St Croix Architect Recommendation

My recommendation would be to research carefully and talk to at least a half dozen before you start. I know of several, but very different, architects and builders on island. Each with their own areas of expertise, varied reputations, and design style. It kinda depends on you and what you want... how involved you want to be, your needs, your budget, and so many other factors. You will be spending quite a lot of time with you r choice while you are building... it will help a lot if you can communicate easily and comfortably with them.

Being on time, on budget, and delivering the quality ... those are very important factors to consider and there are a lot of factors that affect them. Highest price doesn't always mean highest quality or best project management. Quickest completion time definitely affects price.

Your priorities will definitely affect which of the builders/architect teams is for you. Drive around to construction sites and ask who the builder/architect were...check out the jobs and see how they are being managed... talk to any Realtor friends... find owners that have just completed the project. You'll get great first hand info that way. In a public forum like this...asking for... or providing specific names...is in my opinion dangerous. It is too easy for people to air their personal vendettas.... which may or may not be entirely justified... and which can be hurtful, slanderous, or just downright untrue. Hopefully people will PM you with names and recommendations and you can talk to them all and make your own choice based on that research.

Good luck to you. Building here is adventurous.

An architect is not really necessary. You can take your hand drawn sketches to one of the drafting services and they will put your ideas into drawings that you need to submit for your permits. I used Carlos reyes in Peter's Rest. The cost was @ $1.00 per ft. sq. for drawings plus all the site maps and such for the earth change and land clearing.
Limetime's advise about cruising to find and talk to builders is good advise. A lot of builders are contractors and don't actually do the work. If you find a builder on site that's a good sign.
You may consider being the general contractor yourself if you have the skills and can get good subs. You should definitely be here while the house is being built so you can try to maintain a schedule and budget or hire someone to manage or keep an eye on things for you.
When do you think you will begin and where are you building?

I would not recommend being your own general. Getting the "good subs" is the key, and unless you have been here and worked in the field for many years, it's tough to know who are the good subs. Also getting materials, and the subs to get the work done is harder for a owner / general. You are only doing one job. Material suppliers and subs are more likely , and rightly so, to get materials and schedule work for generals who have done business with them before and will continue to do business with them in the future.

Also many problems are left up to the general to figure out. I have a friend in AZ who is doing his own general on a new house. There is a problem on the plans / sewer system about the grade. The plans called for one height but the sewer line in much higher then they thought. He is going to have to either install a pump to transfer sewage up to the sewer line, have the toilet on the second floor, or not have a toilet in his garage / shop. He threatened to sue the Architect and the plumbing contractor. But on the plans, it said that all dimensions were the responsibility of the general. HIM.

hello
tropical builders is good, they show up on time and have some good workers. they do the job they say they will do. they do remodels and housing construction from the ground up. tom, the owner can also design a house, still after that it has to go to an architect for permitting purposes. any questions leave me a message on this board

@terry Hi Terry!  Crazy you mention your friend from AZ, we are looking at a house similar., if not the exact same.  Mind if we PM?