Our client, who recently bought a condo with our help, shared some photos and information he received from the Schooner Bay Condominium Association. If you haven’t visited Christiansted recently, you will be interested to know that Christiansted is undergoing some major property restorations and renovations! Architect and developer Chris Pardo is in the process of completely renovating the historic King Christian Hotel and the VI Government is completing major work along the waterfront from the fort down to the King Christian. Approaching Gallows Bay, developer Peter Zelke is acquiring and continuing a meticulous restoration and renovation of four buildings along Hospital Street. Here are some photos showing how these projects are coming along.
Below is a view from Fort Christiansvaern toward the beautiful restored facing of the King Christian Hotel. Over the past two years the VI Government has also replaced the seawall and a beautiful walkway has been constructed between the harbor side of the fort and the King Christian. Re-seeding of the park grounds is currently underway.
This photo below features the Great House on the south side of Hospital Street approaching Gallows Bay. Note the unbelievable larger than life size mocko jumbie bronze sculptures. The understanding is that this building will be a high end B & B when complete.
Next is the building on the north side of Hospital Street on which restoration was started this past summer. Every brick is being removed, hand scraped, cleaned and re-mortared back into place by local masons.
This building at the corner of Lobster Street and Hospital Street was most recently (many years ago) a Thai Restaurant and previously home to the now defunct “Miss V’s” Hot Sauce. Exterior renovation appears complete but we do not know of the planned use.
Restoration underway to the Great House on the north side of Hospital Street just east of Savant Restaurant.
Question: “What are the different advantages of renting as long-term vs vacation rental?”
Chris’ Answer:
As a long-term rental you will have a steady income all year, and potentially a tenant you will know. Your costs are lower due to the tenant taking care of the cleaning and other expenses which would accompany vacation rentals.
With a vacation rental there is the possibility of a higher income. Our high season is roughly mid-December through mid-April. This is when you will be earning the most. May, June, July, and November can be good rental months, too. Between each guest the property will be professionally cleaned, and your manager will be able to take care of any issues. You will have more eyes on the property.
Question: “I am planning to move to St. Croix in a few years. Should I buy something I like now?”
Christie’s Answer:
Definitely! If you, like us, visited St. Croix and fell in love with the island and the people, you may be planning to move or retire here. Because every single property on the island is truly unique, if you see something you like, buy it!
If you purchase land, you can spend the time between the purchase and your move drawing up building plans and going through the permitting process. If it’s a home or condo, you can rent it either as a long-term rental, or as a vacation rental. This will give you an income, and the property will be occupied. If you plan on visiting the island a few times a year, renting it as a vacation rental allows you to visit and enjoy your property.
Agrifest 2023’s focus was locally made and homegrown products. Attendees at VI’s largest agricultural festival gathered on February 18-20, at the Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex in Estate Lower Love, St. Croix and experienced a good sampling of food, drinks, music, clothing, and crafts made right in the territory.
Agrifest 2023 featured Farmer of the Year award presentations, prize-winning animals, games and competitions. Entertainment will include quadrille dancing by the Heritage Dancers and performances by the Ay Ay Cultural Dancers, We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers, Guardians of Culture, Mocko Jumbies, and Ay Ay Masqueraders, VIO International, Rising Stars Youth Steel Pan Orchestra, the 73rd Army Band and others. This year’s festival also honored Willard John, a master moko jumbie.
One of our favorites is the Farmer’s Market Pavilion booths which provided a wide and abundant variety of plants, flowers, produce, honey, jams, and other goods.
St Croix Source has a number of videos with interviews, the 73rd Army Band performance, the Ay Ay Cultural Dancers, a walkthrough at the Livestock Pavilion and the Farmer’s Market, and much more. We recommend you to view them here and here.
There is much excitement and anticipation surrounded the prospects for development on St. Croix! Recently, local officials gathered at an industry forum on St. Thomas and addressed an audience of over 60 professionals including airport operators, terminal developers, contractors, architects and investment bankers. St. Croix will be a key factor in the wider territorial development strategy due to the large potential for growth that exists. The Chair of the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA), Willard John said “St. Croix is the future of development in the USVI”.
At the forum, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said “St. Croix airport has the most potential.” The revamped Henry Rohlsen airport has completed phase 1 renovation of the domestic passenger lounge and additional private-public funded projects to modernize the airport terminals and infrastructure will be next. There are 400 acres across the road that creates “opportunity galore”, for hotel and other tourism-related business as well as for cargo and other commercial operations according to speakers from VIPA.
In addition, the following expansion and redevelopment projects on island were highlighted by the Governor as “steady tourism development:
The sale and integration of King’s Alley Hotel and King Christian
The recently opened rebranded Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort and Casino
