Saipan Tribune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Thursday, March 07, 2013

CDA to move to new building by Apr. 1

The Commonwealth Development Authority targets to begin operations at its new office building in San Jose by April 1, according to office manager Christy N. Kintol.

Kintol said yesterday that Radiocom, contractor in charge of renovating the new CDA building, reported last week that it will finish construction work on the three-storey structure located along Beach Road by March 22.

At the same time, Kintol said the Department of Public Works is working on the design layout for the parking lot.

“Both DPW and the contractor believe that we can begin moving furniture and equipment on March 23. We hope to open CDA at our new building on April 1,” she said in an interview.

Kintol said that for now, it will be called CDA Building as the board has not decided whether or not it will be renamed.

The CDA Building has a total of 30 units, seven of which will be occupied by the agency. Of the seven units, two are on the ground floor and are reserved for reception, payment, and a conference room while the other five units are on the second floor and reserved for staff offices.

Kintol noted that 15 units of the building are occupied by seven tenants, and CDA has yet to enter into any agreement with prospective tenants since taking over the building.

Besides the construction work, Kintol said they are also waiting for their order of wall panels, carpet, floor tiles, and other furnishings, which are expected to arrive by March 12 and installed by the contractor.

“Our goal is to remain open throughout our relocation process,” she told Saipan Tribune.

However, Kintol said the CDA staff and management will have to meet within the week or two to discuss if they will have the office blessing and ribbon cutting on April 1, Monday, or have it on April 5, Friday.

CDA is expected to save some $6,500 once they move to the new building. Its lease with its Wakin's Building, where the office is currently located, will expire at the end of the month.

During a special meeting yesterday, executive director Manuel A. Sablan informed the CDA board of directors that the agency will start holding office in the San Jose building by April 1.