fbpx

Real Estate update: Grande Bay unit offered

05238_1Didn’t take long for someone with a contract on a unit at Grande Bay, the 48-unit condominium project overlooking Cruz Bay, to list it for sale for $1.1 million in the wake of the Governor’s decision limiting expansion of the as-yet unfinished project.  The two-bedroom, two-bath unit features a private penthouse entrance and a hot tub.  Its main asset could be the contract, given the Governor’s veto of rezoning that halted plans by developers to add 14 more units, on which contracts had reportedly been written.  Meanwhile, there is still no action in Chocloate Hole where the long-delayed Pond Bay Club project is planned.

The number of residential properties for sale stands at 80, unchanged from last week. Three houses were added to the Multiple Listing Service last week, suggesting three other properties came off.  Among the new residences are a 5-bedroom house at Chocolate Hole, priced at $2.4 million, and the 3-bedroom Casa Nita at Coral Bay, priced at $1.345 million. land offerings climbed to 195 and the condo list added 4 to 25.

Grande Bay rezoning rejected

Logo_2

Governor Charles Turnbull has vetoed the Grande Bay developer’s request to build an additional 14 condominiums and a restaurant.


The St. John Source reported rezoning of the parcels from Waterfront-Pleasure to Residential: Medium density was rejected because, the Governor said, there has been a "ground swell of opposition on St. John."  The rezoning, he added, would  pressure the island’s infrastructure, increase noise in the residential neighborhood, worsen the island’s parking problems, and have "unpleasant and unhealthy impacts," the Source said. Developers said they had pre-sold the 14 extra units, suggesting they will have, at the least, some unhappy customers who may have made deposits.

Real estate update

Inventory is leaping higher.  The Multiple Listing Service now has 80 residences for sale, 5 more than last week.  That’s a record, so far as I can tell. Additions include a 2-bedroom in Enighed for $1.495 million and a 3-bedroom cottage on Gifft Hill, priced at $600,000.

Land listings total 192, up 1 from last week.  Condo offerings are steady at 21.

CoconutcoastCommercial listingts are down 1, to 13. Coconut Coast Studios, a group of studio and multi-bedroom apartments, was on the list for $3.8 million, two weeks ago. 

It’s off the list now.

Winter Friends activities

The Friends of the V.I. National Park have released their schedule of seminars, workshops and activities for the winter. 

The annual series begins in January and runs through April.  Kristen Maize, the program manager, said therm are several new activities this year, including exploration of the waters off St. Thomas aboard the Atlantis submarine.  Others include  a Turtle Adventure Sail to Buck Island (Jan. 14), a tour of ruins at Susannaberg with historian David Knight, and a historical tour of Caneel Bay on its 50th anniversary, led by Chuck Pishko.  Here’s the schedule, published by the St. John Source

Cruz Bay park renovations delayed

Heavy rain during the fall has delayed renovation of the Franklin A. Powell Park in Cruz Bay, the park at the ferry dock. 
While work is completed, the park will have fence around its perimeter and be closed to the public.  Plans include installing historic-style benches, better lighting, repairs to a drainage system to prevent flooding, and new landscaping, according to Ira Wade, the deputy director of the Dept. of Public Works.  He also said curbs will be removed "to bring the entire park up to one level.  When we are finished, everyone will have a direct view of the bandstand."

VI attorney scoffs at ferry fence

An assistant attorney general for the Virgin Islands Dept. of Justice and the president of St. John Rescue, says the security fence at the Cruz Bay ferry dock is useless.  The VI Port Authority should stop paying to police it, he urged. 

In a paper prepared for a course on Homeland Security, Martin J. Alperen wrote, "The 85 degree Caribbean water is less than two feet deep … one only has to walk through the water … and climb back on the pier."  He continued, "Security Guards … do not do anything but sometimes open  and close the gate.  The guards do not search anyone or anything.  They do not look in bags, boxes or containers.  They do, however, enforce the ferry boats regulations against eating on board."

"Spending government money on The Fence is useless because criminals and terrorists will utilize one of the unlimited numbers of NOT Inspected (car barges, for instance) or illegitimate entry posts," he continued. Alperen said he sent his paper to various government authorities but has received no replies.

  Full text of Alperen’s argument against The Fence

Real estate update 11/29/05

For the first week in three, there’s no change in the number of properties listed on  the Multiple Listing Service.  It has 75 residences for sale, same number last week.  And while that may seem like a lot – it is the highest I’ve ever seen – it’s not hugely different from roughly this time last year, when there were about 68 homes on the market.  We’ll keep watching.

Logo_2DPNR approval of zoning for Grande Bay, and a lawsuit from neighbors, have renewed interest in that development.  Grande Bay’s developers have begun to build a Web site at http://198.104.190.117/. So far it is woefully inadequate in updating contracted-buyers and the public know what’s going on. For instance, this posting.  The site has empty pages, like this on vacation rental information. It does say, "Opening Summer 2006". Give the Web site time, it’ll get better. I’m sure the units will
be beautiful … if and when.

The MLS is also showing 191 lots for sale (up from 189 last week,) 21 condos (from 19), and 14 commercial properties.

Results of Thanksgiving Regatta

Courtesy of the St. John Sun-Times

Race1Sunday, Nov. 27 — The weekend race started Friday as a brooding calm, not ideal yachting conditions. But by 10:30, when the race began, the wind cooperated by freshening, sending some decent rollers towards the start line at the mouth of the inner harbor.

Race2Nothing could have been more beautiful than a half dozen gaff-rigged sailboats jockeying for position in the sparkling morning light. Class after class of boats, the majority being manned by single- handed sailors, crossed the start line to head into the wind to the byte mark and back.

Race3 Saturday was even more brooding than Friday with actual squalls in  the harbor. But once again, the Thanksgiving weekend weather  cooperated turning into a sparkling crystal clear day with a nice  breeze, The awards ceremony was a blast as usual.. The raffle a huge success. Congratulations to another fabulous year of racers and racing, and thanks to the Coral Bay Yacht Club for hosting this event!

Here are the results of the gaff-rigged and single handed race on Friday.

Read moreResults of Thanksgiving Regatta

TV love from Chesney on ABC

Kennychesney_bigThe Washington Post’s TV Tip for Wednesday night … ‘ Kenny Chesney: Somewhere in the Sun. The briefly married country singer returns to the Caribbean island where he eloped with Renee Zellweger, to show his more relaxed side."  Show Notes.

This show really was "past tense" for Kenny, though.  Just a week or so ago, he released a new album which has nary a mention of the VI’s or St. John, and certainly no promos for the Quiet Mon.  "The Road and the Radio" finds Kenny in a Mexico-state of mind ("Beer in Mexico," "Tequila Loves Me") and at least three songs concentrating on the word "freedom" as in, "no wife."

The TV show will give St John a promotional push (even though the island wasn’t named and his favorite bar, Woody’s, was pictured but unidentified)…  it sounds to me like Kenny has moved on south of the border.