West Bank Light
Encyclopedia
West Bank Light is in Lower New York Bay
and acts as the front range light for the Ambrose Channel
. It is currently active and not open to the public.
The tower was built in 1901 and heightened in 1908. Staten Island Light
serves as the rear range.
On May 29, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior
identified West Bank Light, offshore in Ambrose Channel–Lower New York Bay, as surplus under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act
of 2000. The property was described as:
No group was identified under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act as willing and able to preserve the West Bank Light, and on June 5, 2008, the General Services Administration
placed the light up for sale via an auction. The initial bid was $10,000 and the light finally closed on August 27, 2008 at a final bid of $245,000.
Lower New York Bay
Lower New York Bay is that section of New York Bay south of the Narrows, the relatively narrow strait between the shores of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The southern end of the bay opens directly to the Atlantic Ocean between two spits of land, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and Rockaway, Queens, on Long...
and acts as the front range light for the Ambrose Channel
Ambrose Channel
Ambrose Channel is the main shipping channel in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey. The channel is considered to be part of Lower New York Bay and is located several miles off the coasts of Sandy Hook in New Jersey and Breezy Point, Queens in New York...
. It is currently active and not open to the public.
The tower was built in 1901 and heightened in 1908. Staten Island Light
Staten Island Light
The Staten Island Range Light , serves as the rear range light companion to the West Bank Lighthouse. The 90-foot tower is located on Staten Island’s Richmond Hill at a point that is 141 feet above sea level and over five miles northwest of the West Bank Lighthouse...
serves as the rear range.
On May 29, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
identified West Bank Light, offshore in Ambrose Channel–Lower New York Bay, as surplus under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act
National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 is American legislation creating a process for the transfer of federally-owned lighthouses into private hands...
of 2000. The property was described as:
"55 ft. tower (1901) off the southerly end of West Bank, NY on 0.10 acre submerged land, cast iron conical “spark plug” style light sits on a concrete/cast iron caisson. Two floors, five stories high keeper’s dwelling, approx. 1500 SF. Markings: brown on black base. Riprap breakwater extends westward approx. 40 feet to provide mooring space, landing platform. Can be seen from South Beach, Staten Island and from Coney Island boardwalk; accessible by boat only. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and must be maintained according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Historic covenants will be incorporated into the Quitclaim Deed; however, no submerged land will be conveyed under the Quitclaim Deed. U.S. Coast Guard shall retain an easement for an Arc of Visibility and an unrestricted right of access in, to and across the property to maintain, operate, service, repair and install equipment as necessary to support its aid to navigation mission. Additionally, the USCG shall retain the unrestricted right to relocate or add any aids to navigation, or communications towers and equipment (along with necessary right of ingress/egress), or make any changes on any portion of the property as may be necessary for navigation/public safety purposes."
No group was identified under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act as willing and able to preserve the West Bank Light, and on June 5, 2008, the General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
placed the light up for sale via an auction. The initial bid was $10,000 and the light finally closed on August 27, 2008 at a final bid of $245,000.