Colony Cove Condos

I have never stepped inside a Colony Cove Condo unit. Over the past 10 to fifteen years there have been reports of problems related to management, maintainance, neighborhood, sewage overflow and resale prices. However, I have been told that things are looking better at Colony Cove. It is located oceanfront, with georgeous views, but still suffers from problems with the nearby "government housing" and the inability of the USVI government to fix sewage outfall on the beach.

I think there are other, better, places for a full time resident to live. Please, anyone with a first hand knowlwdge, respond to this question and my comments.

stxer

If you are interested in another option staying at a East End location within a beautiful one bedroom villa near beaches, restaurants, and the main town on the Island email me stxdd@hotmail.com.

When we were looking to buy this past year, we looked at Colony Cove. The beach and the grounds were nice, but the neighboehood wasn't. Plus all of the units that were for sale at that time were in pretty bad condition. That's not to say that all of them are, as they are indvidually owned. We went up to ST C. But they are only big one bedroom units.
We have also stayed at Questa Verde, Very nice neighborhood, but no beach.

Colony Cove is looking up, due largely in part to the demands and financial commitment of the owners. There has been a lot of renovation done in the past year with more scheduled for 2006. The units are individually owned, so the condition varies. Most of the units available for lease have all the warmth and character of a budget motel. If you are lucky, you will get a unit that has been set up by an owner who understands the value in refurbishing their condo to conditions they would personally prefer to live in.

This is a popular short-term rental complex during the winter months. There are more long-term tenants during the summer. Quite a few contractors get housed there for 6 months or more at a time, which would give you the chance to make some friends who are in the same situation you are.

If your company is willing to consider other options, I have units available at St. C's and Schooner Bay that have a more residential feel rather than a hotel atmosphere.

Shelly,

Linda and I live in CC. We bought in June and moved here from Kansas City in August. We bought here primarily because of the value to cost ratio, proximity to the ocean, and our current life situation. Since we arrived, we have met the manager, maintenance supervisor,and several board members. The annual owner's meeting was almost two weeks ago, and we learned a bit more about the history of the complex as well as the financial health of the association. We passed an aggressive maintenance plan for the next few years to do necessary and important structural work to the buildings.

The maintenance crew here works very hard to keep up with the demands of managing a tropical environment. They're doing a great job. The grounds are beautifully kept. Tully, the manager, keeps the group moving and focused; Kevin, the maintenance supervisor, is always available and has been very helpful for many of the little jobs we've been working on around our apartment. The maintenance crew works hard and are very friendly. We see them everyday and have been very happy with them.

We've had no problems in our neighborhood except for an occasional group of kids coming in to swim in the pool. CC has banded together with Mill Harbor, Sugar Beach, and Club St. Croix to insure a security team makes rounds on the beaches and inside the condo properties, and they do a consistent job to keep an eye on things.

The sewage thing is still funky, but the water gets tested more regularly now and we've had no problem since we've been here. The reef is a few hundred yards off the beach and pretty cool. There are good snorkel sites close by, but the ocean floor is pretty grassy in areas, due mostly, I think to the sewage thing again. I don't know what the answer to that problem is, but our association voted to donate money to an environmental group who is trying to figure it out. Still, I've stood on the edge of the beach and seen good sized rays swim by in less than knee high water.

CC is pretty convieniently located a great grocery store, downtown, and the north shore. We've met some really great people and in general have been very happy here. If you would like us to take some pictures and send them to you let me know. I'll be happy to answer more questions for you.

Mike

Nice to hear from someone who actually lives there.

Not only do Mike and Linda live at Colony Cove, but they've redone their unit so it is amazing. When you walk into most of the units that have been in the short-term rental program for a long time, they feel like a sterile hotel room. When you walk into their condo, it's a night and day difference. There's nothing like putting some colors on the walls and adding some touches to make a place feel like home.

I'm glad Mike spoke up. He and Linda really seem to enjoy living at Colony Cove full time. It's a lifestyle that works better for some people than for others, so spend some time there and see how you like it.

Hi, This is the other half- Linda. I love that ALL the condos are close to the pool and the ocean. At St. C and Schooner Bay we would have been far from the pool, and neither had ocean access. Since we moved in there has been no problem with the water quality in the ocean out front. It is tested every week by environmentalists and a report published in the newspaper. Even with the recent heavy rains the water passed their tests.
About 100 yards out is a beautiful reef for snorkeling - we have access to kayaks to use from the condo down the beach. The pool is clean and quiet and most times we have it to ourselves. There are always available lounge chairs on the beach.
Although this will sound too good to be true, in the months we have lived here the 'workers' have climbed a coconut tree and matcheted open a coconut for us to try; have knocked down fresh avocados from the tree for us; and even power-washed the crud off a huge conch shell we found when we were out snorkeling! We know all the staff by name, and they could not be any nicer to make us feel at home here. For me it is like living in a vacation home - but the vacation never ends!

Thanks so much for the information. It's really helped me decide that I want to look around a bit more.
I appreciate it alot!!