About the Urban Development Program

GSA seeks to leverage its federal real estate activities in ways that support community development efforts, while meeting our client agencies' needs and our business bottom line. GSA does this through its property development, leasing, and building management activities. We strive to be a "good neighbor" in all the communities where we do business. GSA activities can get multiple returns for communities by making strategic location and design decisions, partnering with local customers and communities, and managing active public buildings:

Strategic location and design decisions

• Locating attractive and useful federal facilities in central business areas, historic districts, and local redevelopment areas where they can anchor or promote community development
• Designing and renovating facilities to enhance the workplace, revitalize the communities in which they are situated, and represent the highest quality of architectural and urban design

Customer and community partnerships

• Establishing working partnerships with local customers (the federal agencies that work in our buildings) and community organizations to address mutual neighborhood concerns
• Contracting with business improvement districts and other downtown management organizations
• Collaborating with civic and other advocate organizations at the national level
• Contributing to the improvement of the areas around GSA facilities
• Serving as a clearinghouse for good practices

Active public buildings

• Incorporating retail and other high-traffic uses into federal buildings, where feasible
• Promoting the shared use of federal GSA public spaces inside and outside of our buildings for events, markets, meetings, displays, etc.
• Meeting security needs in ways that remain welcoming and open to the public