GSA Seeks to Transfer Two Lighthouses to Agency or Nonprofit

BOSTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the Notices of Availability for the Sheboygan Breakwater Light in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin and the Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light in Houghton County, Michigan.

These lighthouses are available at no cost to eligible entities as part of a federal disposal program authorized by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000.

Under the NHLPA, a historic lighthouse that is no longer needed by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is made available for park, recreational, educational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes to eligible entities defined as:

• Federal agencies
• State and local agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Educational agencies or community development organizations

“This program offers a unique opportunity for communities, nonprofits, and government agencies to preserve our maritime heritage while repurposing historic lighthouses that continue to hold significant cultural and navigational value,” said GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters.

The Sheboygan Breakwater Light, located at the north end of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) breakwater at the mouth of the Sheboygan River, is a 55-foot tall, red painted steel cylindrical tower.

The Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light is approximately 110 feet tall from its base to the top of its light tower. It includes a steel sheet pile caisson foundation with concrete deck, one-story concrete fog signal building, and a steel 50-foot-tall light tower topped with an open-air beacon.

These lighthouses are active aids to navigation (ATON) operated by the USCG. USCG will reserve access to the property for the purposes of maintaining the ATON after conveyance. Both lights are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

For complete details on the properties, including condition, range of possible uses, commercial activities, utilities, etc., eligible entities can review the Notice of Availability.

To date, more than 151 lighthouses have been sold or transferred out of federal ownership, with 81 transferred at no cost to eligible entities, and 70 sold by auction to the public, generating sales proceeds of approximately $10 million.

Media Contacts: press@gsa.gov
 

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers 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.