Report: Deal to Move U.S. Fish and Wildlife Out of Ballston 'Close'

By Jason Spencer and Mary Ann Barton

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is "close" to signing a major lease that will move it from Arlington's Ballston neighborhood to the Bailey's Crossroads/Skyline area, according to the Washington Business Journal.

The federal agency is currently located in three buildings in Ballston, including 4401 Fairfax Drive.

Established in 1940 by the Department of Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service serves, protects and enhances fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats.

The Skyline area, at 5275 Leesburg Pike, is not as pedestrian-friendly as Ballston and has fewer restaurants.

It's also not easily Metro accessible, though the area is served by buses and will be the terminus for a planned streetcar system that will connect the area to Pentagon City via Columbia Pike.

The General Services Administration submitted a prospectus to Congress for the Fish and Wildlife move more than a year ago.

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, the ranking Democrat on the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, told Patch in July that the decision to move had to be looked at objectively.

"It would be unethical to threaten them with budget cuts, because they do very good work," Moran said. "They've got to make objective decisions on these things — for their employees, for the taxpayers and for their constituents."

In June, Arlington was dealt a blow when it lost the National Science Foundation to Alexandria.

Arlington officials have indicated they may fight that move, but Moran said that deal is "done."

"If a community makes an offer that you can refuse on behalf of its taxpayers, then, yes, it is done," he said. "Alexandria was very aggressive — but, quite frankly, they learned from Arlington."