Mariana House undergoing $70K renovation

The CNMI government’s building in Washington, D.C. called the Mariana House-once complained by a neighbor for being rat-infested-is finally undergoing much needed renovations worth $50,000 to $70,000 to turn it into an income-generating property after sitting idle since January 2009.

Mariana House, located at 2121 R Street NW Washington, D.C., used to be occupied by the office of the CNMI resident representative to Washington, D.C. The federalization law abolished this office and gave way to the CNMI’s first nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos confirmed in an interview that a maintenance company is now handling the renovation, including permitting from regulatory agencies. He said the renovation is expected to be done by January.

“We needed to do the renovation in order for the property to be out in the market in rentable condition,” Inos told Saipan Tribune.

Inos, who oversees government finances, said the Fitial administration plans to have the property leased out “for maybe a couple of years until the market improves.”

“But we need to [restore] the property back into rentable condition, including compliance with building code, etc. Renovation will cost between $50,000 and $70,000,” he said, adding that this is one investment that the administration has not forgotten about.

Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan) separately said yesterday that the renovation is a “sound decision” and well within the administration’s authority.

“The property market is too soft right now so if we have to sell it, we have to do so when the market improves,” said Yumul, former chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The fiscal year 2012 budget law, Public Law 17-55, provided additional funding for the operations of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, “which will primarily be used to restore the Marianas House in Washington, D.C.”

In 2011, funds were spent from the operations account of the Office of the Lt. Governor to make repairs and pay pending bills of the Marianas House, the budget law says.

Inos said the administration hopes to have the property rented at “the going rate.”

“At this point we don’t have any figure as yet. We have to put it out in the market.But as you know, the market has been depressed for a while,” he added.

Yumul said the last time he heard, the property could be rented out for $5,000 to $8,000 if it’s for residential purpose.

“But if it’s going to be rented out for office, for example, lawyers or lobbyists who want to stay close as possible to Capitol, then the rental would be higher,” he added.

Early this year, a neighbor of the Mariana House complained to the CNMI government about rat infestation at the vacant building, and the government said it was able to address such concern.

As early as February 2009, Public Auditor Mike Pai had said that due to the unfavorable real estate market, the CNMI government is going to keep the house and it could be rented out at $10,000 to $15,000 a month.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP), the CNMI’s first and so far only nonvoting delegate to Congress, has not occupied the Mariana House but is renting a studio-type apartment in Columbia Heights, a train away from work.