[Archived] Alexandria City Council Authorizes Plan to Purchase Property from the Tauber Foundation

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2007
PIO# 292-07
For More Information, Contact
Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, at 703.838.5078

Alexandria City Council Authorizes Plan
to Purchase Property from the Tauber Foundation

Tonight the Alexandria City Council authorized the City Manager to proceed to plan to acquire land at 4600 King Street, and an adjacent parcel at 3451 North Beauregard Street. These parcels are located on the site of the former Jefferson Memorial Hospital. City Council authorized a 9.06 hearing to the Planning Commission, and directed the City Manager to prepare for final City Council purchase authorization in December.

The City of Alexandria has been in negotiations with Tauber Foundation, the current owner of the property, to purchase the land for $5 million. The property has an estimated value of at least $15 million, possibly more, depending on development plans and market conditions. In return, the City would be required to use the property for public use for at least ten years and the property would be named the “Laszlo N. Tauber Campus.” Dr. Laszlo Tauber was a surgeon and the founder of Jefferson Memorial Hospital. He emigrated to the United States from Hungary in 1947 and not only founded the Hospital, but also established a successful commercial real estate business which developed, owned and operated office buildings in the Washington metropolitan area.

The City plans to use the property in the future to consolidate several City departments, moving the offices from leased to owned office space. Those departments include the Department of Human Services; the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse; the School Board; and, the School Administrative Offices. The City currently leases approximately 130,000 square feet at a cost of $4 million per year. If the City converts from leased to owned space, the City will save significantly over the long term.

“The City of Alexandria is pleased with the negotiations process to purchase the property from the Tauber Foundation,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “The City looks forward to collaborating with the community to develop this site, and we hope that the location will help better serve residents, clients and School constituencies in the future.”

###