The U.S. General Services Association (GSA) has decided to do away with some of its water-front real estate assets. It is gearing up to auction off some old lighthouses and fog horn homes across the country, according to Curbed National.
The GSA hopes to unload four lighthouses and a Fog-Horn House. The association auctions some lighthouses every year as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Under this act, the government hands over the maintenance and ownership of the property to eligible bidders, who vouch to maintain the property. Only those lighthouses that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places can be included under the act and be auctioned.
According to the Act, owners have to report the maintenance and the preservation of the properties to the association from time to time, even after the transaction is closed.
Offered Lighthouses:
-The Graves Island Light Station is one of the oldest and a major historical site of Massachusetts. It served as a landmark for the Boston Harbor since 1903. Bids for the lighthouse start at $25,000.
-The Butler Flats Light also located in Boston, Massachusetts, was built in 1898 by famous starchitect, Francis Hopkinson Smith ,and can be reached only via boat. Bids for this mid-water property start from $25,000.
-The Orient Point Lighthouse sits between Plum Island and the Point, situated at the tip of North Fork in Long Island, New York. During high tide, the lighthouse is partially submerged in water which is why the living quarters are built at a higher level. Bids for this property start at $10,000.
-The Saybrook Breakwater Light is a sparkplug style structure located in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built in 1886, the tower was first lit in 1959. It flashes a green light every six seconds. Bids for this property starts at a low price of $1.
Only one Fog-Horn house is being offered for auction. The Manana Island Sound Signal Station in Maine was established in 1855. It is an active fog signal for the Monhegan Island Light. Bids for this property start at $154,000.
About GSA Auctions
The GSA Auctions are completely web-enabled, e-auctions that allow the general public to bid for government owned or any personal property within a particular time-frame. For an overview of the auctions check out a video below: