This is amazing news! The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community development organization and it is transforming the Old Barracks Property on Hospital Street in Christiansted, St. Croix, into a hub for education, preservation, and cultural pride.
According to St Croix Source, VIAC has developed five-year, 10-year, and 15-year plans, which will begin with trade schools once the buildings are restored. Project Manager Xavier Acevedo, who is overseeing the execution of the project, described the first phase as stabilizing the building shell through plastering, replastering, and installing a historically accurate rebuild of what was once the Christiansted High School.
Historical preservation is also a priority for this project. VIAC has already begun community programming with the help to federal and private funding. Some of the VIAC’s current projects include the rehabilitation of the Barracks building, college internships and summer programs, and storytelling and placekeeping at the old Barracks property.
Two scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently visited St. Croix to study St. Croix’s coral reefs to guide protection efforts. According to the St Croix Source, the NOAA scientists who visited St. Croix from Miami included Ian Enochs, Ph.D., head of NOAA’s Coral Program at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), and oceanographer Nicole Besemer, the Caribbean Climate Operations Coordinator for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).
Enochs said, “NOAA recognizes the incredible economic and societal value of coral reefs, including the billions of dollars in tourism and fisheries they support for the U.S. economy, as well as the coastal and storm protection they provide to homes and communities,” he explained. “Our work is targeted at making sure that our American reef infrastructure is maintained for all that benefit from it.”
Enochs also said, ““St. Croix is home to beautiful coral reefs that support important fish populations and buffer the shore from wave energy, as well as provide amazing diving and snorkeling opportunities that bring in tourists and support local businesses,” and “Anyone walking through the towns can see the importance of diving and ocean tourism, and anyone that is lucky enough to actually see the reefs themselves underwater can view their beauty. Reefs are such a vital part of what makes St. Croix what it is.”
Vulnerabilities also exist in St Croix’s coral reefs. In some areas, there has been coral death from bleaching and disease. Besemer shared her observations, “My first time at the monitoring sites was in 2019, and we have now visited in 2022 and 2025,” Besemer said. “I have seen firsthand the difference and amount of coral that we have lost due to bleaching and coral disease in our photomosaics. It’s very important to track these changes and make sure managers, stakeholders and the general public are aware of the status of their reefs so informed decisions can be made to protect and restore them.”
There are typically three options when inheriting a home:
1. Move in:
If the property meets your needs and budget, moving in could be a meaningful and practical choice. Be sure to consider any outstanding mortgage, necessary repairs, or updates.
2. Sell the home:
Many heirs choose to sell, especially if the home doesn’t suit their lifestyle or if there are multiple inheritors. Before listing, you’ll want to handle any required repairs and clear out belongings. This can take time. Be sure to be gentle with yourself. Often selling a property brings up a lot of emotions.
3. Rent it out:
If you’re not ready to sell, but don’t plan to live there, renting can provide income while you figure things out. Just be prepared for landlord responsibilities, local rental laws, and potential property management needs.
For more information about what to do when you inherit a property visit our recent newsletter on the topic here.
Watch our YouTube video on What to Do When You Inherit a Island Home below.
We are excited to see this in the news! According to the VI Consortium, Senate Vice President Kenneth Gittens has formally requested assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the eroded shoreline at Fort Frederik Beach, one of Frederiksted’s most iconic coastal areas. His proposal seeks to combat ongoing environmental damage and to revive shoreline fishing opportunities that have long been part of local culture. Homeland Security protocols limits public access to port facilities after hours. Due to erosion and storm damage, Fort Frederik Beach is in need of help to bring it back as a recreational hub and a cultural landmark for St. Croix.
We think a restoration and revival project would be a great benefit to the greater community. Local residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the area.
According to the VI Consortium, a transformative telecommunications project promising faster, more reliable internet for schools, hospitals, emergency services, and the broader community is one step closer to reality, as lawmakers recently advanced legislation approving a major coastal zone permit for Trans Americas Fiber US, LLC to land a new submarine fiber optic cable on St. Croix.
The article also said the project also comes with advantages for the government, as the Division of Coastal Zone Management successfully negotiated free bandwidth service. Trans Americas Fiber US had said they are committed to “free bandwidth to the Government of the Virgin Islands.” Schools, hospitals, and emergency services now stand to benefit from “faster, more reliable internet access at no cost.”
Trans Americas Fiber will connect 2,000-km cable from Florida, boosting speeds for public institutions and saving $200K annually. USVI lawmakers voiced concerns on the environmental impact of the project and seeked written guarantees and oversight to prevent past environmental mistakes. The Trans Americas Fiber agreed to submit a water quality application and receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and stated that “the route was designed so it doesn’t interfere with any corals.” Read more about this project here.
In response to a 50% cut in government funding, My Brother’s Workshop has launched the “Double the Hope” campaign with a $25,000 matching pledge, aiming to sustain vital programs that serve at-risk youth across the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the VI Consortium, the campaign offers donors a chance to double the impact of their contributions thanks to a generous matching pledge from the Anasetti Family, who will match all donations up to $25,000 through August 30. Every dollar raised during this window will be matched, giving My Brother’s Workshop the opportunity to continue delivering holistic services to the youth it serves.
According to the St Croix Source, the organization currently serves 41 young people, both male and female, ages 16 to 24, by teaching valuable skills in construction, woodworking, agriculture, and culinary arts. The workshop focuses on building real-world experience that trainees can carry into the job market through the program’s job placement efforts.and has the capacity
The Vi Consortium said My Brother’s Workshop can reach more than 200 with sufficient funding and the organization’s model has proven economic and social benefits. According to federal data, programs like My Brother’s Workshop can save communities millions of dollars per participant by reducing rates of crime, poverty, and unemployment. Read the full Vi Consortium article here and the St Croix Source article here about the proven program.
If you are interested in donating to My Brother’s Workshop and help meet their $50,000 goal go to the organization’s page: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/705654/donate. The matching pledge (up to $25,000) runs through August 30.
