GSA’s new strategy for livability

The General Services Administration, the primary building space provider for federal agencies, seeks to support smart growth. GSA’s Center for Urban Development and Livability held its first national meeting in Washington, DC, in September. Together with a team of professional partners, including Congress for the New Urbanism members, GSA national and regional staff discussed how the administration and communities can work more closely together to support local revitalization efforts. GSA is the primary space provider to federal agencies. Our customer agencies pay market-based rent for space that GSA buys, builds, renovates, or leases to meet their needs. With more than 300 million square feet of space in more than 1,600 cities, including 60 major cities, and an operating budget of $5 billion, GSA is a significant investor in communities. We are committed to leveraging this investment in ways that support the efforts of local communities and other federal investments to promote community development. Center established In support of this commitment, GSA recently established the Center for Urban Development and Livability. The Center helps GSA to leverage federal real estate actions in ways that bolster smart growth, economic vitality, and cultural vibrancy. Through partnerships with the CNU, Project for Public Spaces, the National Main Street Center, and other agencies and organizations, the Center provides technical assistance to GSA project teams and their partners nationwide. The Center’s field staff support local partnerships and community involvement in GSA projects. Additionally, the Center provides policy guidance, training, and technical expertise to GSA staff, client agencies, and the communities where we work. The Washington meeting was an important training and idea sharing session that begins the dialogue we need to change the way GSA does business. It was our first chance to work with CNU members Bill Morrish, Dena Belzer, Susan Barnes-Gelt, Rick Bernhardt, Charles Zucker, and Shelley Poticha, along with Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces. The three-day workshop covered how GSA real estate and location decisions reinforce or undermine community livability; how we can leverage our assets to foster livable communities; and how these assets can create and sustain value over time. Participants shared information on livability strategies, engaged in placemaking exercises, and discussed regional projects and the challenges and opportunities that GSA faces. Thirty projects underway One way that GSA is working more closely with communities is through a series of nearly 30 livability projects. These include plaza improvement projects, new courthouse design workshops, and the incorporation of indoor and outdoor retail in public areas of our buildings. Each project seeks to strengthen local partnerships, leverage federal investment in support of communities, provide high quality environments for our clients, and build GSA skills in synthesizing these areas. By finding new ways to reach out to local and regional partners and building stronger community relationships, GSA will be able to meet its customer needs in ways that support more livable communities, and will become a key partner in community revitalization. The Center looks forward to working with the CNU in building healthier, stronger communities across the nation, and hopes CNU members will serve as technical advisors to communities. u Hillary Levitt Altman is director of the Center for Urban Development and Livability at the US General Services Administration.