Northrop hunts for space

In the Washington, D.C. area, that is. The aerospace company's decision to leave L.A. has set off a frenzy of interest among local governments and real estate interests. The actual move involves just 300 or so employees, but there are business and income tax revenues to consider - and more importantly, the prospect that Northrop subcontractors will want to be close to a multi-billion dollar customer. From the NYT:

With the real estate consulting firm CB Richard Ellis, the company has focused on five locations in Virginia, three in Maryland and two in the District of Columbia that would provide 150,000 to 200,000 square feet, according to several people involved in the site search who were not authorized to speak publicly about it. It intends to make a final selection as early as next month.

[CUT]

State officials in Maryland and Virginia have not discussed the substance of their offers. The District of Columbia, on the other hand, has put its bid out for public view, in the form of legislation now before the City Council, where it has seven sponsors and the support of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. The city's package includes up to $19 million in property tax abatements and $5.5 million to help defray relocation costs.