Textron to Buy DISA Building in Slidell

City was spending over $600,000 per year on maintenance for the property

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:21pm

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The city of Slidell, Louisiana has reached an agreement to sell the former DISA federal building to aerospace and defense company Textron for $3.4 million. The city acquired the 110,000 square foot building in 1995 for $1, but has struggled with high maintenance costs in recent years as the building was only partially occupied. Textron's recent federal contract wins have led them to need more space, allowing the city to offload the property and save on annual upkeep expenses.

Why it matters

The sale of the DISA building represents a significant financial win for the city of Slidell, which has been burdened with over $600,000 per year in maintenance costs for the largely vacant property. The deal with Textron not only provides a $3.4 million influx of revenue, but also eliminates the ongoing drain on the city's budget. This will free up funds that can be directed towards other municipal priorities and services.

The details

The DISA building was originally donated to the city of Slidell by the federal government in 1995 for $1. While the city was able to secure a major tenant in Textron in 2007, which brought in $2 million per year in lease revenue, the company reduced its footprint in the building in 2017. This left the city responsible for over $600,000 annually in maintenance costs for the largely vacant 110,000 square foot facility. After years of unsuccessfully trying to find a buyer, Textron's recent $500 million in new federal contracts led them to approach the city about purchasing the entire building.

  • The city of Slidell acquired the DISA building from the federal government in 1995 for $1.
  • In 2007, the city secured Textron as a major tenant, leasing 95% of the building and providing $2 million per year in revenue.
  • In 2017, Textron reduced its lease to only half of the building, leaving the city responsible for over $600,000 per year in maintenance costs.
  • In late 2025, Textron secured $500 million in new federal contracts, leading them to approach the city about purchasing the entire DISA building.
  • The sale of the DISA building to Textron for $3.4 million is expected to be finalized by May 2026.

The players

Textron

An aerospace and defense company that has agreed to purchase the former DISA federal building in Slidell, Louisiana for $3.4 million.

City of Slidell

The municipal government of Slidell, Louisiana that acquired the 110,000 square foot DISA building from the federal government in 1995 for $1.

Sam Caruso

The former mayor of Slidell who convinced the federal government to donate the DISA building to the city in 1995.

Joe Fraught

A former Slidell city councilman who secured Textron as a major tenant leasing 95% of the DISA building in 2007.

Greg Cromer

The former mayor of Slidell who tried unsuccessfully to find a buyer for the DISA building during his time in office.

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What they’re saying

“This was one of my top priorities if I became mayor, and even though it took a good break for us with Textron getting those contracts and needing additional space, I'm just focusing on the fact this is a blessing for Slidell that it all worked out.”

— Randy Fandal, Mayor of Slidell

“When I saw how much the city was spending on maintenance every year, I was right with Greg saying we had to find a way to get rid of it. It was clear we were losing money, and the cost was going up every year. It was between $600,000 to $700,000 in each of the past two years.”

— Nick DiSanti, Slidell City Councilman

What’s next

The pending sale of the DISA building to Textron must be approved by the Slidell City Council, which is expected to happen within the next month. The city is hoping to finalize the $3.4 million deal by May 2026.

The takeaway

The sale of the DISA building to Textron represents a significant financial win for the city of Slidell, eliminating over $600,000 per year in maintenance costs and providing a $3.4 million influx of revenue. This will allow the city to redirect funds towards other municipal priorities and services, demonstrating the value of proactively managing underutilized public assets.