This morning it was announced that the General Services Administration will recommit to the City of Lakewood by building a new home for the Social Security Administration Field Office at 17513 Detroit Avenue.

This announcement assures that the City of Lakewood will retain 100 jobs and the income taxes associated with the SSA's $4.4 million local payroll. It will also create in the short-term construction jobs associated with building a new office at the current site of the Lakewood Christian Church at the corner of Spring Garden and Detroit.

Congratulations to Mayor Fitzgerald, his staff and Congressman Kucinich for their persistent and ultimately successful efforts to assure this important service and the corresponding jobs remain in Lakewood.

Please see below background/details as related to Lakewood City Council from Planning and Development Director, Nathan Kelly on the subject:

On Friday, the GSA informed me they have awarded a site in Lakewood to be the new home of the west side Social Security Administration Field Office. Since 2002, SSA has planned to leave their current offices in the Lakewood Center North Building. Their search included all of the western suburbs. In fact, in a February 2008 meeting, SSA indicated that there were no sites in Lakewood that fit their requirements, and favored available sites in Westlake.

The city worked hard to find and propose multiple sites in Lakewood that in fact fit their needs. One of those proposed sites was chosen by GSA. Expected to open as early as April 2010, SSA will occupy a new building at 17513 Detroit, the current location of the Lakewood Christian Church. Earlier this year, the congregation voted to accept an offer from a private developer to purchase the property for the SSA Field Office. The congregation will benefit from new financial strength and an updated facility that is right-sized for the congregation and less expensive to operate. I believe they will be occupying a now-vacant church in Fairview.

Retaining the SSA retains $4.4 million dollars in payroll and currently 100 employees. SSA wanted to move to expand, with the ability to accommodate 160 employees. This move allows for that growth, and also converts about two acres of property tax free land to tax productive. Since the office will be owned by a private company with SSA as a tenant, the owners will pay an estimated $120K in new property tax.

Estimated retained and new benefit is listed below.

Tax Benefit
Annual Property Tax Benefit:	$119,700
One Time Sales Tax Benefit:	$150,000
Annual Income Tax Benefit*:	$240,240

Community Benefit
State:	$284,240 (includes one time $150K sales tax)
County:	$60,672
City:	$87,295
School District:	$74,525
Library/Metroparks/Transit/Other:	$3,208

Total Project Tax Benefit
Total Annual Tax Benefit:	$359,940
One Time Sales Tax Benefit:	$150,000