Journal Staff
Private and government projects are taking place along the popular Tamuning coastline and a crowded Trankilo Street.
The St. Maria Arena Chapel, which was built around 2007, was recently demolished. According to the permit, the $40,000 demolition job was filed by contractor Nichilon.
The property the chapel stood on was leased to a company that offered wedding services. It was a popular site for destination weddings.
Tourists from Japan and South Korea would flock there for intimate western-tradition ceremonies that overlooked the East Agana Bay. Like many other tourist-related businesses, the slow trickle of tourists impacted their bottom line.
Mayor Louise C. Rivera of Tamuning said her office is aware of the work done on the property and is grateful.“My understanding is the property is being sold, but it’s all still under negotiation,” Rivera said.
The general area has many residents in the Marquez Apartment Building and Agana Bay Condos, naresidential properties, as well as the popular Jimmy Dee’s Bar & Grill, which is a favorite spot of beachgoers and volleyball players.
“The traffic to the beach is very heavy. And on top of that they’re doing private volleyball tournaments there,” Rivera said.
Trankilo Street, which is already pocked with potholes and a rather large sinkhole, gets crowded by cars parked there, which makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to gain quick and easy access, she said.
The mayor will be meeting with Guam Department of Public Works engineers to look at designs for a road project that she hopes will address both road conditions and access.
The general area, like other places around Guam, has other concerns.
“We have squatters going into different places, mostly abandoned buildings and homes,” she said. In conversation with the property owner, Rivera said he shared her concerns.
“It’s appreciated when property owners are responsible for their properties. We are facing a lot of properties that are being violated, people going in and illegally dumping trash or squatting … By removing old buildings and doing their part to keep up with their properties that helps reduce those concerns,” she said.
Takagi & Associates Inc., which owns the property, did not respond to requests for comment. There are no other permits that have been filed for the property, according to DPW. mbj