Under a new proposal, the FBI headquarters would be moved to an existing building and parking lot just north of Massachusetts Avenue and a block west of Union Station.

D.C. is fighting to keep the FBI in D.C., but its initial offering of a site on Poplar Point for a new headquarters seemed underwhelming, at least compared with what Maryland and Virginia have put on the table. The law enforcement agency might have another option within city limits, though—an existing government building a block away from Union Station, reports Washingtonian:

The Union Station proposal—not previously reported—is backed by Republic Properties and renowned DC architect Arthur Cotton Moore and would provide the FBI with the full required 2.1 million square feet (2,107,242 to be exact) of new space. Republic Properties proposes to build on an empty lot—bordered by North Capitol Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, and New Jersey Avenue—currently used as parking for the Government Printing Office, which occupies the eastern portion of the block. The neighboring GPO building, which handles the printing of the Congressional Record and passports, among other projects, is underused and in need of renovation itself. Republic Properties is proposing renovations to the GPO facility, the addition of underground parking, and the construction of a new FBI headquarters.

As part of the proposal, a new 12-story building would have to be constructed, along with enough an underground parking garage accommodating close to 500 cars per level. G Street NW, which runs from North Capitol Street to First Street NW, would have to be closed to traffic.

On its face, this could be a good compromise: the FBI would get to stay in D.C., while D.C. would get to keep and redevelop the entirety of Poplar Point, one of the last remaining stretches of undeveloped riverfront property in the city. But as Greater Greater Washington writes, there are drawbacks. For one, Walmart has planned for a site on H Street and New Jersey Avenue; a new secure facility across the street would kill any potential for related retail or residential development. Additionally, it might affect the routing of the H Street NE streetcar extension to Georgetown.