Census Bureau counting on Valley as useful location: feds select Northridge for headquarters of 2010 effort

San Fernando Valley Business Journal, April 14, 2008 by James Hames

A year ago, the U.S. Census Bureau considered eliminating all its County Census Divisions, a new designation of sub-category that measured the Valley region separately from L.A. County. After much hubbub nationwide--the vast majority of that from the Valley and Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks)--the Census Bureau reconsidered in February and thus the Valley and 21 other similar regions of the country will remain on their map.

Now, when the Census Bureau starts its constitutionally-mandated tally for 2010, it will be doing it from Northridge. While either causality or coincidence might have been at play, certainly availability was.

In a deal brokered for the U.S. General Services Administration, the Census Bureau Office for the Los Angeles region will be working out of a first-floor, 31,000-square-foot office at 9301 Corbin Avenue.

Jamie Christy of the Census Bureau described the space as "very functional, not opulent."

Christy said the office will gear up to eventually employ a peak of about 200 people in the office and will be the site from which all Southern California and Hawaiian efforts will be managed, serving as the "master office" for 39 local sites which will be in place for one or two years.

The lease for the Northridge office runs for four and a half years, and Geancarlo Pilco of the GSA said with the extensive tenant improvements amortized for the life of the lease, the cost is $38 per square foot.

To prepare for the Census Bureau's use, Pilco said, almost all of the existing space was demolished, and then rebuilt with new electrical, mechanical and plumbing, plus all new doors and windows.

Scott Flanagin of The Staubach Company represented the GSA in the deal. The lessor was repped by David LaMore of CB Richard Ellis.

Senior Reporter James Hames can be reached at (818) 316-3123 or at jhames@sfvbj.com.