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MVA looking for a new site
The Marianas Visitors Authority looking for a new office location that is convenient and accessible, possibly a central location like Garapan.
It’s office is currently located in San Jose on Beach Road.
According to MVA managing director Chris Concepcion, the target area for the new MVA office is in Garapan, making it easily accessible to both tourists and residents.
“We are scouting for some areas aside from the Garapan fire station,” he said. “The challenge is that public land is limited in the area. Most of the properties in Garapan are privately owned.”
Concepcion said there are other options for relocation but they truly want to be in the Garapan area.
“One other option that was mentioned many months ago is that space beside the CNMI Museum across the Sugar King Park. I think having MVA there would be a great option as it would drive traffic into the museum and it’s still in Garapan. Tourists come in to get brochures and pamphlets and we can say, ‘Check out the new museum.’”
“As far as acquiring the property, we have discussed that idea with the previous CNMI Museum director Robert Hunter, but we have not moved forward as there is a new director now, Daniel Aquino. We have not brought up the subject with the new director, only because we don’t know who has title to the land,” he added.
Concepcion said the Garapan Fishing Base is another option, but he is not sure what the government plans to do with the property.
“The lease in our current building expires in January 2019, so definitely we are not going to be out of there by then because it takes a while to construct a building, especially now with the lack or workers.”
He said the budget needed to build an MVA office building is $3 million. So far, $1.7 million has been reserved for the possible relocation.
“We probably have to renew our new lease with the landlord and, from there, have a final timeline in relocating. Funding and design have to be secured by this time. We also plan to get a request for proposals for the project so we can get a bid and from there start the process,” Concepcion added.
