Real Estate
Rhode Island's Oldest Lighthouse Is Up For Grabs At No Cost
The 28-foot Sandy Point Lighthouse, which has sat on Prudence Island since 1851, is being made available to qualified agencies and groups.
PORTSMOUTH, RI – After the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security determined it is no longer needed for its original use, the Prudence Island Lighthouse — the oldest lighthouse in the state — is being made available at no cost to qualified agencies and organizations.
The lighthouse, which is more commonly known as the Sandy Point Lighthouse, was built in Newport in 1823 and moved to Prudence Island in 1851, where it has sat ever since. The 28-foot, cast iron lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
But after the historic structure was found to be in excess of what's needed, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act has made it available to qualified groups including federal, state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational or community development groups and or park, recreational, cultural or historic preservation organizations.
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After the availability of the lighthouse became public earlier this month, U.S. General Services Administration officials announced that interested parties have 60 days to submit letters of interest in the lighthouse. Those letters should include the name of the property, the name of the interested entity and contact information. Nonprofit organizations must provide state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day period.
Those who submit letters of interest will receive an application from the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service and will be given the opportunity to inspect the lighthouse. Building inspectors may accompany those who are interested and applications are due within 60 days of the inspection.
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The National Park Service will then determine which applicant will receive the property, which will be sold if it is not transferred to any entity as part of the process, officials indicated.
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