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News of St. JohnNews of St. John

Shrinking number of villas for sale

The number of St. John villas for sale on the Multiple Listing Service has dropped 20% since late July.  The MLS now offers 117 residences, priced between $24 million and $275,000.

Do fewer listings mean that the big inventory of the summer is selling, thanks to the lowest mortgage rates in history?

Alas, no.  "Obviously not that many have sold," said Merry Nash, President of Islandia Real Estate. " I think some owners are letting their listings expire until the market improves or until winter  season starts. "

Cruz Bay Realty's Gretchen Labrenz echboed that, saying "Properties are contracted or they expire, therefore, the MLS fluctuates."

Islandia reports four homes were sold during the third quarter, two of them Islandia's deals.  One land lot sold; four condominiums were contracted, and four fractional properties, all at the Westin Vacation Club, were sold.

The market is not dead, but it is lethargic.  Islandia's Nash reports there are some interested buyers. "The number of people looking is about average," she explained. "But many are hesitant to make a decision until they have more confidence in the U.S. economy.  I hear that every day."

Pricing, in the aggregate, is down.  The average listing price on the MLS today is $2.0 million, if you exclude from the calaulation a $25 million Peter Bay property.  In July of this year, the comparable asking price was $2.2 million.

  • The St. John Multiple Listing Service is here
  • Islandia Real Estate's Web site is here
  • Cruz Bay Realty's Web site is here

Coral Bay road update

SPRAYThe road into Coral Bay, Centerline, is driveable, even if riding on it is a little unsettling.

HungryTraveler posted his concern on TripAdvisor. "We just came back from Maho and the safety of Centerline continues to worry all. Any good rain will start slides up again."

He added there's more to worry about, too. "We are expecting a healthy mosquito hatch any day now. It's sunny and warm. Dengue fever is epidemic now so bring citronella spray." (Amazon's got it.)

Westin pool closed until November

Contrary to optimistic comments published yesterday, looks like it's going to be a long slog  for the Westin Resort to recover from the torrents of rain and flooding of a week ago.

While the resort is open, management is encouraging its fractional ownership customers to go somewhere else, "since available services are limited."

According to 'a timeshare owner', information posted on a Westin vacation club Web site, "The property experienced severe beach erosion … (and is) unavailable for use."

But wait, there's more:

  •     The resort pool is scheduled to reopen by Nov. 14
  •     Severe landscape damage
  •     Tennis courts out of service
  •     Kids club facility also out of business for now

Read the "Westin Damage Update" here

St. Johnian’s jet an issue in US campaigns

HouseSt. John resident Donald Sussman's wealth has become an issue in the mainland's Congressional campaigns.

According to news reports, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D.-ME.) and Rep. Barney Frank (D.-MA.) have been guests aboard Sussman's $25 million jet, flying from New England to the Virgin Islands. 

Sussman, a resident at least 10 years and manager of a hedge fund, has been a benefactor of numerous island causes and activities, including the Myra Keating Clinic's new telemedicine facilities. Besides an estate on Great Cruz Bay, he also has a home in Maine. 

In the Pine Tree state, Sussman met Pingree, a first-term Representative.  She describes him as her fiance.

Both Pingree and Frank have been criticized for flying aboard Sussman's plane and spending time at his St. John house, pictured at left by TruthonTarget.  However, they say the House ethics committee has no objections to their accepting the flights because Sussman is 'family' to Pingree, and Frank's flight was free of conflict because he is a friend of Pingree and it is she who gave him the transportation. (Members are allowed to accept gifts from other Members.)

  • Portland, Maine coverage of Pingree/Sussman here
  • Wall Street Journal editorial on Frank/Sussman here
  • Truth on Target on Pingree/Sussman here

 

Beach Bar changing its tunes

Jazz Looks like jazz music at the Beach Bar has hit some sour notes.

The Facebook page for the uber-popular watering hole announced this week that it will host a "Sunday afternoon Beach Party with Live music beginning at 4:20 pm OCT 31st……………… THE ROSENCRANZ."

A Google search identifies The Rosencranz as an indie rock ban from Italy, currently on tour in the US, playing in New Orleans this week.

If the Beach Bar has 86ed jazz, it spells the end to a years-long tradition on the island.  Steve Simon, an award-winning clarinetist and composer, began the tradition when he gathered some of his friends to play live music as the weekend wrapped up. Hundreds of locals and visitors stopped by the bar to enjoy the fun.  Musicians on holiday from St. John as well as St. Thomas would drop in and jam with the group.

By going with indie rock or other music, it would appear the Beach Bar is trying to "young up" its demographics on Sunday afternoons and, of course, boost the bar business.  Another reason the jazz may be ending could be that Simon, who founded and produces the St. John Blues festival, is developing business interests off island which take him to the mainland more often.

  • More about the Blues Fest here:

 

La Plancha moving to Mongoose Junction

Jason The island's top-rated restaurant (according to TripAdvisor) is moving.

The owners of la Plancha del Mar closed a deal at the end of August to move their business to the space formerly occupied by Paradiso St. John.  The two couldn't be more different, but La Plancha's owners – Jason Howard (pictured above), Mike Prout and Jonathan Fritz – say the food and the quality and the fun will be the same.

At the Marketplace, La Plancha was in a windowless corner on the second floor with room for about six tables.  At Mongoose, there will be more than that spavce in the outdoor seating area alone, never mind the huge interior with a long bar and tables, all surrounded by wood and island stonework and windows, offering seating for as many as 75 people.

This is a big move for the trio who opened for business just about 18 months ago.

La Plancha's Facebook page announced "We are now accepting applications for all positions."  This prompted Steve Dean to ask, "Have you filled … regular and general bar fly?" Pat Gilbertson, wondering about her golden years, speculated, "Maybe that's what Gary and I should do in retirement ;-)."

While the guys get to work fixing up the Paradiso space the way they'll like it, La Plancha is open only for dinner, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.  No word on when the new location will open for business.

What TripAdvisor has to say about La Plancha del Mar.

Coral Bay builders face shutdown

For years, Coral Bay locals have worried they were at risk because Centerline Road is the only way into or out of the east end of the island.  Now, their fear has become real.

Last week's torrential rains, dumping more than a foot of water, have undercut Centerline near Bordeaux Mountain. That means the foundation of the roadway is washing away making it dangerous for heavy vehicles.

As a result, according to Sloop Jones, "No more concrete trucks … water trucks … (or) anything else that is heavy.  Our road is collapsing."

The ban on heavy vehicles came Monday from Daryl Smalls, the commissioner of public works.  He was 'shocked', the St. John Source said, to learn that five concrete trucks used the road Monday morning.

He ordered no trucks or heavy equipment, other than that of his department, should use the road east of the Bordeaux overlook until he decides it's safe, the Source reported. 

Smalls' "on the spot edict" threatens to halt construction on some residential and commercial projects in Coral Bay, East End, Bordeaux, and out toward Salt Pond by choking off supplies and building materials.

The Commissioner was described as 'stunned' by the damage the rains caused to roads, the Source said.

RandyinMd posted to the Virgin islands On-Line Web site that, "Coming across Centerline Road on St. John the large expensive stone retaining wall and driveway near the Reef Bay trail is collapsed and covered with dirt and stones."

St. John Source storm coverage

Westin If you have a reservation to stay at the Westin Resort this week, as Warner Wolf would say, 'You Lose.'

The resort's grounds were seriously damaged last week when Tropical Storm Otto gobsmacked the islands, St. John included.  The torrents began Tuesday, continued through Thursday and rain lingered through the weekend.

The resort has been calling people and telling them to stay home.  If you try to book a room on the Westin Web site odds are you'll be told there's no space at the inn.

A reader posted on the NoSeeUm blog, "My husband and I were scheduled to come to STJ on Sat. Oct. 9th. We were phoned last night and were told our reservations had to be cancelled due to flooding, lack of drinking water."

Rafe Boulon, the V.I. National Park’s chief of resources management, recorded a whopping 16.37 inches of rain at St. John’s Trunk Bay, according to Gretchen Labrenz at Cruz Bay Realty.

Photos of the damage at the Westin were posted by Gerald Singer on his blog, St. John Life.  The shot above of the Westin is from his site.  The resort's tennis courts, beachside restaurants, swimming pool were all affected.  Mounds of mud need to be removed.  Only one of the three restaurants is operating.

"At the Westin some rooms were flooded, as was the pool and the beach area" Singer said. "Large breaking waves caused a sailboat anchored in Great Cruz Bay to was up on the Westin beach adding it to the other unfortunate craft brought ashore by Hurricane Earl."

Elsewhere on the island, mudslides and flooding occurred.  Reports said Centerline Road, around Coral Bay, was down to one lane because of falling debris. CNN reported about a dozen boats were pushed ashore at Chocolate Hole.

Over the weekend as sun began to return, artist Sloop Jones put a good news/bad news spin on the situation. "Sunshine and mosquitoes today," he said.

Plan for new gas station, quick-stop store

Plans are afoot to build a gas station on Centerline Road.  

Developer Guilderoy Sprauve is asking for a zoning change to allow him to build the station and a convenience store on land which used to be the home of a concrete plant and is now home to Love City Home and Garden Center. 

Sprauve was quoted by the St. John Source saying everything is in place to move ahead with the project. "We have the funding," he said.

There will be an attendant on duty at the station, even  though it will be self service.  You'll also be on your own at the C-store.  Sprauve apparently intends to install vending machines.  He said the store will be "robotic."

Of course a new gas station would be helpful on the island.  E&C Service in Cruz Bay is the only place to gas up now; the Dominio station in Coral Bay is still closed with no word when, or if it will reopen.

  • Read the Source story here