A lighthouse in Cleveland may be up for sale soon. The Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light is to nonprofit organizations at no cost. But if there is no interest, the property will be up for grabs.
You鈥檒l find the lighthouse where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie. It was built in 1911 but now has been deemed excess to the needs of the Coast Guard. Through the , the General Services Administration is looking for a new steward for the lighthouse. And Barbara Salfity with the GSA says there鈥檚 already interest.
鈥淭here are people who are really dedicated to the preservation of lighthouses so we have gotten a bunch of calls already,鈥� she said.
If a viable steward is not found for the property, it will be auctioned off to a private owner. Sheila Consaul went through this process in 2011 when she bought the, east of Cleveland. She鈥檚 found owning a lighthouse to be a big commitment.
鈥淭he restoration is still ongoing. It鈥檚 not done, and I鈥檝e owned it for 10 years,鈥� she said.
But she wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 well worth it. It鈥檚 well worth saving a piece of history,鈥� she said.
For interested nonprofits, Salfity advised that the application process is thorough.
鈥淭he application process will have the nonprofit entities show that they have the wherewithal to raise funds for any needed capital improvements, as well as the ability to run and operate the light for public access," she said.
No matter who takes over the lighthouse, the Coast Guard will continue to operate the fog signal and the light itself.
