Anyone heard about the 39 year old (private citizen) who is a test coordinator at a Norfolk, Va., power plant, and is part of a small but growing club: private citizens, non-profit organizations and state and local governments that have acquired historic lighthouses from the Coast Guard? There is article on USA Today (yesterday) that says that the online auction, which he had entered on a whim, closed at $65,000!
I'm not providing the link because I believe it is not authorized...not sure. But anyway, whoa, there are many issues here form both sides of the fence. First thing that came to my mind is how much $ this 39 year old individual has available (aside from the $65K he paid) to restore and maintain this lighthouse. I would hope GSA looks at this or is anyone allowed to bid as long as they can pay the final auction prize?
Yes, there are many other issues here other than $ and I'll let the surface in the thread.
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act allows for the sale of lighthouses only after all efforts to find willing entities to donate them to have failed.
There are deed restrictions, as the ligthouse structures are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the CG still owns and maintains the aid-to-navigation, so we still have the right to access the property.
First thing that came to my mind is how much $ this 39 year old individual has available (aside from the $65K he paid) to restore and maintain this lighthouse. I would hope GSA looks at this or is anyone allowed to bid as long as they can pay the final auction prize?
I guess I don't understand your surprise? Why wouldn't a 39 year old have that much money available? Of course not all do, but it certainly reasonable.
