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More homestead lots for Northern Islands pushed
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Posted on Mar 23 2001
Saipan Representative William S. Torres urged Board of Public Lands Chair Manuel Villagomez to provide additional homestead lots to the people of the Northern Islands.
“People have been residing in Pagan, Sarigan, Anatahan, Agrigan and Alamagan for as long as we have, if not longer. They, too, deserve to be treated with respect and consideration,” Mr. Torres said.
The lawmaker also asked Mr. Villagomez to clarify the status of the “North Garapan Subdivision Annex No. 2” property.
The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation told Mr. Torres in its Feb. 20 communication that “at this time, plans (envisioned by Public Law 6-34) have not materialized to develop or sell the properties because of restrictions imposed by the MPLC upon transfer of the property to NMHC.”
However, Mr. Torres said when the property was transferred to the then Mariana Islands Housing Authority by the Trust Territory Office of High Commissioner in Feb. 26, 1955 it was labeled for “low-cost housing and urban renewal.”
The lawmaker said, “the 45 units in the North Garapan Subdivision Annex No. 2 would go a long way towards the goal of “low-cost housing and urban renewal” consistent with the objective of “decent, safe and sanitary housing program for low and moderate-income families.
He also noted that the unit could help promote community development in the Northern Marianas’ within the context of “enhanced development of Garapan complex.”
Mr. Torres told Mr. Villagomez that his office is always available if legislative remedies are needed to resolve the conflicting status of the property.
In the letter, the lawmaker also commended the Board of Public Lands in its support of efforts by the NMHC to increase home ownership throughout the CNMI.
He described home ownership as a more favorable alternative to a tenant landlord approach to housing in the Commonwealth.
