GSA Shouts Louder

Passersby in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood may notice that the “for sale” sign that has been posted for three months on the six-decade-old Georgetown Heating Plant was just replaced by one with much larger lettering.

The General Services Administration, after being lambasted by some congressional Republicans for “sitting on” federal assets, is planning an online auction of the long-vacant plant for early November.

“Those signs provide better visibility and are part of the agency's marketing strategy around the auction,” a GSA spokeswoman said.

The Washington Post’s Capital Business recently reported that there’s been interest expressed by at least two District of Columbia real estate firms, Eastbanc and MRP Realty.

The Four Seasons Hotels and Georgetown real estate investor Richard H. Levy are working with a team hoping to turn the building into 80 condominiums.

But as happens with many of GSA’s efforts to unload excess federal property, local interests can complicate the process. A community group called Friends of the Georgetown Waterfront Park has written to acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini asking that a portion of the property be reserved as a park.