St. Louis City, Federal Government Celebrate Transfer of Land for Next NGA West Site

Community leaders and local, state, and federal officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the official transfer of City land to the federal government for the construction of the Next NGA West Campus.

Mayor Lyda Krewson, NGA Director Robert Cardillo, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Richard Hartley were joined by Missouri Governor Mike Parson, U.S. Representatives Lacy Clay and Ann Wagner, and additional federal, state, regional, and City officials and community leaders at the morning signing ceremony at the St. Louis Central Library.

“The land transfer kicks off the next step in our shared vision with the NGA,” Mayor Krewson said. “This historic moment for our City will transform neighborhoods around the site for the better.

It means more than 3,000 permanent jobs and 1,500 construction jobs. It will provide us with an anchor around which we develop surrounding communities in thoughtful and equitable ways.” Gathered on the library’s auditorium stage, Krewson, Cardillo, and Hartley signed ceremonial documents to signify the transfer of the 97-acre site on the City’s near north side.

“This is a great day for the City of St. Louis. I am very happy that our team, which includes numerous city and state offices, and consultants have been able to deliver this 97 acre site on time and to the specifications required by the federal government,” said

Otis Williams, Executive Director of the St. Louis Development Corporation, which coordinated the transaction.

The U.S. Air Force now officially owns the land. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on behalf of NGA, will coordinate construction of the Next NGA West headquarters.

“The Air Force is proud to be part of this modernization effort that will provide the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency with a state-of-the-art, safe, secure and resilient campus; and we look forward to being part of the City of St. Louis’ infrastructure redevelopment and revitalization for years to come,” said Mr. Richard K. Hartley, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment, and Energy).

“We made a decision in 2016 to locate NGA’s new west campus in North St. Louis, which was the right decision then, and is the right decision now,” said NGA Director Robert Cardillo. “We will continue to be an active member of this innovative community, to strengthen our close ties with its members and to grow even stronger partnerships with area colleges, universities, public and private schools, businesses - and the people of St. Louis,” NGA Director Cardillo said.

The State of Missouri played a significant role in the process of preparing the site for transfer to NGA.

“What’s happening here in North St. Louis with the NGA is the result of tireless collaboration across many, many different agencies and organizations -- local, state and federal,” Governor Mike Parson said. “It’s because of the hard work of all of these partners and their commitment to one shared mission that we can welcome the NGA to Missouri and soon will realize a brighter future for this region.”

The U.S. Army Corps will announce this Spring the selection of the contracting firm that will oversee the design and building process of the new headquarters building, with construction beginning as early as Fall 2019.

Related Resources

• Next NGA West