Saipan Adventure Tours will again push for their Marpi zipline project after the Historic Preservation Review board rejected their project out of concern for the \u201cintegrity\u201d of the historical area.<\/p>\n
The company aims to construct a launch tower west of Suicide Cliff that will serve three runs of four lines, each zooming down to Banzai Cliff, Wing Beach, and Kan Pacific.<\/p>\n
Owner John Stewart could not be reached for comments yesterday. Project designer and consultant Richard Colt declined to comment on Tuesday, but a company attorney confirmed yesterday that they \u201cwill be taking further action with HPO on their application for the project.\u201d He could not comment further.<\/p>\n
According to HPO\u2019s findings on the project, copies of which were obtained by Saipan Tribune, the \u201cquestion of integrity\u201d in the area was the \u201ccentral question\u201d in their review of the zipline project.<\/p>\n
The review board chose to accept these findings, which appear to stress the sentimental value of the site, in a 4 to 2 vote on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Citing the National Register in their \u201cseven aspects of integrity,\u201d HPO listed \u201clocation, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association\u201d as aspects they must maintain.<\/p>\n
HPO said the question of integrity is answered by \u201cwhether or not the property retains the identity for which it was originally deemed significant.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the property loses this identity, they are subject to lose their status as a National Historical Landmark or National Historic place, HPO found.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Marpi was recommended for the National Historic Register, emphasis was placed on its tragic history,\u201d HPO said. \u201cIt is a sacred place for U.S. and Japanese service members whose families visit it to commemorate the war dead. It is also a sacred place for Chamorro people who collect medicinal plants within its boundaries,\u201d the findings state.<\/p>\n
Citing the National Register, HPO also said Suicide Cliff is \u201can important place of pilgrimage and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
HPO said the zipline project would \u201cchange the aesthetic character of the [NHL] for visitors\u201d by injecting auditory and visual stimulus that \u201cwill alter the visitor\u2019s perception of the significance of the landmark\u201d while they visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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