Planning for civilian reutilization of DoD excess property at Westover is just getting underway, and GSA must still determine the extent to which the DoD excess is surplus to the needs of the Federal Government. However, the outlook is that sufficient excess land and buildings will become available for local acquisition to provide a basis for a number of job-creating activities, including industry, education and recreation. Current Status The initial meeting of the EAC team with the Westover Task Force at the Base on July 27 is expected to result in formulation of a concerted plan of action for reutilization of Base property as well as for other economic adjustment efforts that may be required in the Chicopee area. NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK Location St. Albans Naval Hospital is located on Linden Boulevard in the southeastern portion of the Borough of Queens known as St. Albans, New York City, New York. It is approximately two miles north of the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The immediate neighborhood is generally middle class residential with single family homes predominating and commercial development of relatively cheap establishments on selected streets. The values of the homes in the immediate vicinity probably range from $25,000 to $75,000. DoD Impact The hospital originally opened in temporary facilities in February 1943; however, the present structure was completed and opened in August 1951 and has since then operated as a general hospital, providing general hospital and clinical services to eligible personnel. The hospital ground encompass 117 acres, all fenced. Major improvements include: one permanent construction hospital building having 350, 262 square feet of floor space, 20 wards with a capacity for 607 beds, operating rooms, treatment and administrative space; 34 semi-permanent condustruction hospital buildings with 234, 612 square feet of floor space and a 919 bed capacity; various laboratories and clinic buildings; 14 family housing units; troop housing for 2, 132 men; quarters for 160 bachelor officers; and other various structures. The installation has 24 permanent and 63 semi-permanent buildings, all in generally good condition and represents an investment of more than $26, 000, 000. The medical operation at the facility will continue until December 31, 1973 and the installation will be prepared and available for disposal by April 1974. To date, 178 of the original cadre of 517 military personnel have been reassigned, and, of the 380 civilian employees, 61 have retired and 30 accepted other employment, with 248 remaining employees. EAC Involvement On request of members of the New York Congressional delegation, an initial visit by Economic Adjustment Committee staff members was made to the Queens Borough President and his staff, and to the hospital commander and his staff, on April 30, 1972. Any post-military uses of the installation will be subject to the approval of the Queens Borough government. On request of the Queens Borough president, direct, active Economic Adjustment Committee involvement in the conversion of the installation to civil uses has been deferred pending culmination of current city government efforts to have the Veterans Administration accept the transfer of the installation for use as a veterans hospital. Disposition of DoD Property The Department of the Navy has submitted a report to the Armed Services Committees of the Congress on the proposed excessing of the St. Albans Naval Hospital. Assuming no objection by the Congress, the installation will be reported to the General Services Administration for disposal in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. Assessment Utilization of the St. Albans Naval Hospital has gradually declined from a peak of 1, 500 in-patients during the Vietnam conflict to 257 on April 15, 1972. This decline will continue until the hospital operations cease by December 31, 1973. Although the economic impact of this closure on the economies of New York City and the Borough of Queens will be negligible, the action will make a large prime urban property available for productive civil uses which could well be of greater economic and cultural benefit to the St. Albans community and New York City than the military installation. Current Status The government of the Borough of Queens is in contact with the Economic Adjustment Committee staff and has the conversion problem under active consideration. Although they are now emphasizing the transfer of the entire installation to the Veterans Administration for operation as a veterans' hospital, the potential medical, educational, recreational and public uses are recognized. Community Location Philadelphia is the heart of a major metropolitan area with a population of 4, 820,900. This area, located about 90 miles southwest of New York City, includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. DoD Impact Several military activities in the Philadelphia area are affected by personnel reductions or relocation of functions as follows: The scope of operations of the Fourth Naval District will The Naval Air Engineering Center at the Naval Shipyard, At the Naval Shipyard, 392 civilian positions will be relocated from the Naval Shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts, and the scope of operations will be increased by December 1974 -- a total of 1, 112 civilian positions will be added. Activities from the Naval Hospital, St Albans, Long Island, Three hundred and eighty one military positions and 948 Previously, on 11 January 1973, it was announced that the Electronics Command (ECOM) would be consolidated with similar activities at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. This action affected 2, 516 civilian and 54 military positions; 493 civilian jobs will be eliminated; 2, 017 civilian and 52 military jobs relocated to Fort Monmouth; and six civilian and two military jobs relocated to ARMCOM, Rock Island, Illinois. A reduction of 263 employees at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was also announced at that time. The net effect of the ECOM realignment is that 2, 653 civilian and 356 military positions will relocate from Philadelphia and 1, 917 civilian and 150 military positions will be abolished. EAC Involvement There have been a number of meetings involving Federal, State and local officials to ensure a maximum effort at placing affected employees in other government agencies in the Philadelphia area. An OEA representative has discussed economic adjustment in Philadelphia with Congressman Barrett. EAC Program None to date. Disposition of DoD Property Plans to dispose of four and one-half acres of land as excess by the Marine Corps Supply Activity have been reported to the Armed Services Committees. No other land will be excessed as a result of these reductions. Assessment The May 1973 unemployment rate in the Philadelphia area was 5.4% down from 6. 3% in the previous May. The reductions in civilian employment is not expected to have a significant impace since: - |