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I'm sharing the following for those interested in the future of Gallows Bay and Christiansted...
Gallows Bay Port Consulting Study Complete. Town Hall Meeting June 25 To Seek Community Input.
As many Gallows Bay and Christiansted area residents and business owners know, VisitStCroix.com has been staying in close contact with CDR Maguire http://www.cdrmaguire.com, the consulting firm retained by the Virgin Islands Port Authority to determine the future of the Gallows Bay Port and Terminal.
For several years now, Gallows Bay residents have been concerned about the early morning noise and the cratered roadway in front of the Gallows Bay Terminal, And, starting back last fall, residents and business owners have been concerned about the large volume of all forms of highly flammable & combustible fuel being transported and stored within 100-200 yards of our residences, offices and shops.
It is critical that as many Gallows Bay and Christiansted area business owners and residents as possible attend the Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, June 25 from 6pm-7pm. The meeting will be held in the terminal building the entrance of which is located to the right of the freight yard where passengers go to board the Roseway in season.
While an immediate concern is the fuel situation,interested parties should not only assertively and professionally express their concerns on that situation, but moreover on the overall planning alternatives that will be presented by the consultants. If the proper elements of the consulting firm's plans can be approved and implemented, there will be not only great benefit for Gallows Bay and Christiansted but all of St. Croix as well.
Please click below to view a copy of the official town hall meeting notice.
It is our understanding that several Port Authority senior staff members will be present as well as several senior CDR/Maguire consultants and engineers.
It is our further understanding that the consulting report will contain the following:
- A recommendation that the facility continue to be utilized for the transport of "small" freight subject to certain limitations on noise and operating hours. This is an apparent preference by the business community.
- A strong recommendation to move all fuel transportation activities to the South Shore Industrial Area. Their is strong support for this from residents and businesses.
-A recommendation to accommodate small cruise ships by either constructing a new passenger terminal over by the old Marine barracks area or through a modernization of the existing terminal building with a total separation from freight operations
-A recommendation for accommodations for small to large pleasure craft.
- Recommendations to repair and keep the roadway in front of the facility repaired and to make it more attractive.
VisitStCroix.com believes that implementation of the above will be good for tourism, commerce and property values.
Accordingly, if you are on island or can be on island, please make very effort to attend.
Sincerely,
VisitStCroix.com
Official Meeting notice here: http://files.ctctcdn.com/257601567e/8292bea1-4054-4102-a3f7-1c6ea3179c52.pdf
Posted : June 15, 2015 9:55 pm
Topic starter
Happening tonight....
Posted : June 25, 2015 5:24 pm
Topic starter
The meeting started out well and it was interesting to see the three concepts the planner laid out.
However, as could be expected, the meeting quickly devolved into a hot mess of differing opinions and competing views.
Two things became clear very quickly:
1) There is no money earmarked for any of this redevelopment, which will cost 10's of millions of dollars that the GVI doesn't have;
2) The only thing residents really care about is eliminating the imminent danger of the petroleum products moving through the port/neighborhood everyday, the noise and the damage to the roads.
In summary, I don't think anything will be happening at the Gallows Bay port in my lifetime.
Was anyone else on the board there? Share your thoughts...
Posted : June 26, 2015 11:43 am
all meetings seem to end up in a hot mess from what i hear.
it would have been nice to have had the gallows bay area rebooted into an upscale area with shops , restaurants, marina etc....and a boardwalk to go all the way to downtown.
but you are right about the money. i heard on the radio that the government is not going to help fund the casino project either.
Posted : June 26, 2015 11:58 am
The last thing you want is a Casino.
They need to stop playing games and prioritize.
Number one issue should be squaring away the Hovensa issue. That solves your fuel transportation issue and brings back millions in tax revenue to do the redevelopments STX wants and needs.
*Thank you vicanuck for the post though.
I would have liked to have made that meeting.
Posted : June 26, 2015 12:13 pm
But the government isn't interested in 'bringing Hovensa back'.
Mapp has made that clear with his posturing, and the senate pissed
away the only opportunity that they had, even if it was 50/50.
Now we have 100% of nothing. The people got what they wanted.
I recall all the talk at the time - that we don't need Hovensa and we
(Virgin Islanders) will hang tough and tighten our belts.
How's that working out for you now, folks?
Posted : June 26, 2015 12:20 pm
i agree with the casino issue-the only ones playing are the locals who ( from what i see ) can ill afford to be playing. they need to focus on how to get people from off island to come here and spend money. now if we could build that disney land......
there are some its not a problem though.
Posted : June 26, 2015 12:36 pm
(tu) to CI
Posted : June 26, 2015 12:47 pm
(tu) to CI also!
Posted : June 26, 2015 12:54 pm
My kudos go to vicanuck for mentioning the meeting and then putting thought into action by actually attending. So often there's a lot of energy expended in forum huffing and puffing while many of the huffers and puffers make no effort to physically and productively participate. The excuses are always the same; "I didn't know there was a meeting" and, "Makes no difference if I go or I don't". Apathy guarantees status quo.
Posted : June 26, 2015 1:11 pm
Topic starter
Thanks for your nice comments!
I was surprised by how many people actually turned out. I saw several that I knew. Lots of real estate agents, lawyers, local business owners/operators and area residents.
It was nice to see but few could agree on anything except removing the petroleum shipments and fixing the road. The native Crucians wanted no development at all.
Posted : June 26, 2015 4:16 pm
Daily News had scant to say in its article.
http://m.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/questions-abound-at-gallows-bay-meeting-1.1904051
Posted : June 26, 2015 10:57 pm
