MVA opposes trailer park concept
About 100 trailers are parked in a private lot across the Regal Theaters in San Jose. (Erwin Encinares)
Rumors have abounded since a number of trailers were first parked in front of the Regal Theaters in San Jose in November 2016.
One of those rumors had it that the trailers would be used to house tourists. It was said that the trailers were for a trailer park-themed lodging business.
It now appears that the manager of Saipan Ocean View Hotel owns the trailers. Saipan Tribune attempted to contact the manager yesterday, to no avail. However, it was learned that last May 16, the Coastal Resources Management approved the major siting permits of the establishment, implying that Commonwealth Zoning Board permits have been approved as well.
Whatever the case may be, the Marianas Visitors Authority is against the concept. Responding to rumors that the trailers will be used to accommodate tourists who visit Saipan, MVA strongly opposes the idea, saying it contradicts efforts to market the CNMI as a destination for the well-heeled.
MVA managing director Chris Concepcion said that, besides the unsightly view of having a trailer park in what is being marketed overseas as a premium high-end beach resort destination, one of the many concerns associated with trailers are their safety.
“The trailers are made of metal. When another storm comes, those trailers would be completely destroyed, turned into garbage, and blown out into the ocean. That is not what we want as a destination,” said Concepcion.
“It is not in line with the promotion efforts of MVA to encourage tourists to visit the CNMI,” he added.
He encourages regulatory agencies with oversight over such establishments to “come together as one and critically analyze projects that could hamper [MVAs] efforts in promoting the CNMI overseas.”
“[Visitors should] go to the beach resorts. That is the appeal of the Marianas, its surrounding nature,” he said.
Make them ship those things back to China already. We have a 2,000-room hotel about to open in Garapan, right GOP???
They have the permits, purchased the land, if the permits indicated that the trailers are safe what is the issue?
This is fitting. Saipan is a giant trailer park already. More food stamps please!
Cris Concepcion , just exactly who put you up to oppose such concept for tourist accommodation? This concept from a practical standpoint is very ideal for several reasons. 1) Capital outlays relatively a lot less. 2) A lot less land space to occupy and a lot less time to put up and running. 3) No need to invest in a kitchen and dining facilities. 4) different concept of accommodation altogether, away for the typical monstrosity hotel building blocking its neighbors’ view.
“The trailers are made of metal. When another storm comes, those trailers would be completely destroyed, turned into garbage, and blown out into the ocean. That is not what we want as a destination,” said Concepcion.
This is not true with MVA’s reasoning, that is an ignorant statement aby and non knowledgeable person(s) it is easy to “anchor” these to withstand typhoons etc.
BUT, that being said, NO tourist destinations allow such things.
Hawaii as an example; over the years many years ago this was attempted to provide low income housing in certain areas. This has been shot down many times over the years.
Also many years ago my friend brought in many small mobile homes to Maui that you could drive around.
He wanted to rent them out and have the tourists to be able to “tour the Island and park for the night in various State parks etc. He wanted to also put some on the Big Island due the many parks and long distances along with private land and “hook ups” THIS did not go over at all and was also “shot down”
(he sold the ones he already had cheap.
Many of us bought them cheap and used them on ranch land as hunting shelters in the mountains, or playhouse for the kids in the back yard. etc.
How many have heard the Phrase “trailer Park Trash” referring to someone?
This is usually a very low area in the US Mainland.
But thy do have rented parking area all over the US for the luxury mobile homes where many retirees travel around the vast areas in the mainland and “explore” These units should NOT be in the CNMI (or Guam)
We have enough poor examples of the many tin structure housing CW’s that resemble the Phil. slums along with the abandoned factories and barracks.
BTW, why/how did the Zoning Board approve a “trailer Park” without any public hearing? (as was shown by MVA not even knowing anything)
Isn’t a public hearing required? (except when Chinese are involved)
No laws or anything else applies to them, if a conflict with local laws then our elected will just change the laws overnight.
OH, my bad, that was a svupid question, I forgot that this is one of the Chinese Connection’s.
AND a 100 of these things. This will give new meaning to “Trailer Park Trash” referring to low life people that live in these type of “slums” in the US mainland.
We will have these things filled with Chinese and other CW’s that trash their habitat as now and building tin structures. NOW they can get ready made tim stucturesto destroy and ‘blight’ an area.
I can see this now, 100 of these boxes set up and within months this will be worse than the slums in the Philippine. Including the dump that will grow up around these trailers along with the rodents and diseases.
This will also put more cost on the Govt. and infrastructure.
These Govt. regulator people are unbelievable (NOT) only very evident without common sense and an elevator that does not go to the top floor. More oxygen thieves.
This board should also be fired. I can foresee another lawsuit on the horizon.