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Those weed-choked, government-owned vacant lots in Ford City may have a future after all.
Taft College has begun negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy for seven of the eight vacant lots set aside as future drilling rig locations in 1912 when the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve was created.
The college specifically has its eyes on the three sites nearest the campus.
When DOE announced last year that it was putting the lots up for sale, then-Supt./Pres. Willy Duncan said the college would like to use one for a residence hall, another for additional parking and a third for educational buildings.
“Our hope is that we can receive the properties for educational purposes,” he said. “There are three of them close to our campus. I would like to see one used for a dorm. Another one might be used for additional parking. There is one on Tenth Street that might be ideal for an educational facility of some type.”
Education is one of the possible uses spelled out in the notice the General Services Administration (GSA) released announcing the properties are being disposed of.
Types of disposal or public use cited by the GSA include:
Negotiated sales to public bodies for general public use
Educational facility, including school, classroom, or other purposes
Protection of public health, including research and drug rehabilitation
Public park or recreational area
Historic monument
Self-help housing
Correctional facility or law enforcement
Emergency management response, including fire and rescue
Wildlife conservation
Widening of public highways, streets or alleys
Federal aid or other highways
The city also worked with the college to get the sites released.
Duncan credited Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, for nudging DOE to consider releasing the sites. The Army Corps of Engineers did an environmental impact report and cleaned up the lots.
Although there are eight parcels, only seven are being offered at this time. The eighth, located near the northwest corner of Ash and Fourth streets “will be offered at a later date due to environmental remediation requirements,” the notice said. That site has contamination issues.
Each of the sites is just over two acres, ranging in size from 2.06 acres to 2.21 acres. Four are 2.07 acres. The total available is 14.68 acres.
30-year effort
Taft College has been pursuing the drill sites for three decades.
“It’s been 30 years,” said interim Supt./Pres. Richard Giese after the board of trustees last Thursday approved a resolution “establishing intent to purchase seven surplus sites from the United States acting by and through the administrator of General Services.”
“When I looked at the file I discovered the first attempt to get those sites was made 30 years ago,” he said.
Those weed-choked, government-owned vacant lots in Ford City may have a future after all.
Taft College has begun negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy for seven of the eight vacant lots set aside as future drilling rig locations in 1912 when the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve was created.
The college specifically has its eyes on the three sites nearest the campus.
When DOE announced last year that it was putting the lots up for sale, then-Supt./Pres. Willy Duncan said the college would like to use one for a residence hall, another for additional parking and a third for educational buildings.
“Our hope is that we can receive the properties for educational purposes,” he said. “There are three of them close to our campus. I would like to see one used for a dorm. Another one might be used for additional parking. There is one on Tenth Street that might be ideal for an educational facility of some type.”
Education is one of the possible uses spelled out in the notice the General Services Administration (GSA) released announcing the properties are being disposed of.
Types of disposal or public use cited by the GSA include:
Negotiated sales to public bodies for general public use
Educational facility, including school, classroom, or other purposes
Protection of public health, including research and drug rehabilitation
Public park or recreational area
Historic monument
Self-help housing
Correctional facility or law enforcement
Emergency management response, including fire and rescue
Wildlife conservation
Widening of public highways, streets or alleys
Federal aid or other highways
The city also worked with the college to get the sites released.
Duncan credited Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, for nudging DOE to consider releasing the sites. The Army Corps of Engineers did an environmental impact report and cleaned up the lots.
Although there are eight parcels, only seven are being offered at this time. The eighth, located near the northwest corner of Ash and Fourth streets “will be offered at a later date due to environmental remediation requirements,” the notice said. That site has contamination issues.
Each of the sites is just over two acres, ranging in size from 2.06 acres to 2.21 acres. Four are 2.07 acres. The total available is 14.68 acres.
30-year effort
Taft College has been pursuing the drill sites for three decades.
“It’s been 30 years,” said interim Supt./Pres. Richard Giese after the board of trustees last Thursday approved a resolution “establishing intent to purchase seven surplus sites from the United States acting by and through the administrator of General Services.”
“When I looked at the file I discovered the first attempt to get those sites was made 30 years ago,” he said.
