The First District of the U.S. Coast Guard owns several hundred properties in the coastal region of the northeastern United States. A few of these properties date back to the late 1700’s. With the development of technological aids to navigate merchant and sailing vessels, the need for lighthouse keepers greatly diminished. Without the day-to-day upkeep from the lighthouse keepers and other personnel, the lighthouses began to deteriorate. The Coast Guard also became unable to maintain the properties at the standards of the state historic preservation guidelines given the level of funding for repairs and alterations.
In response to this situation, the Coast Guard developed the Maine Lights Program that outleased and divested 28 historic lighthouse properties to organizations that will ensure the maintenance, repair, and care of these historically significant properties. For their efforts, the U.S. Coast Guard has been awarded the 1999 GSA Achievement Award for Real Property Innovation in the Best Practice category.
In the past, these properties would be evaluated on an individual basis for utilization. The Maine Lights Program was an effort to analyze the utilization and oversee the disposition of these historic lighthouses, as a whole. The Coast Guard formed a committee to select those qualified organizations that would accept outleasing and transfer of the 28 historic lighthouse properties. Groups were judged on several categories including non-profit status, public benefit, financial ability, and community status. The deeds mandated that the groups repair, maintain, and uphold the historic value of the properties, within state historic guidelines.
This program ensures the lighthouses will maintain their historic integrity, while at the same time allowing the Coast Guard to benefit from the cost avoidance from the continual maintenance and repair costs for these properties. The Coast Guard estimates that the divestiture will save annually between 3 to 5 million in repair and maintenance costs.
For more information, contact Mr. Ted Dernago, Jr. at (401) 736-1748 or via e-mail at tdernago@ceuprovidence.uscg.mil
