U.S. General Services Administration
GSA Announces Notice of Availability for the Watch Hill Lighthouse in Westerly, Rhode Island
BOSTON – On May 7, 2021, a Notice of Availability for the Watch Hill Lighthouse in Westerly, Rhode Island announced that the Light has been determined to be excess to the needs of the United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
Pursuant to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, 54 U.S.C. 35101 (NHLPA), this Property is now being made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as:
- Federal agencies
- State and local agencies
- Non-profit corporations
- Educational agencies or community development organizations for educational
- Park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes
Watch Hill Lighthouse Tower was built in 1855 and is a contributing resource of the Watch Hill Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
This 45-foot lighthouse tower is a three-story, square rock-face granite block tower, with a cast-iron and glass lantern on top. It is attached to the keepers dwelling, which is a two-story brick structure, built in 1935. There is also an oil house built in 1855-1856, a brick signal house (early 20th century), and a garage/workshop built in 1939.
The Property consists of 4.5 acres and is on a peninsula and is accessible from the mainland by Lighthouse Road. It is an active aid to navigation operated by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the property for a use consistent with the purposes stated above should submit a letter of interest to the address below within 60 (sixty) days from the date of this notice.
Letters of interest should include:
- Name of property
- Name of eligible entity
- Point of contact, title, address, phone and email
- Non-profit agencies must provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day Notice period
Eligible entities which submit a letter of interest will be sent an application from the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) and given an opportunity to inspect the Property. Building inspectors and/or contractors may accompany the applicant on the inspection. The application is due within 90 days from the date of the site inspection.
The NPS will review all applications submitted and may recommend a steward to receive the Property. If a recommendation is made, the General Services Administration (GSA) will complete the conveyance to the selected steward with a Quitclaim Deed. Pursuant to Section 309 of the NHLPA, the Property will be sold if it is not transferred to a public body or non-profit organization.
Letters of interest should be directed to:
U.S. General Services Administration
Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division
10 Causeway Street - 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02222
Attention: Sonia Allon-Singh (sonia.allon-singh@gsa.gov)
The marketing and sales effort is being handled by GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division. The division provides realty services to federal agencies throughout the region, as well as in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
GSA’s New England Region provides centralized procurement for the federal government by managing its real estate portfolio, products and services throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
About GSA:
GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information on GSA Region 1, visit: www.gsa.gov/r1 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.