The US General Services Administration and NASA has chosen Planetary Ventures to lease Moffett Field and Hangar One, TechCrunch reported. Planetary Ventures is the shell firm sometimes used by Google for its real estate transactions. A deal with the government has allowed Google to operate its fleet of private jets from NASA's Moffett Field and with the latest deal, it would seem that the tech giant is poised to grow its presence in the Silicon Valley airfield, the report said.
The proposal will pave the way for the rehabilitation of Hangar One. Google had tried to collaborate with NASA to do a face lift on the iconic hangar before but NASA refused. After NASA removed the toxic panels from the structures a few years ago, only the skeleton of the hangar is left. The new proposal will allow Google to "rehabilitate and maintain the historic integrity of Hangar One and the Shenandoah Plaza Historic District." In addition to putting back the skin on Hangar One, Google will also upgrade the golf course and construct an education facility on the airfield for the public, the report said.
In a statement, GSA's Dan Tangherlini said about the decision, "Hangar One was the landmark of Silicon Valley well before the rise of today's high-tech titans. Naming a lessee is a testament to GSA's commitment to providing the best value for the agency's federal partners and the American people. NASA's partnership with the private sector will allow the agency to restore this treasure for more efficient use."
With the deal reached today, TechCrunch reported that the lease terms will now be negotiated between NASA and Planetary Ventures/Google. With the funds that Google has and its keen interest in the project, it looks like the project is likely to push through, the report said.
Whether today's announcement will impact the work that Google is doing to expand a private jet center located in San Jose International Airport is still not certain, TechCrunch reported.
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