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Is the community noted below the one by St. C condos? If so, I was under the impression that these buildings were sold some time ago to a private developer.
Bernie
V.I. Housing Authority seeking permission to demolish units
BY JOY BLACKBURN (DAILY NEWS STAFF)
Published: July 21, 2011
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ST. CROIX - The V.I. Housing Authority is seeking permission to demolish the vacant Nicasio Nico housing community on St. Croix, along with three long-vacant buildings at the Kirwan Terrace housing community on St. Thomas.
On Wednesday, Kimberly Wize, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official who acts as a one-person board for the authority, approved the authority's request to submit the two applications for demolition to HUD.
Applications for demolition must show that rehabilitating a property to make it habitable is not economically viable.
Wize, who is based in Indianapolis and was presiding over her first board meeting, joined the meeting by telephone and apologized for not being in the Virgin Islands in person.
Nicasio Nico housing community, in La Grande Princesse, has been vacant for about five years. Residents were relocated to other housing communities on the island.
After several hurricanes, the buildings have damaged roofing membranes, deterioration of metal building connectors and interior finishes, and have fallen into disrepair, officials said.
The application will seek HUD's approval to demolish all five Nicasio Nico buildings - which contain 60 units - and the community center.
Getting rid of the abandoned buildings will "allow us to remove the property as a blight in the neighborhood," said V.I. Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Graham.
Demolishing the existing structures will also clear the way for redevelopment, Graham said.
While the authority has a Nicasio Nico redevelopment plan, it does not have funding to rebuild, Graham said.
It also has not yet identified the funding to do the demolition, a project that is estimated to cost almost $900,000, he said.
Posted : July 26, 2011 3:05 pm
Yes it is, and I hope that it is NOT sold to any private developer. It should be redeveloped for affordable local housing.
Posted : July 26, 2011 4:20 pm
Hey Cruz.
Maybe you can fund the project.*-)
Posted : July 27, 2011 1:20 pm
I hope it is sold to a developer so something nice can be build there.
Posted : July 27, 2011 2:43 pm
Terry, what do you wish would be built there, supposing there was funding... what do you think would be the best thing?
Posted : July 27, 2011 4:44 pm
personally I would love to see affordable homes built there similar to the Castle Burke community which is located across from the UVI campus.
There is no reason why the entire shoreline, from Judith's Fancy to Golden Rock, should belong to private interests. That's ridiculous.
Posted : July 27, 2011 10:00 pm
Topic starter
I think the biggest issue with subsidized housing is that it inevitably turns into a petri dish for crime, and the housing authority and police force seem incapable of preventing that from happening. That's what scares everyone so much.
If there were a way to keep the bad guys from ruining opportunities for others to have a safe and clean place to live, I don't think there would be much opposition to the building of such developments.
Bernie
Posted : July 28, 2011 3:20 am
There is no reason why the entire shoreline, from Judith's Fancy to Golden Rock, should belong to private interests. That's ridiculous.
Hmm, the government should own it? How do you feel about individual rights and private property?
Posted : July 28, 2011 11:37 am
Either private homes or condos. Something where ownership usually means people will take care of their place.
Posted : July 28, 2011 1:27 pm
Hey Cruz
What do you mean "Affordable Homes" would that be home ownership or rental property. What experience do you have to make such a statement. Would that be a HUD property/VI Housing Authority?
Posted : July 28, 2011 1:48 pm
I think the biggest issue with subsidized housing is that it inevitably turns into a petri dish for crime, and the housing authority and police force seem incapable of preventing that from happening. That's what scares everyone so much.
If there were a way to keep the bad guys from ruining opportunities for others to have a safe and clean place to live, I don't think there would be much opposition to the building of such developments.
Bernie
*-) There are criminals and bad guys, everywhere especially in those condos, like the people who are on the run from the mainland. A bounty hunter can make a great living in the Virgin Islands.
Posted : July 28, 2011 5:02 pm
There is no reason why the entire shoreline, from Judith's Fancy to Golden Rock, should belong to private interests. That's ridiculous.
Hmm, the government should own it? How do you feel about individual rights and private property?
The Virgin Islands have an open shores law, however it doesn't allow individuals to cross private property in order to access the beach. In my opinion, there should be easements to allow individuals access to the beach. There are no private beaches in the Virgin Islands and there should be none.
This is a whole other topic in itself.
Posted : July 28, 2011 5:06 pm
Hey Cruz
What do you mean "Affordable Homes" would that be home ownership or rental property. What experience do you have to make such a statement. Would that be a HUD property/VI Housing Authority?
I fully support HOME OWNERSHIP.
Posted : July 28, 2011 5:08 pm
There is a commercial on TV right now promoting affordable 1st time home buyers (ownership) on St. John. Ch 2 on STT. CBS.
That sounds like a good idea for development/housing in that area.
Posted : July 28, 2011 5:42 pm
