An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
Executives at Caneel Bay Resort are quoted saying renovations to its some 170 rooms will be completed, on schedule, by November. A Dallas, Texas design firm was contracted for the work.
"The renovation will enhance the resort’s luxurious island atmosphere by re-introducing an element of Americana beach house theme-the foundation of the resort’s mid-20th century beginnings," said Dan Nelson, president of Vision Design and the project’s lead designer.
The owner of Sundancer, a three-bedroom villa in Fish Bay, says he treats his villa rental business like, well, a business. You have to pay attention and be willing to get your hands dirty.
Bob Faucett says he does that. From doing his own maintenance on the property to "outsourcing" marketing to his daughter, Faucett keeps his costs low to make a profit.
Many people dream of having a villa on St. John. And they figure that if they put it on the rental market, maybe – just maybe – it’ll break even. They’ll have free vacations, real estate appreciation, and no cash out of pocket.
I did say "dream", didn’t I?
Now, some people can make this deal. The big "gotcha" is mortgage payments.
For Bob Faucett, the owner of the three-bedroom house Sundancer in Fish Bay, the dream has come true. (Sundancer.com) He has a small, old, mortgage.
In conversation, Faucett explained how his first smart move was, what’s called in retail, "buying right." He purchased the property in 1998. The average home price, then, was about $450,000. He made some other smart decisions which he reveals in this first part of the conversation. To listen, click the "Play" button below.
If you own a villa, are building one … or are a dreamer … listen to this.
You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
There’s a new Iguana wrangler at the Westin. Toya Frazer-Ellis, a native St. Thomian and University of Florida graduate, has been promoted to
be the new Director of Fun at the Westin Resort. Her job, according to a news release, is to
"ensure that kids of all ages have an enjoyable stay." That means she manages the daily Iguana feedings
and Hermit Crab Races, organizes Bobbing for Sodas and Beer by the pool, and
sets up Dive-In Movies, too.
Frazer-Ellis has worked at the Westin for two
years. Her previous title was Director
of Romance. She helped plan guests’
weddings.
The guru behind the restaurant Tage has joined with KatiLady Katering to offer "In Villa Private Dinners."
Ted Robinson, the closest thing the island has to a "Top Chef" personality, is being hired out by KatiLady for gourmet food prep for six to 14 people. The costs include $450 for him, plus tip, $125 for a server, and food shopping. Using Mrs. Inquiring Iguana’s expertise at budgeting, dinner might come to $155 a person.
"Ted will arrive on site 1.5-2 hours prior to appetizer service and create the majority of your meal in your private villa’s kitchen," a brochure from KatiLady explained. "Ted will prepare and plate your meal. Our staff will serve each course while Ted will offer descriptions and details of your meal. KatiLady staff will leave your kitchen sparkling clean." Robinson is also available for cooking classes at $150/person.
His’s skills are such that he managed to make Tage, and its uber urban location, a "must taste" stop for splurging visitors during three years as executive chef. He departed a few months ago.
Developers of Cruz Bay’s Grande Bay Resort have been
sued by two dozen buyers of the project’s condominiums, according to a
copy of a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands and forwarded to News of St. John.
Lawyers argue Bay Isles Associates L.L.L.P. wants to record condominium documents with the VI government and remove a number of features originally offered in sales and marketing materials. The purchasers claim the developer gave them 15 days to review the new agreement, with the option for a refund of their deposits if they objected.
The plaintiffs sought an injunction against the filing of the new agreements. They charged Bay Isles has breached the purchase contracts and is "giving them a take it or leave it situation – a classic bait and switch." The judge issued the order earlier this week.
The changes, according to the lawsuit document:
Grande Bay Resort’s Web site is www.grandebayresort.com
Caneel Bay’s tennis facilities were rated tops in the Caribbean by US Tennis Resorts Online. The St. John resort also scored #12 among the Top Resorts, #3 for staff, and #4 for most romantic.
TennisresortsOnline.com said its survey included "vacationers like you: people who pay for their holiday and have every reason to be objective." The Caneel Bay tennis complex has 11 courts and is overseen by its resident tennis pro, Patrick Alle.
While summer rates at Caneel start at $375 a night, you don’t have to stay there to play there. The resort offers complimentary round robins Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. when locals as well as guests are invited to pair up and march up.
Here’s what TennisResortsOnline.com has to say about Caneel: http://tennisresortsonline.com/trofiles/CaneelBay.cfm
Some early buyers of Sirenusa and Grande Bay units are trying to get out – before the first owners have moved in.
A listing of real estate offerings from John McCann and Associates shows six condos at Grande Bay for sale. None appear to be from the developer. Prices begin at $629,000 for a 1-bedroom, 1-bath unit and go up to $1 million for a two-bedroom, two bath apartment.
Sirenusa’s a different story. There are 17 units on the market, 13 of which are listed by Enighed Condominiums LLC, the builder. The other four units have different owners. The least expensive Sirenusa condo is $1.39 million. It’s got two bedrooms. The high end is a 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath units offered at $1.85 million.
Members of the House of Representatives opted to get out of the capital’s cloudy weather and make a Congressional delegation trip to the Virgin Islands, Honduras, and Mexico. Washington, DC’s Examiner said nine Democrats and two Republicans stayed at Caneel Bay while on island.
The office of Rep. Bennie Thompson said he wanted to tour toured the Caribbean to "examine border security and port security". He is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. An aide to Thompson told the newspaper he and his wife paid the "government rate". But the reservations department at Caneel told the Examiner the resort "doesn’t offer government rates." Three other Members also brought their spouses, the newspaper said.
Their timing was good. The average temperature on Easter Sunday in the DC area was 51 degrees. On St. John, it was 81.
The New York Times says fractional home ownership is "a warm spot in a cooling (real estate) market." Using the Ritz-Carlton company as an example of companies shifting their business plans, The Times points out that "if they cannot make it one year, they may exchange their time for stays at one of Ritz’s three other fractional properties in places like Jupiter, Fla., or the Virgin Islands."
Neither of the St. John’s two big developments, Grande Bay and Sirenusa, are being offered as timeshares or fractionals. There are dozens of timeshares available at the Westin.
