How many are leaving?

My Neighbors are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere. Most are retired and can afford to live here. I don't know where your 10 people are going and what type work they do, but if you can't pay your bills they should go.:$)

I met one at a bar the other night.

The BF knows one of the engineers at Hovensa is leaving.

One of my friend's BF is also leaving. So that makes three. They could be part of your ten, who knows. 🙂

I know more that are figuring out every way possible to stay. The ones I do do know who are leaving really DO NOT want to go.

Two families connected with Hovensa= 6...two single men...one contractor ,other.... just got hours cut .and two single women that live together going home to Texas = 10 Me and the neighbors are staying ,until the lead starts flyin:D

I would say that the average number of people I personally am acquainted with who leave here annually after having lived here for anywhere from 6 months to 10+ years is close to 100. After Hugo and Marilyn the numbers exploded but I would say the one hundred figure is a pretty fair and constant average.

Two families connected with Hovensa= 6...two single men...one contractor ,other.... just got hours cut .and two single women that live together going home to Texas = 10 Me and the neighbors are staying ,until the lead starts flyin:D

There will be no lead flying...we Crucians have weathered periods like this before. We used to have something called Martin Marietta, we had a visitor called Hugo, then we had a visit from his sister Marilyn. We lose lots and lots of youngsters each year after graduation.

We will survive Hovensa/Hess/PDVSA (too bad Krause Lagoon will not). My prediction is that the closure of Hovensa/Hess/PDVSA will make this a stronger community, and, quite possibly, a community that is less attractive to those who like to let lead fly.

Agreed with JahRustyFerrari on all points. 🙂

Two families connected with Hovensa= 6...two single men...one contractor ,other.... just got hours cut .and two single women that live together going home to Texas = 10 Me and the neighbors are staying ,until the lead starts flyin:D

There will be no lead flying...we Crucians have weathered periods like this before. We used to have something called Martin Marietta, we had a visitor called Hugo, then we had a visit from his sister Marilyn. We lose lots and lots of youngsters each year after graduation.

We will survive Hovensa/Hess/PDVSA (too bad Krause Lagoon will not). My prediction is that the closure of Hovensa/Hess/PDVSA will make this a stronger community, and, quite possibly, a community that is less attractive to those who like to let lead fly.

I'm with you--if we could survive Hugo we can survive anything!

i know a few that have wanted to leave even before the hovensa thing.

My wife & I made the decision last August to leave St Croix this coming May and go back to the states for reasons totally unrelated to Hovensa. Basically we cannot afford to live here when my wife retires this coming April plus we want to be closer to our kids/grandkids We lived the Caribbean dream for 6+ yrs and it's time to move back to Ohio, We still plan on vacationing here during the winter months though because it's a nice place to "vacation" in winter.

We had 3 friends of ours who left St Croix this past December and January, all of whom lived and worked here for quite a long time..

Jumbie -STX

Well said JahRustyFerrari!

JahrustyFerrari....(tu)(tu)

Unfortunately, We MUST look at the reality of our socio-economic of our present situation. I heard two of the Island's Real Estate "Moguls" on the radio. Selling Agents generally want to stabilize a slightly down turning market toward a Buyer's Market- often for their own profit.

Let's take a peek at some of the numbers- BEFORE the recent closure announcement.I would have to say that the "average" home value of $275k to $500k dependent on location. Houses which are situated on plots with great views or close to the water of course will range higher. Houses moved, but albeit not very quickly. Overpriced houses remain still on the market after two or three years.

The high end market for houses valued above say $800k have been sluggish to almost stalled for the last couple of years, and generally don't move well.

Condo's on the other hand were experiencing a bull run due to the finite amount of units, the availability of long term renters and a fairly good market- which saw about at 60-70% increase in value over a ten year period. In 2004 onward. Some of the more popular Condo's experienced a jump from 50k to 100k between 2003 and last year. This will evaporate quickly and correct themselves (I think) to about a level around $65k after 12-18 months.

After the closure announcement, I quickly went to the various MLS listings- and saw what I thought was a large upswing in Condo's for sale- especially Coakley Bay and St C. One "friend" bought his St C unit for about 80K in 2003/2004- and as recently as early 2011- was experiencing sale's prices of about $165k on the high end.

What worries me is this in order of magnitude of impact- first is the evaporation of nearly 500 long term renters between April and July. This will flood the market with vacant units. The second will be any increases in the Condo fee's. Add in WAPA and you have potential for further concern.

I think that the Condo and Rental property sectors will be hit the hardest, especially as people leave....

Numbers? Let's see- 2100 people work in that sector. 100 will be staying. An appreciable number (50%) will remain in company housing. That translates to 2050 families. I would further state that 40% to 50% will remain- so that's 1000 or so families who will vacate between May and August. Remember that the vast majority of our displaced neighbors will be paid through July- after that is when the economic shift will begin. Already, people are being more conservative in their spending- especially durable goods, furniture, clothing, and luxury items.

Let's see what happens over the next few months. Panic? CERTAINLY NOT! Leave the fear and rhetoric out of it. Those of us who are remaining need to shift all of our available resources into patronizing local business. We need to make our island home more viable for good tourism without sacrificing our commitment to keeping St Croix- St Croix.

We need new ideas. We need new solutions. We first need to deal with the cost of living here on our island- get the WAPA and Food Supply financials under control. WAPA will be the financial tipping point I believe- and will end up being Federalized by the end of the year- when many of us will have problems meeting our energy costs, and their resultant widespread loss of revenue; coupled with the true market price being paid for fuel. We need to tackle this NOW.

Let's see what happens over the next few months. Panic? CERTAINLY NOT! Leave the fear and rhetoric out of it. Those of us who are remaining need to shift all of our available resources into patronizing local business. We need to make our island home more viable for good tourism without sacrificing our commitment to keeping St Croix- St Croix.

We need new ideas. We need new solutions. We first need to deal with the cost of living here on our island- get the WAPA and Food Supply financials under control. WAPA will be the financial tipping point I believe- and will end up being Federalized by the end of the year- when many of us will have problems meeting our energy costs, and their resultant widespread loss of revenue; coupled with the true market price being paid for fuel. We need to tackle this NOW.

Very good and thoughtful post. Thank you - agreed! 🙂

We're gone....left island in November, after 17 years. Our leaving had nothing to do with Hovensa (obviously...it was before the announcement), nothing to do with crime, although we were starting to feel just a little more need to be cautious, or cost of living, directly.

We retired!! 🙂 We simply moved to a retirement community, with activities that were attractive to us. 17 years is, by far, the longest we have ever lived anywhere, so we feel very strongly that our time in the VI was a "success", wouldn't trade it for anything and looking forward to the next stage of our lives.

Best to you all,

Enjoy life Juanita! Good luck and happiness to you both!

Thanks, Tammy. So far, so good!!

Where is such a place that would entice a veteran of STX? What paradise?

We're gone....left island in November, after 17 years.

All the best, Juanita. Didn't you have rental properties here and did you hang onto them so you alway have an excuse to visit? Enjoy what I'm sure is a well-deserved retirement. Cheers!

yes juanita good luck on congrats on your new venture. looking forward to one myself but with the housing market here now not sure when...but hopefully in the near future.

Juanita, good luck and hope that you enjoy your new home and retirement. Our loss........be well

Linda J and I also left STX. As with Juanita, it had nothing to do with Hovensa. We were on the plane when the announcement was made. It had nothing to do with the cost of gasoline or groceries. And it had nothing to do with crime. It had everything to do with family obligations. We had been on STX for 8-1/2 years. My intention was to die there. Unfortunately, the family said they needed us back here. I can tell you after about a month here, I don't miss the bugs. I don't miss the bad roads. I will get used to the weather here. I DO miss the people and the attitude. Linda & I have decided we are introducing Crucian ways to Kentucky. So far we have scared the hell out of a lot of people. We speak to just about everyone and let cars out into traffic. It's fun to watch the exprressions on their faces. I miss STX greatly.

I have several good friends who've been here for years -- some of them 10+ or 20+ years -- who are moving due to the refinery closing. It sucks.

Our friends are all leaving too. Some not employed by Hovensa. 🙁

my family is part of the hovensa takedown, unfortunately. we are quite sad to go but do not regret having made the move out here. instead, we are appreciative to have had the time we did on this beautiful island with its beautiful people. i hope we will always have a relationship with the island (maybe we can afford a little condo here one day) and really do think this magical place will persevere.