Norton to Hold Roundtable on GSA Holdover Leases, April 16

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that Norton, a member of the House Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, will host a roundtable on U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) holdover leases in the national capital region on Thursday, April 16, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in 2253 Rayburn House Office Building. The roundtable is open to the public, and will feature Darren Blue, GSA Public Buildings Commissioner for the National Capital Region. The roundtable will also feature a question and answer period engaging the public in attendance.

"Holdover leases not only increase costs to the federal government, but also do financial harm to the private real estate market," said Norton. "GSA made progress after our 2010 roundtable on holdovers. Today, the federal budget has increased difficulties for federal agencies in planning for new space, but delays only cost agencies and all concerned even more. Our roundtable is seeking practical solutions."

The April 16 roundtable is planned as a problem-solving session with participation from the real estate sector. New ideas will be welcomed. In 2010, Norton worked with GSA to hold a similar roundtable, which was informative, well-attended, and successful in reducing holdovers. Norton believes that similar results this time are possible.