July 3rd of this year is the 175th celebration of USVI’s Emancipation Day, history. It was a week long commemoration to honor the heritage of the Virgin Islands and celebrate the hard-won freedom of its people. Events included a parade, concerts, a freedom walk, panel discussions and more. We are excited to see a nationally published publication like Essence.com write wonderful article about the commemoration events.
St. Croix Source also has an article about the events starting with July 3, 2023 in the Fort to Fort Freedom walk, a Libation and Calling the Names of the Ancestors Ceremony, and with music and fireworks after dark. In between, there were music, art shows, Quadrille dancing and a Quelbe tramp, just to name a few highlights.
One of St. Croix’s newest tours offers a glimpse into the Golden Age of Piracy! St. Croix Sailing Adventure Tours with Stanford Joines, author of The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. is a private tour experience that allows guests to relive the incredible pirate history of St. Croix in Salt River Bay.
Joines has been sailing Caribbean waters and diving pirate shipwrecks for over thirty years. He taught sailing to children on St. Croix during this time, racing in regattas with them throughout the Northern Caribbean. A retired teacher, Joines spent eight years researching St. Croix’s history and learned that pi-racy was a large part of the island’s past. This fascination with piracy in the Caribbean led him to pen his book, The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. This untold story of the Caribbean and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy explores piracy on St. Croix from 1493 to 1750. While seven flags are known to have flown over St. Croix during this time, it is said that pirates, conquistadors, freebooters, buccaneers, and the like ruled the Caribbean and called St. Croix home. Under this eighth flag, they would steal at sea without regard for ‘permission,’ paying no attention to whatever country had ownership. Joines’s company, Eight Flag Charters, has commandeered a vessel that sails with the tide for two-hour adventure tours seven days a week. Aboard Folly, guests get to sail in the wake of Blackbeard, Bellamy, and Black Caesar on the beautiful waters of Salt River Bay found on St. Croix’s north shore. On this customizable private tour, you can omit or include the pirate history, try your hand at sailing or enjoy a relaxing sail out of the bay and into the Caribbean Sea. You can also opt for an intimate sunset cruise with the sound of wind and waves as the soundtrack for your excursion. Water and soft drinks are provided, but guests are free to bring their favorite libations along for the adventure.
Tours are $75 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under, with a $250 minimum to set sail. Book your tour on their website or email stan@stanfordjoines.com to arrange for your private adventure. For more information, visit www.stanfordjoines.org/tours or call 340. 332.2472.
Find the monthly insight and sales data for the St. Croix, USVI real estate market! We have downloadable June Coldwell Banker real estate reports — available below for each category: All Properties, Condos, Single Family Homes, and Land! The sales data will be help you understand the number of listings sold, days on market, the median price listed and sold, and much more.
If you are not familiar with with the implications of the data, please give us a call or email us directly with any questions. We are Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) and have the experience and local knowledge to help you in every step of the process. We can help you narrow down neighborhoods based on your priorities. We can also advise you on the market trends in your desired neighborhoods.
Question: “What are the different zoning codes I will see on a listing?”
Chris’ Answer:
When you are buying land to build your island home, it is important to know if you can use the land as planned. The most common zones you will see:
R-1 – residential, low density, set backs – 15 feet all sides R-2 – residential low density (1 – 2 family dwellings), set backs – 15 feet front, 10 feet rear and sides
These are all of the zones:
A-1 Agricultural District A-2 Agricultural District R-1 Residence—Low Density R-2 Residence—Low Density R-3 Residence—Medium Density R-4 Residence—Medium Density R-5 Residence—High Density B-1 Business—Central Business District B-2 Business—Secondary B-3 Business—Scattered B-4 Business—Residential Areas C Commercial I-1 Industry—Heavy I-2 Industry—Light W-1 Waterfront—Pleasure W-2 Waterfront—Commercial—Industrial P Public S Special
Contact us with any questions about home buying on St. Croix. We have worked with many Buyers on and off the island to purchase their dream home on St. Croix. We can help you with every step of the process.
Question: “What are zoning codes and what do the different codes mean?”
Christie’s Answer:
We get this question a lot from buyers and sellers! Zoning codes are a set of rules that regulate what can and can’t be done on a particular piece of property. There are four different types of land use zoning:
Functional zoning – residential, commercial, waterfront, administrative, industrial, and green space.
Intensity zoning – high density, average density, low density, no development.
Incentive zoning – rewards for development in defined areas.
Form based zoning – focuses on physical characteristics, defined as a form of urban identity.
Contact us with any questions about home buying on St. Croix. We have worked with many Buyers on and off the island to purchase their dream home on St. Croix. We can help you with every step of the process.
