Mayor Adrian Fenty has rebranded the Office of Property Management as the “Department of Real Estate Services,” contending its responsibilities are broader than what its current name implies.
“Given the breadth of the agency activities and the high degree of professionalism displayed by staff in their respective areas of expertise, it is only appropriate that the true scope and nature of the agency’s undertakings be reflected in the agency’s name,” Department Director Robin-Eve Jasper said in a statement.
But Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, who has oversight of OPM, asked what’s the rush? The city’s priority now, she said Monday, should be dealing with massive shortfalls approaching $1 billion over the next three years.
“I think it’s a better name,” Cheh said. “My question is why now? How much is it going to cost us to change all the stationary, the business cards? Is that something that had to be done in this time of crisis?”
Fenty signed an executive order last week ordering the name change. It will officially take effect Aug. 1.
The term “property management” connotes day-to-day management “such as janitorial services and building repairs,” the city says. It does not reflect the responsibilities of the agency, its employment of 300 staff or its portfolio of $300 million in real estate.
The Office of Property Management implements major capital projects on D.C.-owned government buildings, provides management and financial planning for the city’s portfolio of more than 18 million square feet of owned space and 3.5 million square feet of leased space, and operates a protective services division to police its properties.
The office has suffered its share of hiccups. It was responsible for the construction of the New Beginnings Youth Center in Laurel, for example, a project littered with problems. It has struggled to get the critical forensics lab project on track. And the city’s inspector general was investigating allegations of cronyism there, specifically that unqualified people were foisted on the agency by the mayor’s office.
