The federal agency that deals with leases and government-owned property published — and then quickly removed — a list of buildings it plans to sell, including two in Hampton Roads.
The General Services Administration deemed 443 properties “non-core” to operations and ripe for potential sale to the private sector.
It’s the latest in the aggressive cost-cutting operations by President Donald Trump’s administration that have left many in government confused and anxious.
The sale list included 28 properties in Virginia, two of which are in Norfolk.
The historic Owen B Pickett Custom House in downtown dates back to 1858 and Customs and Border Patrol still uses it. The Norfolk Federal Building on Granby Street hosts satellite offices for agencies such as the IRS.
In a statement, the GSA said the list mostly includes functionally obsolete office space and selling the properties could save $430 million per year.
“GSA will consider non-core assets for divestment from government ownership in an orderly fashion to ensure taxpayers no longer pay for empty and underutilized federal office space, or the significant maintenance costs associated with long-term building ownership,” the agency said in a statement.
GSA says it will explore “creative solutions” for work spaces.
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander told WHRO the city knows little about the plans, but he said it’ll let congressional representatives take the lead.
“There's a process, but we will continue to monitor and to assess and to see if there's a there, there, if it's real,” Alexander said.
He noted that closing federal buildings and the efforts to shrink the federal workforce would hurt the city and region’s economy.
“We want the federal building to stay and the employees who are there. We want the customs house to stay and the employees who are there. But the city of Norfolk does not control that decision.”
If those buildings do end up on the auction block, the mayor is confident they’d find new lives.
“The Custom House is a significant and historic property and building in the city of Norfolk, so that building would not go dark. That building will be repurposed,” Alexander said.
As for the nearly 167,000-square-foot federal office building, Alexander pointed to the successful reuse of large properties in downtown.
“We've seen buildings being adapted for apartments and for shared office spaces. We're always looking for places for arts and culture, especially black box spaces for those who are in the creative space,” he said.
