New FBI building on Gate

[jtwestside]

I've seen it going up for a while now and have been wondering what it was considering it looks like a fortress. Thick walls, small windows, iron gated ... etc. Then I drove by recently and wind blew the covering off the newly completed FBI seal and lettering. I would try to snap a photo if I didn't think it would lead to a full body cavity search.

This seems like another missed downtown development opportunity, especially with the new courthouse and its expansive extra land parcels   

Anyway, it appears they will be hiring soon for those who are interested.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE50459520090105?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[Jason]

That's interesting.  I would think the Feds would almost always default to a downtown setting.  Very disappointing.

[fsujax]

well, they were never Downtown, their office is over off Arlington Expwy now.  Would have been nice for the city to try and convince them to locate a new building Downtown.

[Joe]

Honestly, this is one office that I'm very glad is not downtown.

The Federal government tends to build offices that are anti-urban and actually destructive to the fabric of the city around them. Exposed concrete, blank walls, huge setbacks, big parking lots.

I can think of 3 buildings downtown owned by the Feds, and they are all total abortions (The Federal building, The Fed Reserve Branch, and that ugly 3 story office in the church district with the giant parking lot). Throw in the fact that the Feds obviously don't pay taxes to the city, and I don't think it's a very big loss. It's probably not worth the extra office workers to downtown.

[copperfiend]

Is that the building right off of JTB? Interesting location. That has been under construction for a long time.

[jtwestside]

This is *very roughly* where it's located. (attached)

[urbanlibertarian]

One good thing about the Feds downtown is that they know how to design and build a courthouse.  Vertical, baby.

[brainstormer]

I agree Urban.  The federal courthouse is one of my favorite "new construction" buildings.  It is not only vertical, but well lit at night and adds a nice touch to our skyline. 

[ErikSetzer]

Actually, this is a pretty nice looking building.

And it's been very fun to tell people that I actually know the location of the local FBI building.

[buckethead]

What is the state of ownership, and the potential future of the old federal courthouse?

[shanshan1218]

this makes me incredibly sad. I have made some fond memories there!

[stjr]

this makes me incredibly sad. I have made some fond memories there!

Shanshan, at the FBI building?  Now that's a softer side of the FBI I haven't heard about! 

Sure this post wasn't meant for the Alhambra Dinner Theater thread?

[Ocklawaha]

Since the Oklahoma City Bombing, I think the government has made a point of taking most of their new stuff out of the downtown cores. Where they do stay downtown, they'll build with moats, walls, and tons of earth fill under elevated patios or platforms to serve as blast deflectors. It's a sad state to see the great United States, building local offices that look more fortified then an American embassy in the Congo.

OCKLAWAHA

[Fallen Buckeye]

Since the Oklahoma City Bombing, I think the government has made a point of taking most of their new stuff out of the downtown cores. Where they do stay downtown, they'll build with moats, walls, and tons of earth fill under elevated patios or platforms to serve as blast deflectors. It's a sad state to see the great United States, building local offices that look more fortified then an American embassy in the Congo.

OCKLAWAHA

I was in Miami last year and wandered into the government district. Completely surrounded by big concrete barricades and security checkpoints. Guards patrolling the streets. This police officer nearly took my camera because it was a terror threat. He was really nice about it, but we really do live in a different America don't we?

[CS Foltz]

So much for "Government of and for the People" ! I have say I miss the days of old.....which kinda shows just how old I am..........geez never thought I would say that!