The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Robert Cardillo signed the Record of Decision on June 2, indicating NGA’s final selection for its west headquarters is the north St. Louis City site.
The $1.75 billion Next NGA West project will be built at the corner of north Jefferson and Cass avenues.
“Ultimately this location, near a quickly-growing technological and professional environment, will allow for NGA to integrate capabilities and technologies in support of our mission to provide accurate and relevant geospatial intelligence to our customers.” he said. “I am very confident our new facility in north city will secure the future of this agency for generations to come.”
The North St. Louis site is 100 acres adjacent to the former site of Pruitt-Igoe public housing development. The site includes 76 percent vacant land, 9 percent vacant residential lots (lots with vacant homes), and 13 percent owner- or renter-occupied residences, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement published onApril 1.
Several North city homeowners in the area protested the project and the city’s use of eminent domain to secure the land. U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay feels the project will help fix the devastation that followed the federal government’s failure in Pruitt-Igoe.
“History has come full circle in North St. Louis,” Clay said. “A great federal failure will now be replaced by a transformative federal success.”
The state has committed $131 million for infrastructure improvements – $95 million in Tax Incremental Financing and approximately $36 million in Brownfield Tax Credits.
On March 7, St. Louis city leaders announced that they would give the federal intelligence agency free land if NGA officials agreed to build its western headquarters in North St. Louis. The original price tag for the North City land was $14 million. The city also has committed to providing a $1.5 million annual contribution for up to 30 years.
The NGA is expected to begin building its new facility in late 2017.
“When determining where our next west headquarters would be located, I considered a number of factors, but most importantly, our mission,” Cardillo said.
While St. Louis leaders rejoiced, Illinois officials criticized the move and questioned the process, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called the choice of north St. Louis short-sighted. Illinois proposed a 182-acre site in St. Clair County that also came with $115 million in infrastructure upgrades.
“I am deeply concerned about the security of the St. Louis site and I do not believe we have received acceptable answers from Director Cardillo,” Durbin said in a statement.
Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois has already asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office for an investigation into the NGA’s decision.
Now that the decision is final, St. Louis city asking the community to help create an action plan to connect development projects and neighborhood enhancements in the neighborhoods north of downtown, including the future home of the NGA West campus. Project Connect action planning will begin on from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 6at the Gateway Classic Foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.
During the first of several community meetings, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) said it will update the community on the timeline of constructing the new NGA as well as answer any questions about the process. SLDC will also seek input from residents and business owners about the future design of their neighborhoods.
Residents, business owners of the following neighborhoods are invited: Carr Square, Columbus Square, downtown, Grand Center, Hyde Park, JeffVanderLou, Midtown, Old North St. Louis and St. Louis Place.
SLDC is responsible for clearing the site to deliver to the NGA by September 2017. The city will hold an Industry Forum for members of the local construction trades from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7 at the Gateway Classic.
