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Beach Road facelift to be pushed
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Posted on Apr 22 2009
Saipan Zoning Board chair Henry S. Hofschneider said yesterday he will be reviving a proposal to enhance the appearance of Beach Road from the Microl intersection in San Jose to the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio.
While the stretch of Beach Road from the Microl intersection to Garapan has a usable pathway that gives a scenic view of the Saipan lagoon, the area south of it on both sides of the road has unsafe walkways, lacks designated parking areas, has unsightly abandoned buildings and unattractive signage.
But first, Hofschneider said he will bring back to the board a proposal to hire a consultant who will help “put together a workable, realistic plan” for this particular stretch of Beach Road.
The same consultant who helped draft the plan for the Garapan revitalization project may be tapped for the Beach Road project, he said, adding that the plan development and the holding of stakeholders meeting will cost no more than $15,000.
“I believe this stretch of road needs a major facelift, starting with simple, inexpensive landscaping, ingress and egress, and parking controls, etc.,” Hofschneider told Saipan Tribune.
Hofschneider, who is also a special assistant to the Department of Land and Natural Resources secretary, said redoing and redefining building facades would also make Beach Road a lively and attractive scenic drive.
“But this project is still a short distance away from now,” he added.
He said government agencies can partner with private entities to enhance Beach Road. “We need public-private partnership to get things going. The Parks and Recreation, for example, can put out regulations on parking zones at parks,” Hofschneider added.
