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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]According to the Washington Post (just this week) cell phone usage and therefore foot traffic, after work hours and on weekends, in downtown DC is up over the previous peak 2019 levels. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to the numerous new restaurants like La Boucherie at 14th and G, the shopping at places like City Center, and museums like the Portrait Gallery.

But… Cell phone usage is below 60% of 2019 levels during the workday however, which puts DC in the bottom half of the return to work cities. [b]We can blame the GSA and federal agencies for not encouraging workers to return to work[/b] or unloading the empty buildings for redevelopment into housing. [/quote]

What is the benefit of "encouraging" me to commute into the building so I can do the exact same work on my computer that I do at home? The only difference is that I would have more opportunity to chat with the people in my office about our personal lives. Plus I have always packed my lunch, so it wouldn't even help the lunch places.[/quote]

That’s fine. If Federal workers won’t go back to the office it doesn’t make any sense for the GSA to hold on to all that empty real estate. We’re in the middle of an unprecedented housing crisis and the city would like to bolster the downtown economy. Kill two stones with one bird if the federal government sells those properties for redevelopment. Imagine all the possibilities. [/quote]
Most of the office buildings used by the Federal government are privately owned and leased by GSA. This includes several “headquarters” buildings. [/quote]

Then why is the GSA wasting money on unused office space? They should end those leases now so the building owners can pursue other ventures with tax breaks from Mayor Bowser, like redevelopment into housing and retail. [/quote]

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