Published: October 15, 2008 08:46 am      

VA property’s future to be decided

GULFPORT, Miss. — By the end of the year, Gulfport should take over ownership of the old Veterans Administration Center and the city is trying to decide what to put in its place.

City officials toured the 92-acre site and buildings on Monday.

There are 10 buildings remain standing after the site was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Gulfport Development Commission member George Schloegel says the site along U.S. Highway 90 is a valuable piece of property.

If the city council decides to open the site to private investors, the commission would handle the details.

The VA is supposed to convey the waterfront portion of its property to the city in December. Gulfport will actually take over ownership of the northern side of the VA later this month.