An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
* Houses: 104 (up from 101 on 4/17)
* Commercial: 26 (down from 27 on 4/17)
* Condos: 52 (up from 50 on 4/17)
* Land lots: 249 (unchanged from 4/17)
Source: Multiple Listing Service
Gym in Paradise
has been repriced down to $140,000. A listing here about 18 months ago
had the Marketplace-location listed at more than $300,000.
Polli’s, Cap’s Place, Larry’s Landing, and Captain’s Corner have installed a total of about 40 video lottery terminals on St. John. More are possible, ac cording to the V.I. Lottery Commission
which says only a third of the allowable machines have been installed
on the island and St. Thomas. The Commission said the government
received almost $3 million in license fees for the terminals.
There’s no "under new management" banner hanging from the roof, but
everyone knows that Tage has undergone some changes. The new chef is
Chris Frangiadis, who’s reportedly been sitting around waiting for the new restaurant at Mongoose to open (when, already???). Chris’ style is "French in technique, global in scope," according to a report on USVI-Online.
There’s an all-new menu, and an all new staff because the folks who
were there a few weeks ago when the previous chef left couldn’t go a
couple of weeks without pay. So they moved on, and new folks have
moved in. One visitor says that "We have eaten at Tage twice since it
reopened, and I must say the food is really good."
The first annual Marine Show on St. John is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th at the Marketplace from 9am to 2pm. The free show will include boats, educational presentations and demonstrations. "Boats and engines of various shapes and sizes will be on display and for sale, sponsored by Bradford Aircraft & Marine Accessories, Gary’s Marine Service, Maritime Yacht Sales, and Offshore Marine, a spokeswoman for the show said. Bob Wilkensen of B&C Boat Building will also demonstrate techniques he uses to construct water craft.
"A THANK YOU Letter to Commissioner Plaskett,
"Thank you very much for listening to St. John’s concerns about the
proposed 9-Story building in Pastory and the violations incurred by the
Sirenusa project. We support and encourage DPNR enforcement of our
laws and regulations.
"Sincerely,
"Doug White, Island Green Builders Association (IGBA); Lorelei
Monsanto, Unity Group; Sharon Coldren, Coral Bay Community Council,
Inc.; Kristen E. Cox, Guy Benjamin Elementary School; Rob Crane, St.
John Community Foundation; Gregory Edwards, concerned Pastory resident;
Alan Smith, and Catherine Stephen, concerned Pastory resident.
"For additional information contact Sharon Coldren at 693-5590 or
513-4298 or Doug White at 690-0217, or any of the above people.
St. John Source reported … "After a furor began growing over plans
to construct a 63-unit condominium project at Pastory on St. John,
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett said
Wednesday that his department will deny Reef Management Co. a building
permit." Full story
Here’s the report from the Virgin islands Daily News.
"Permits Denied" — That’s the word from the Inquiring Iguana … whose sources often are good.
Honestly, though, we’ll have to wait for some official confirmation. But … word is that both Sirenusa’s extra stories and buildings, and the 9-story Pastory condo, have been vetoed by the DPNR/CZM/whatever powers that be.
The Iguana hears this from a source in Coral Bay … which is dealing with its own development hassles.
The Iguana was also told that there was a meeting of the Island Green Builder’s Association Tuesday night – at which some visitors from St. Thomas were going to be advised some folks on St. J. have had enough "progress" of the monster-construction kind.
"Now, the Green Builders Assoc. is going to go after Grande Bay," Iguana is told. "They are thinking of a lawsuit."
Delegate Donna M. Christensen said VI Postal authorities have about three weeks to make a decision where to build a new post office on St. John. After meeting with Service officials, she told the St. John Source that both the Vendors Plaza, to be built in downtown Cruz Bay, or Guinea Grove, across south shore road from the Westin, "have problems." She warned, "the (government) money may not be there if the (postal) team cannot make a definite presentation by the beginning of May".
Christensen commented after meeting on St. Croix with Postal Service representatives. "I took the opportunity to address constituent issues that have been repeatedly brought to my attention such as delayed mail, the holding and opening of packages by the Customs Bureau, and the late arrival of periodicals like Time and Newsweek," she told the Source.
The Westin Resort received approval to conduct dredging operations around the hotel’s dock as well as to convert seven building to timeshares, expand the pool deck, build a guardhouse and modify the kitchen at the pool bar, according to the St. John Source. The St. John Coastal Zone Management Committee unanimously approved the hotel’s requests.
The dredging is necessary, the hotel said, because ferries using the dock have filled in the area. CZM required the resort to complete certification of acceptable water quality, which reportedly has already been done. The CZM action now goes to the VI Senate and then the Governor for final authorizations.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is co-sponsoring Earth Day 2006 activities beginning with an Environmental Fair, Friday April 21st from 9:00am-2:00pm at the National Park Ball Field in Cruz Bay. There will be recycling demonstrations, science exhibits, fun eco-activities, kids games, environmental story time, and a petting zoo. Kids will also get to participate in a simulated archaeological dig, take part in a gardening workshop, and learn about coral reefs and safe fishing techniques. Friday’s Earth Day Fair will be followed by beach and trail cleanups on Saturday.
