City officials would not discuss where they planned to move thedepartment, fearing it could raise the price of the property.

Charles L. Overby, chairman and CEO of Freedom Forum, praisedthe mayor for moving quickly, beating a self-imposed deadline toprovide an answer within 45 days. The nonprofit foundation wantedto know quickly whether the property was available so it couldavoid extending its current lease in neighboring Arlington. Thatlease doesn't expire until 2003. Real estate negotiations are knownto drag on in Washington, however, which may have contributed tothe eye-catching offer. The $100 million includes $75 millionoutright for the building, far more than its assessed value of $44million. It also includes a $25 million donation for localaffordable housing.

Freedom Forum plans to relocate its headquarters to 6th andPennsylvania Ave. NW. It also wants to expand its museum onjournalism, the Newseum, which has seen its total visitor countreach about 1.5 million.