Frederiksted

Hello Tah.

I've never understood the negative attitudes about Fredriksted. My husband, son and I spent a month on St. Croix and the only area we liked on the island was Fredriksted! It is indeed funky but unlike Harlem it is VERY quite. I don't think it's a "bad area" at all, just poor (i.e. public housing projects nearby) and because it's poor it's neglected. We've walked the deserted beaches, driven every little road, wandered through town and the housing projects, and though we are white we've never felt unsafe in Fredriksted. Employment might be difficult to find because the town's "reputation" has discouraged tourism and thus investment. If we were going to live on STX we'd definitely live in Fredriksted.

tah-

i think you may come to frederiksted and enjoy it from the way it sounds you want to live life down here. i've lived on st croix for 4 years, and have been in frederiksted from day 1. i wouldn't change it for the world either!!! i love this town, and am so happy we chose to stay on the west side of the island. you're right, it is a little funky. dead is a way to describe how quiet it is, but there are plenty of things to do on this side. now as for the 'bad area' part, you'll find it throughout the island. you can't just lable one area of stx as a bad area. the 'bad areas' are scattered throughout the island.

for employment, just get down here. the more people you meet, the more likely it is you'll find a job. restaurants are always looking for good help, whether it's cooking, serving, or bartending. things down here go by who you know.

the water on this side of the island is flat calm about 90% of the time. it's pretty rare to find such calm water anywhere else. any other part of the island has waves breaking onshore, unless it's one of the lucky days for them. plus, frederiksted is the ONLY place to see some of the world's BEST sunsets. like those of us who live in frederiksted say, west is best!

(now don't all of you c'sted folks go slandering me. i like it over there too, but i wouldn't live on that side of the island. just personal preferance.)

Umm...If F'sted is so great... why don't more ppl live there? Ive been to STX and from what i heard through the locals, real estate agents and a friend of mine who has lived on STX for 20 years now said that the crise ships don't come into STX anymore. Therefore buisness can't make any money off of the tourists. Everyone shops in Christansted and even the shops are having of bit of trouble now. The only feasable place a big ship can come in is the West End of the island because of the deep waters. Would be good for buisness if the cruise ships to came in to Christansted now but that would mean big money that the island doesnt have to dredge the bottom of the ocean so thay can come in. It would also destroy the reef that is nessesary to break the ocean waves that can flood the coastline. I also have been checking out the soil in different parts of the island because I would like to build a home and certain areas on the west end have very soft soil. Cheap homes for sale around that area that have been on the market for 3 or more years due to the fact of a sinking home. Negative attitudes...not here...just a sad fact that Frederiksted is a ghost town and people have a had a hard time surviving there. Why live there when you always have to drive across the island to do your buisness in Christansted? Doesn't sound convienent especially if you don't have transportation, like most of the locals. I suggest a PMV and see for yourself.

aimee-

i hate to disappoint you, but you're wrong when you say cruise ships don't come into stx anymore. this season they started to return. next year we're supposed to be getting some more.

and about the dredging... they're considering doing it on the west end too. there has been alot of sand built up under the pier, so they want to dredge some of it out so that there is enough clearance for the largest cruise ships made. now i personally don't want to see the dredging happen, but that's not my call. if stx is going to be gun-hoe about becoming an eco-tourist island, i don't think we can afford to dredge the west end. it would just shoot the entire eco-tourist idea down the drain. (by ruining some of the reefs as you mentioned it would do in c'sted).

the housing market has sky-rocketed over the past couple years. it is now difficult to find a house on the island. sure there are some that have been on the market for awhile, but that's usually because the owners have the price jacked through the roof. i don't know what you're considering as 'cheap'.

if you want to describe f'sted as a ghost town, be my guest. i'll take my ghost town over c'sted any day! and drive across the island to do my business? i think not! i do all of my business in f'sted. i also own a business in f'sted and am surviving just fine. the waterfront revitalization project is on it's way and moving along at a steady pace. after it's finished, f'sted should become a little more busy.

but as for your opinion, it's appreciated. it just goes to show that there are a million different opinions and that it's not likely two people will agree on everything.

Hi Andrea, I'm not sure if you are the person that called me last week about my condo for rent or not, thur terry. If so, get back ahold of me, we may have an opening & might be able to help you if you are still looking.

yes I am back...

the west end of St Croix has the best beaches, the best surf (or lack of) and the best sunsets. It also has the most personality and the rain forest and many historical sites. It has had some down times and the potential dependence on the cruise industry is not healthy.

If I could live anywhere in the world without fear of "break..ins" or harassment I would live on the beach in the West end.

Unfortunatly the police have not controlled the criminal element on the west end. this has caused many people to look elsewhere.

Things are changing, the proposed development on the west end is good. From my point of view it should NOT be tied to the development of the cruise industry. It should instead be a destination resort type place that fits in with it's surroundings.

Bu-Bah,

I am not the person who contacted you last week about your condo for rent but it is kind of you to make your potential opening known and I hope whomever did contact you responds.

I'm not trying to "ruffle anyones feathers" or change any opinions. I agree about the best beaches, sunsets and the Jazz Festival on the West end but I would rather feel safe where I live. Maybe I wasn't specific in what I saw in the TOWN of F'sted. Was in STX for one week last June and went to F'sted a couple of times in the morning and mid-afternoon on two different days. I saw nothing spectacular. Meaning...no people, cars, open shops or places to eat. Historical site closed and saw a bazillion for sale/lease signs on the main drag. One whole block was for sale. Saw a few meandering locals and some kids swimming at the pier and that was it. The most action was the construction going on at the pier. Also tried to go to Sandy Point but closed due to Turtle season (obviously not the towns fault). I agree that certain parts of the West End can be a good place to live, just not near town. Like I have said, you need to go there yourself to make your own opinion. People have different living standards, mine is higher than described above.

That's what I get for relying on my memory! THX for the reply to let me know, I either need more Cruzan Rum or less, probably more...

Who might I contact about sales/leases in Fredriksted???Lora

Lora-- Any realtor on the island. Some deal with all of the islands and they have offices both C'sted and F'sted but most of them work out of the office in Christansted. For starters you can also check these sites. Re/Max St. Croix... www.tryavirgin.com (interesting name for a site) and for John McCarthy at Re/Max...www.getmaxhomevalue.com. Farchette and Hanely Real estate...www.buystcroix.com. Coldwell Banker Land-de Wilde Realty...www.coldwellbankervi.com. Could keep going but to many to list. You will find that they will share most of the same listings w/ a few exceptions, of course.

Lora,
I suggest you contact Alexandra Marshall with Baxter Realty.
Just went through her for a condo, and was very happy.

Hi All 🙂

Ralph and I just bought a house in Enfield Green (an estate in Fredriksted). We love the western end of the island and really didn't consider anything on the east end at all... So, by the end of June we will be residents of St. Croix!

We went through Chuck Ulrich (Buyer's Agent) with Baxter Realty. He was FABULOUS to work with. He showed us anything we wanted to see, regardless of his perception of whether or not it was a good neighborhood for us to be in - he let US make the decision. We were very impressed and pleased with the work Chuck did. We were able to find a home and finalize a contract all in the same week too! Chuck's web page is
http://www.st-croix.net/realestate/buyersagent.html

Susan

stxer-

When you say criminal element, what do you mean? Is there violent crime, or is it limited to crimes of poverty, i.e. burglary, auto theft, pick-pocketers? You mentiononed harassment--do you mean panhandlers and people asking you to buy stuff, or are you talking about something more menacing?

My frame of reference is New York City, where a bad neighborhood means you hear the occasional gunshot at night, and in a good neighborhood you only hear car alarms. I can handle having my wallet or my TV stolen, but I'm not too keen on having a gun or knife pointed in my direction. From spending some time in smaller cities and towns, I know that the quieter, emptier places can be a lot more dangerous than a New York street, where there's always somebody on the sidewalk or looking out their window at you.

I will be arriving in stx shortly, and will have the opportunity to scout out F'sted myself, but it's always nice to get an insider's view.

Thanks for you help and comments,
Ty H.

This thread proves the importance of a premove visit. Some folks love C-sted. Some folks love the Eastend (east of C-sted). Some folks love F-sted. Some folks even love the center of the island. Linda & I decided on our premove visit that we really preferred living in the northshore area. We visit the other parts of the island regularly. We shop in F-sted (although when the Cost U Less closes we may have to rethink that and go to the new one in Sunny Isle). We frequent the restaurants on the northshore and F-sted. We work in the eastend. We snorkel all over the island. All parts of the island have something to offer. If you use common sense, the crime situation is about the same in all parts of the island (That's gonna start some flames). I'm just glad to be here because it never snows.

Ric

Hi Aimee,Wow Lots of juicy info,that will give me somethin' to work on,Thanks A Lot!!!!!!Lora

Terry thanks for another lead.It takes SO many before one actually pans out.All help is greatly appreciated......Lora

We went to F'sted last weekend. Walked several blocks, went into several opened shops. It was fine, just on a little smaller scale than C'sted. The storekeepers were all very nice, especially the guy who was giving us samples of all the different Cruzan rum products : )
I agree the West beaches are great. The first beach we visited was Dorsch (spelling??) beach and it was so nice!
We also love going to the Sunset Grill. I forget which beach is right in front of it, but oh, you really have to go eat there and watch the sun setting. I have a spectacular photo of a palm tree silhouetted in the setting sun...taken right from the table!

It's true, there are junky areas allll over the island. It's so important to do the PMV. I wish we had been given the opportunity, but such is life. We are learning as we go.

Brandy

Hey Folks....

I'm all set now and depart ATL on June 1 for STX. I'm really stoked and can't wait to see what the island is all about, but wanted to get in on the topic here. Anybody seen this?

http://www.frederikstedtoday.com

Looks like there's some good stuff going on around F-sted, so I was wondering why I see people "knocking it before they try it". I, for one, look forward to exploring as much of this place as I can, and will base my decision on what I find out firsthand, rather than what I see on this board. People are different, so I'll opt to judge for myself, while respecting everyone else's opinions. You know what they say about those, right?

Stumbled upon a great house-sitting situation near Northshore, so I'll be equidistance (roughly) between both towns, so I plan on checking out what each might have to offer in the way of Jobs and housing, although I'll have to say... diving is going to be a big factor, so I'd like to be close to some good shore dive locations.

Anyway, that's me. Talk to you all later!

I would encourage everyone who is now living here or who plans to move here to make the effort to visit Frederiksted and the surrounding area. Not only are there some great places to eat, beautiful beaches, but very friendly people. I would also like to mention that on May 28 10-6 I am holding a grand opening at my store, Tropical Girl, located at Prince Passage, Strand Street, on the waterfront. I will be giving away a $50 gift certificate. I carry some very unique clothes, perfect island attire, and I would like to meet some of the people who visit this board. Hope to see you on the 28th in beautiful Frederiksted!

Steve,
Thanks for the website on the development. Went through it. Will be checking very regularly

Remember to come back and give your impressions on F'sted. I will be interested to hear you comments.

Having just spent three weeks in STX, I would have to agree with F'stead being the 'black hole' of the island. Yes, just like on the mainland, crime knows no boundaries, but F'stead seems to be a magnate for it. The police crime blotter every day in the STX newspaper lists one major crime after another in that area. My wife and I drove through it a few times, but never stopped, much less parked the car and got out to walk around. The first time we drove through F'stead we both, without either prompting the other, locked our car doors as we stopped at a stop sign. It is a scarry place, and seeing that we (my wife and I) live in Chicago, that is saying a LOT. F'stead seems to have been a nice place at one time, but the town we say was dilapidated, run down, dirty, unkempt. Needless to say, the few times we went through F'staed on our way to Changes in Latitude or Sandy Point, I had the speedometer reading 40-50 MPH in order to get out of there.

mds-

it just goes to show that people are not at all interested in learning the island. yes, f'sted is not as upkept as c'sted. but times are changing. it's just sad to think that you have that stateside mentality that because it looks run-down that you won't try new things. this is an island. it is not the states.

for the minute that you stayed in f'sted and enjoyed changes in l'attitiude, i hope you enjoyed it. but apparently you did not change your "l'attitude." the people are extremely friendly.

now to state that f'sted "seems to be a magnate (magnet)" and that "the police crime blotter every day in the STX newspaper lists one major crime after another in that area" proves that you have no clue what you're saying. it is not every day that there is one major crime after another occuring in f'sted, much less the island of stx. crime is, although unfortunate, a part of life. and there is no part of the island that is free of it. i repeat, there is NO PART OF THE ISLAND that is free of it!

for you to have "the speedometer reading 40-50 MPH in order to get out"... ouch. that hurts. you should be ashamed. it's people like you who cause accidents due to your wrecklessness. our speed limits are 20-25 mph. it's a shame that you had to commit a crime yourself in america's paradise.

Good points, ag. After reading MDS' post, I got a little curious, so I went and had a look at the police blotters myself, which are online at http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com . Just scroll down and put "blotter" into the search box, and you'll see them all. Pretty apparent that crime is everywhere, on every island... not just isolated to one place, so for MDS to say they felt they had to lock their car doors when approaching a stop sign in F'sted sounds... well, a little paranoid. Did you actually get out of the car at any point, or were the street just filled with knife wielding maniacs? Seriously... I'm interested. I also got a chuckle with the. "It is a scarry place, and seeing that we (my wife and I) live in Chicago, that is saying a LOT." bit. Chi-town's lovely, but then again I'm from Atlanta, and we're #3 on the list of most dangerous cities to live.

Anyway, that's their opinion. They're entitled, just as Aimee is entitled to hers... the one she formed a year ago on her 1 week pmv. I, for one, look forward to checking F'sted out, meeting some of the folks there, and doing some diving on the pier. I'd also encourage people to have a look at the site I mentioned in a previous post on this thread, about the revitalization project. They update the photos all the time, and there are some from yesterday up now.

Another interesting anecdote on crime is the recent incident I read about on STT and STJ about the local marshals kidnapping (literally) people off the streets to fill the jury pools. Just flat out stopped them, asked for ID, then loaded them in a van! That and the fact that in that newspaper above, there appears to be an entire section of it dedicated to Deadly Force. These could be good cases to argue it's not just the citizens that are criminals.