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Veterans Administration: [Property Review Board]
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Veterans Administration: [Property Review Board]
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Morton Blackwell's Veterans' Liaison Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Veterans Administration:
[Property Review Board]
Box: 47
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 19, 1984
Honorable Harry N. Walters
Administrator
file
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C. 20420
Dear Mr. Walters:
The Property Review Board has reviewed the disagreement between
the Veterans Administration (VA) and the General Services
Administration (GSA) regarding the disposal of a 147-acre par-
cel at the VA Houston National Cemetery, Texas. As the respon-
sible agent under Executive Order 12348 for resolving similar
conflicts, we have received the VA survey and written comments
provided by VA and GSA.
The central issue in the dispute concerns the actual future
use of the parcel. The Veterans Administration contends that
it needs to retain the parcel because of its exchange potential
to facilitate the acquisition of a National Cemetery, for real
property exchange to establish or expand a medical facility,
as a buffer area against residential/commercial/industrial
development, and for relocation of a VA regional office.
I am informed that the Veterans Administration is in the process
of developing a long range plan to handle the anticipated growth
in demand for services as a result of the expansion of the
veteran population which is anticipated at the end of this
century. Although the VA has not currently established a future
need for the 147-acre parcel which would justify its retention,
I have concluded that it would be prudent to retain this parcel
until the conclusion of the studies referred to above. Therefore,
I have determined that the survey dispute should be resolved by
the VA retaining ownership of the subject property.
I have sent a copy of this letter to the General Services
Administration and have advised them to re-evaluate the program
of the VA for the use of this property at the conclusion of the
preparation of the Administration's budget request for Fiscal
Year. 1986. If the VA has not developed a use for the property
which would justify its retention by that time, it may then be
appropriate for the property to be declared excess to the agency's
needs.
Sincerely,
Chairman, Property Review Board
MM John A. Svahn
CC: Gerald Carmen
Morton Blackwell
PROPERTY REVIEW BOARD
17th & PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500
December 13, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR MORTON BLACKWELL
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Veterans JOSHUA A. Administration MUSS Houston
National Cemetery
Attached please find the fact sheet and Property Review
Board staff recommendation concerning the survey dispute
of a 147-acre parcel at the Veterans Administration Houston
National Cemetery. As we discussed, I would appreciate
your conferring with representatives of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars and the American Legion to ensure that they
understand that the property can be disposed of without in
any way adversely affecting the Veterans Administration's
activities.
If you require any additional information, please let me
know and I will be glad to provide it.
Attachment
FACT SHEET
ON
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, HOUSTON NATIONAL
CEMETERY, HOUSTON, TEXAS
Issue:
Unused and unimproved 147-acre parcel.
Date of Survey:
July 1983.
Background:
Houston National Cemetery, established May 2, 1963, has
419.210 acres. It provides burial benefits for veterans
as established by the 37th Congress in 1962 and the
National Cemeteries Act of 1973. Currently, a master
plan is being developed which will provide grave sites
through the year 2050.
The cemetery has 147 acres unused and unimproved land
located on its eastern border. Currently, this area is
under lease for agricultural purposes.
Discussion:
The major interested parties in this case are: VA, GSA,
and OMB. Their positions follow:
VA: Does not support the excess of 147 acres because:
(1) The parcel must be retained in VA inventory
because of its exchange potential to facilitate the
acquisition of a possible future National Cemetery
site in the state of Texas utilizing the exchange
authority of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs
as set out in 38 U.S. Code 5003. (Reviewed 38 U.S.
Code 5003, Use of Armed Forces Facilities. Found
that it did not include cemeteries as part of the
VA Administrator's exchange authority. Only hospi-
tals, domiciliary facilities, and related supplies,
equipment, materials, et al., are discussed.)
(2) The parcel must be retained for real property
exchange to establish or expand a medical
facility.
(3) The parcel must be retained as a buffer area
against further residential development and
expected commercial/industrial development.
(4) It must be determined that the parcel is not
needed as a possible site for the relocation of a
VA regional office. The Administrator has been
asked by the Chairman of the House Veterans'
Affairs Committee to survey VA Medical Center
(VAMCs) sites to determine the potential of
relocating VA regional offices from leased space
to VAMCs.
(5) No excess action may be taken until House and
Senate Committees are notified of the proposed
OMB: Supports the excess of 147 acres because:
(1) This cemetery is not designated as one of the
10 Regional National Cemeteries.
(2) The relocation of a regional office at this
cemetery is not supported by OMB. Currently,
relocation of regional offices are under review by
OMB, but this ongoing review is not a factor in
this case.
(3) VA does not have an OMB approved master plan
for any additional uses at this site.
GSA: They did not have a participant on the survey team
nor did they know that VA planned to do the
survey. GSA supports the excess of 147 acres
because:
(1) The 147-acre parcel is not utilized.
(2) The report does not contain adequate
justification for retention of this parcel.
(3) The report indicates the parcel would not be
utilized for burial purposes but retained for
"exchange potential" for possible future National
Cemetery site. The justification, "exchange
potential" is contrary to the designated mission of
the cemetery.
(4) The justification for retention based on the
need for a buffer area against further development
does not include a description of any local
requirements for buffer zones.
(5) The issues of exchange potential and buffer
zones are mutually exclusive.
(6) The report omits any specific or firm
implementation plans, justification, or
authorization for future use of the parcel as a
VA regional office or any other uses.
(7) The return of this valuable asset, located so
close to a major metropolitan area, does not
contribute to federal real property asset
management.
Recommendation:
VA should report the 147-acre parcel excess. The
documentation provided by VA does not demonstrate a need
to retain it.