Get your DEIS comments in!
Posted: Feb 14, 2010 2:22 PM
Updated: Feb 14, 2010 4:41 PM
by Michele Catahay
Guam - Island residents have until this Thursday to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Marines' relocation from Okinawa to Guam. Back in 2006 an agreement was signed between Japan and the United States to move a portion of the U.S. Marine Corps Station in Okinawa to Guam. The plan would essentially transform the island in the Western Pacific into a giant arm of the Department of Defense.
According to the DoD's DEIS, by 2014 the island is anticipated to see its population of roughly 150,000 people increase significantly to 230,000 at its peak. That's an increase of 80,000 people within four years. The EIS outlines alternatives to develops and construct facilities and infrastructure to support the move. It also evaluates the impact of a new deep draft wharf to support a transient nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
The EIS also explores the impact of plans by the Army to develop facilities and infrastructure to operate a missile defense system. This would include relocating approximately 600 military personnel and their 900 dependents to Guam. While the island has until this Thursday to comment, the Guam Boonie Stompers along with the We Are Guahan Coalition hosted a clean up in Pagat, which happens to be one of the areas proposed to build a firing range for training.
Guam Boonie Stompers president David Lotz said his organization, "has a petition drive to submit to the buildup DEIS to keep these trails open, and I feel that's important for the community and even for the military to work towards preserving the island's heritage...if you look at the Quadrennial Defense Review, it actually says it's going to transform the island into a military base and it has to be very seriously looked at. Who is really going to control the future of the island? Is it the military or the people of guam?"
Yona resident Ulysses Story says negative impacts outweigh the positive ones for the island, saying, "To me, I think its traffic and another thing is racism. I mean, people, I think Chamorro people like to preserve their culture and bringing in people that are trying to assimilate them but they don't want to so I think it'll cause some conflict on racism."
Chalan Pago resident Ida San Nicolas says she's in support of the buildup, saying the military has a strong ability to help boast the local economy. "My child is 16 and it is his generation that it affects. My son has confronted me about it, and he has some issues with it but for me, we should let them speak also not just us and just saying what we think. All the jobs are for them and that's what I like is to be able to have some jobs," said San Nicolas.
Mangilao resident Aphea Imperial says while there may be some environmental impacts noted in the DEIS, she says the buildup will provide more opportunities for the island community, noting, "There are a lot of opportunities for the community like there are going to be a lot of jobs but there are also bad sides to it like our ecosystems, and it's just going to be overpopulated and guam is so small and i think it's good. i see military people and they help out a lot."
Again, you have until this Thursday to comment on the Draft EIS. To view the voluminous document, log on to GuamBuildupEIS.us.
Showing posts with label Population Boom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Population Boom. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
‘Now is the best time to invest in properties’
‘Now is the best time to invest in properties’
Thursday, 11 February 2010 04:17
by Tiffany Sukola | Variety News Staff
WITH military buildup efforts expected to have a direct impact on the real estate market, local realtors are advising island residents to consider buying homes or land before the cost of home ownership skyrockets.
“If you’re looking to buy, now is really the time,” said Guam Association of Realtors president Chris Felix yesterday. “Once the buildup related population boom happens, you’re going to see rent go up and you’re going to see property value go up.”
According to Felix, if local residents don’t act fast, home ownership may become virtually unaffordable for many.
Felix said Guam will see a sharp population increase even before the thousands of Marines and their dependents arrive on island, because many investors, construction workers and trade workers from other industries are needed in order to prepare for the buildup.
Demand increase
Felix added that although the relocation of the Marines is not going to happen for a couple more years, the demand for houses on Guam is already steadily increasing.
Felix said that real estate conditions on Guam would soon be similar to the conditions in the 1980’s, when many local residents could not afford some of the houses on the market because the military’s presence had an affect on real estate.
“Residents should really take advantage before the market goes up,” said Felix, adding that the tax credit for first time homebuyers is still available.
According to Felix, construction of residential units peaked in 2004 and construction projects remained steady until 2007. However, in 2008 and 2009 Felix said the industry saw a slight decrease in the number of residential projects.
“We’re going to see the same thing until the Environmental Impact Statement is accepted or until the buildup starts,” said Felix.
Felix added that although investors are eyeing Guam, he doesn’t expect to see a sharp increase in construction until the decision to relocate the nearly 8,000 Marines from Japan to Guam is official.
Popular job
In anticipation of the real estate market’s growth, Felix said that many island residents are leaving their current jobs to become licensed real estate agents.
Felix said that the realtor’s association now has close to 400 members, the only U.S. market that has been able to increase its membership over the past three years. He added that membership used to be somewhere in the 60-100 member range.
“In the states, it’s the opposite story,” said Felix. “The market is going down and people are actually leaving the industry.”
Felix said that many residents are seeing the potential of the real estate market in the coming years and are rushing to get licensed before the buildup.
“If they wait until the buildup is already occurring, then it’s already too late,” said Felix.
Thursday, 11 February 2010 04:17
by Tiffany Sukola | Variety News Staff
WITH military buildup efforts expected to have a direct impact on the real estate market, local realtors are advising island residents to consider buying homes or land before the cost of home ownership skyrockets.
“If you’re looking to buy, now is really the time,” said Guam Association of Realtors president Chris Felix yesterday. “Once the buildup related population boom happens, you’re going to see rent go up and you’re going to see property value go up.”
According to Felix, if local residents don’t act fast, home ownership may become virtually unaffordable for many.
Felix said Guam will see a sharp population increase even before the thousands of Marines and their dependents arrive on island, because many investors, construction workers and trade workers from other industries are needed in order to prepare for the buildup.
Demand increase
Felix added that although the relocation of the Marines is not going to happen for a couple more years, the demand for houses on Guam is already steadily increasing.
Felix said that real estate conditions on Guam would soon be similar to the conditions in the 1980’s, when many local residents could not afford some of the houses on the market because the military’s presence had an affect on real estate.
“Residents should really take advantage before the market goes up,” said Felix, adding that the tax credit for first time homebuyers is still available.
According to Felix, construction of residential units peaked in 2004 and construction projects remained steady until 2007. However, in 2008 and 2009 Felix said the industry saw a slight decrease in the number of residential projects.
“We’re going to see the same thing until the Environmental Impact Statement is accepted or until the buildup starts,” said Felix.
Felix added that although investors are eyeing Guam, he doesn’t expect to see a sharp increase in construction until the decision to relocate the nearly 8,000 Marines from Japan to Guam is official.
Popular job
In anticipation of the real estate market’s growth, Felix said that many island residents are leaving their current jobs to become licensed real estate agents.
Felix said that the realtor’s association now has close to 400 members, the only U.S. market that has been able to increase its membership over the past three years. He added that membership used to be somewhere in the 60-100 member range.
“In the states, it’s the opposite story,” said Felix. “The market is going down and people are actually leaving the industry.”
Felix said that many residents are seeing the potential of the real estate market in the coming years and are rushing to get licensed before the buildup.
“If they wait until the buildup is already occurring, then it’s already too late,” said Felix.
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