walter Reed campus in upper Northwest DC available to federal agencies, instead of turning it over to the District of Columbia.

Mayor Williams had hoped to turn the campus into a mixed-use development that benefitted the city and created new revenue for the District.   Instead, the Army is allowing the federal General Services Administration and the Department of State to acquire portions of the property. Together, their request involves the entire amount of the land.

The Medical Center was declared excess property by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission earlier this year.  If the Department of the Army had declared Walter Reed surplus property, then the District government would have immediately begun the process of acquiring the 113-acre campus.

“In efforts that involved DC Councilmembers, Congresswoman Norton, and community members, we worked aggressively to communicate to the Army the District’s interest in using this very valuable land for city purposes, as has been done in communities across the country,” said Mayor Williams.  “I remain optimistic that the city can use at least a portion of the land and our Local Redevelopment Authority Committee will remain intact in case this is a possibility.  We certainly hope that the State Department and the GSA agree that it would be beneficial to all parties to have a more active, mixed-use for the property – one that would provide retail and other amenities for the residents as well as the office workers.”

Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp also expressed her concern with the Army's decision not to declare at least part of the property as surplus to the federa