Long Beach : Navy Says It Plans to Keep Land After Base Is Closed

Navy officials in Washington announced this week that they will hold on to most of the property at the Long Beach Naval Station even after the base is shut down by September, 1996.

A Pentagon report released Monday says the land sites at the station will become part of the adjacent Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The Long Beach Naval Hospital and three military housing areas--Cabrillo, Savannah and Taper Avenue--will be disposed of. Portions of the nearby Mole Pier might also be unloaded once officials assess the extent of environmental damage the land sustained while in the Navy’s hands.

A presidential commission last summer ordered the 1,500-acre base and hospital closed. Rumors have abounded ever since that the land might become available for a variety of non-military purposes, including purchase by the Walt Disney Co. for a proposed $3-billion theme park. Navy officials have indicated all along, however, that they did not intend to let go of most of the valuable oceanfront land.

The Navy has indicated a willingness to lease or even sell off small parts of the parcel, however, according to Gary Curran, aide to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Long Beach). Rohrabacher’s office has encouraged the Navy and the city to negotiate, Curran said.