Previous Story
‘Rent out historic Marianas House’
|
Posted on Oct 03 2008
The historic Marianas House—home to the office of the CNMI’s resident representative in Washington, DC—could be put up for rent in the near future if Gov. Benigno Fitial follows a recommendation to lease the property for a profit.
Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio has told the governor that he would like to see the house, which sits in the Embassy Row section of the city, rented after he leaves it at the end of his term, he said in an interview earlier this week. The new non-voting delegate to Congress, he added, will have an office on Capitol Hill, meaning the house could cease to be necessary.
The history behind the house gives the CNMI added incentive to preserve it, he noted, yet maintenance costs could add up without a renter.
“It’s an historic place and, at the same time, it’s going to require some expense to maintain it, so I’ve recommended that we should look at a rental,” he said. “I’m leaving the final decision up to the governor. Hopefully, he will discuss this with the Legislature.”
Tenorio added that the house is the only property the CNMI owns on the continental United States and it has served as the office of every resident representative in the Commonwealth’s history. The income from renting it, he said, could benefit the local government even if it nets only a few thousand dollars each month.
“It’s going to be a challenge to manage it and we have all kinds of other problems right now,” he said. “But even if we just get 3 or 4 thousand dollars a month from it, that would certainly add up to a good amount of money each year.”
Charles Reyes, the governor’s spokesman, said several options for what to do with the house are already on the table, including the prospect of renting it to someone.
“The governor is open to any rational proposal that would have financial gains for the Commonwealth,” he said, noting that other options include selling the house or letting the new Washington delegate use it even though he will have a congressional office.
“There are several options and we’re open to proposals,” he added.
