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comment by humanodon
humanodon  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Lighthouses for sale, CHEAP...

Heh, not only that, but there are a slew of other conditions. Check out the invitation for bids of the Graves Island Light Station.

    Reserving and excepting from the following rights and easements to the United States of America (‘United States”):

    +The unrestricted right of the United States to keep, locate, service, maintain, operate, install, repair and replace aids to navigation and any and all associated equipment on the Property+;

    An easement of access over and across the Property in favor of the United States for the purpose of servicing, maintaining, locating, operating and repairing and replacing the navigational aids and any and all associated equipment on the Property. +The United States shall have the right to enter the Property at any time for the purpose of maintaining the navigational aids and performing the other functions contemplated herein+

    An easement to the United States for the purpose of preserving and maintaining an Arc of Visibility of the beacon within the Graves Light as follows: nothing will be constructed, maintained or permitted exceeding 40 feet on a plane emanating from the center of the Property 360 degrees or of a height sufficient to interfere with or obstruct the Arc of Visibility of said Property;

    +The right of the United States to utilize the fog signal horn at any time and in any manner it deems necessary+;

    NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

    The Property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 (NR #87002041). Any changes to the property must be reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and be in compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

    UTILITIES & SERVICE PROVIDERS

    There are no utilities at the Property. The Property was previously powered by a private electrical cable from shore until converted to solar power in 2001. There is a water cistern and a fuel storage tank at the Property but their condition is unknown. Procurement of utility service shall be the responsibility of the Purchaser as of the date of conveyance. Bidders are urged to contact the appropriate utility providers for information on the availability of utilities.

What a deal. Still, in my imagination, it would be pretty awesome to have my own lighthouse.





kleinbl00  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It would be awesome, but yeah - this is basically the government saying "give us money to cover our shortfalls." I wonder if you get naming rights - "the Nokia Graves Island Light Station" might make it worthwhile to somebody.

The English Channel sea forts come up for sale occasionally. People do stupid things with them. if I didn't need to be in regular contact with people, I'd totally live on one.

humanodon  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think naming falls under:

    Any changes to the property must be reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and be in compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

So, I guess Nokia could probably do that.

Heh, it seems like people are trying to put "luxury" spaces just about everywhere these days. I've thought about living somewhere isolated, but awesome and like you, the human contact issue is the biggest problem. In regard to sea forts specifically, I wonder if one could live in one without ever thinking of the Kevin Costner classic, Waterworld.

kleinbl00  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Buddy of mine has wanted to live on an offshore drilling rig since he was 10. Me? I've started getting into weird architecture.

humanodon  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I wonder if you've checked out La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona?

    When work began on the church, in 1882, the architects, the bricklayers and the labourers worked in a very traditional way. When Gaudí took over the direction he was aware that the works were complex and difficult and tried to take advantage of all the modern techniques available. And so, among other resources, he had railway tracks laid with small wagons to transport the materials, brought in cranes to lift the weights and had the workshops located on the site to make the work easier.

    Today, 131 years later, the building of the church follows Gaudí's original idea and, just as he himself did, the best techniques are applied to make the building work safer, more comfortable and faster. It is some time now since the old wagons gave way to powerful cranes, the old manual tools have been replaced by precise electric machines and the materials have been improved to ensure excellent quality in the building process and the final result.

    The present Church Technical Office and the management are charged with studying the complexity of Gaudí's original project, doing the calculations and the building plans and directing the works as a whole.

Here are some more images. Also, if you click on the tabs on the left, there's info on the architect and his ideas of using structures inspired by nature to create the cathedral.

kleinbl00  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I know Gaudi's nightmare. It's interesting, but it's not cool.

On the other hand, I spent the night at Arcosanti. that was an experience. It's kind of like the Mos Eisley Spaceport, only abandoned and taken over by hippies.

humanodon  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think it's pretty amazing, personally. As for cool? Um, well, it's cool that someone took the time to design a building like that, I just wish it weren't a church. A library or a museum maybe. Somewhere where one could get a glass of wine without a blood type.

Arcosanti does admittedly, look more cool. Also, I bet there's not a Pizza Hut across from it. I'll have to check that place out if I ever swing through Arizona.

kleinbl00  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·  

And it's so fucking cheap to stay.

Look what you made me do.