Trump budget proposes spending more than $100 million on federal buildings in Cleveland – cleveland.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government believes it can save long term money by spending more than $80 million to build or acquire a building to house the Federal Bureau of Investigations Cleveland office, according to documents released by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which handles many of the federal governments real estate transactions.

In addition to paying for a new FBI building in Cleveland, budget documents say GSA also wants to spend more than $28 million to complete, repair and expand the plaza system at Clevelands Carl. B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse on West Superior Avenue.

The projects were part of a $4.8 trillion budget proposal that President Donald Trump unveiled on Monday. Congress must sign off on the projects before they can be built.

The FBI currently employs around 250 people at its current office at 1501 Lakeside Avenue. GSA says that original 10-year lease was signed in 2002 at a $4.4 million yearly rent with approximately $10 million in tenant improvements factored into its terms. Those amortized costs are now paid off, leaving the FBIs current rent at a level far in excess of the local commercial market,", GSA says. The government would save roughly $6 million a year in rental costs if it owned a building to house the Cleveland field office, GSA says.

It estimates the project would cost $80,186,363. Roughly $2 million of that would pay for a site, around $6.5 million would go toward design, around $67 million would pay for construction and around $4 million would be for management and inspection.

GSA says the government entered into several FBI field office leases with high rental rates and high federal upfront costs in the early 2000s that are nearing their expiration dates, now resulting high costs to taxpayers.

Federal ownership of this proposed long term solution ensures that the FBIs law enforcement and national security needs are met in the most secure and cost effective manner possible, the GSA budget document says.

The budget also proposes spending $28,686,000 on repairing the plaza at the Stokes Courthouse to eliminate water leaks and infiltration into the buildings lower levels.

The scope includes refinishing and reinforcing the structural steel that supports the plaza, along with repairs to fireproofing and upgrading the surface parking lots and the retaining wall between them, GSA budget documents say. The project also includes the completion of the plaza toward Superior Avenue, which has remained unfinished since construction of the courthouse.

Read more coverage:

Port of Cleveland gets $11 million federal grant

Two Democrats want to oust Rep. Anthony Gonzalez

Trump budget would fund new Cleveland FBI building and cut Lordstown loan program

Ex-football pro Anthony Gonzalez preps bill to let college athletes make money from their names and images

Ohios Jim Jordan picked to become top Republican on House Judiciary Committee

House passes legislation to boost Great Lakes cleanup money

House passes veterans service dog bill by Ohios Rep. Steve Stivers

Rep. Tim Ryan walked out of Trumps State of the Union speech, calling it fake like professional wrestling

Ohios U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman defend upcoming impeachment votes (videos)

Trumps State of the Union speech: Who are the guests from Ohio?

Rep. Jim Jordan is raising big campaign bucks, Rep. Tim Ryan isnt: See what Northeast Ohio Congress members collected

Sen. Rob Portman announces hell vote against calling impeachment witnesses

Ohio Democrats decry Trump administration Medicaid change

Senate should designate PFAS water contaminants hazardous substances, says Sen. Sherrod Brown

Continued here:
Trump budget proposes spending more than $100 million on federal buildings in Cleveland - cleveland.com