U.S. General Services Administration
GSA seeks to transfer Ontonagon Harbor West Breakwater Light in Ontonagon County, Michigan to agency or nonprofit
Contact: Paul R. Hughes 617-283-6142 | paul.hughes@gsa.gov
BOSTON – On June 3, 2024, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Notice of Availability for the Ontonagon Harbor West Breakwater Light in Ontonagon County, Michigan. The historic lighthouse is available at no cost to eligible entities pursuant to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000.
Under the NHLPA, a lighthouse property that has been determined excess to the needs of the U.S. Coast Guard (USGC) is made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as:
- Federal departments or agencies.
- State and local departments or agencies.
- Local government of community where light station is located; and
- State-certified nonprofit organizations, educational agencies or community development organizations.
Each year, GSA, in conjunction with the USCG, and the National Park Service (NPS), issues Notices of Availability for historic lighthouses as part of the NHLPA. Under the NHLPA, the property must be used for educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes.
Located at the mouth of Ontonagon River and Lake Superior, Ontonagon County, Michigan, the light is a white skeleton tower with an enclosed upper portion. The tower is 31-feet tall and is situated on a breakwater owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Aids to Navigation (ATON) will remain the personal property of the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The ATON consists of a light signal flashing a red light every four (4) seconds and a fog signal horn sounding two (2) blasts every sixty (60) seconds from May 1 to October 20.
The light is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and must be maintained according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards.
For complete details on the property, including conditions, range of possible uses, commercial activities, utilities, etc. eligible entities can review the Notice of Availability.
Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the property for 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 that submit a letter of interest will be sent an application from the 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.
NPS will review all applications and may recommend one applicant to receive the property. If a recommendation is made, GSA will complete the conveyance to the selected entity. The property will be sold through a competitive process 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
Office of Real Property Disposition, Chicago Operations Branch
230 S. Dearborn Street, Room 3540 for U.S. Mail or Room 3523 for UPS/FedEx
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Attention: Lisa Tangney (lisa.tangney@gsa.gov)
GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposition 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.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.