The Antiquities Preservation and Historic Properties Act #29-0358

This is one of the most important pieces of legislation for the People of the Virgin Islands since transfer day!

This act ( if passed ) will slowly restore our sad dying towns into beautiful little cities that are thriving, safe communities with jobs for the people. If we restore our cities for all of us, then tourists will pour into our islands to see our authentic, historic, active culture.

Please lend your support to help our willing property owners restore their buildings and to stop others from "destroying by neglecting" our historic neighborhoods!!!

I'd like to see more specifics as to the other groups they're working with since they don't name any on their homepage. I heard someone on the radio a while back addressing this similar issue, but not sure if they're from this same group. I think it was April Newman (sp?), but there may have been someone else, too.

Is there more than one group with this same goal??? I'm concerned about dilution with possibly so many competing groups. How do other areas in the US with high property values handle abandoned properties? There's little incentive, I think, to fix up a property if you can't find a job so you can afford to live in the property or rent it to a tenant who can afford to pay the rent.

They are discussing Historic properties that have been left to deteriorate over decades that have become centers for crime, drugs, gang activity, gabage dumps and are now crumbling remains of what was once a thriving, picturesque, town community where there was lots to do in town at night and more importantly, safe to do so.

This provides incentives to owners no longer on island as well as those that are , and/or those whose families that have dispersed to other places to live and allows incentives and means to get help to restore properties or to to offer them for sale in the event it is more than they feel capable of taking on. There are different groups that have come together to support this. As it says on the webisite, thay are:

"A coalition of a wide range of community groups and interests -- civic organizations, churches and synagogues, neighborhood groups, trade associations, interested citizens, historic preservation groups – anyone who shares our goal of seeing these historic properties, and our heritage, preserved and restored."

If you are interested in learning more, ms411, just contact them thru the website for the information. I am sure that they would be happy to answer your questions.

I have heard St. Kitts has a similar situation and is restoring their deteriorated properties and attracting tourists in the process.
We are going to be left behind, once again, if something is not done to clean up our islands and restore our town centers that are so rich in history back to thriving communities they once were. It is certainly a better option than to continue to allow the decay and to have these historic buildings be breeding grounds for crime, violence and pestilence.

Anybody out there remember how much there used to be to do in town at night and how safe it was?
Well, it needs to be that way again.
Please support this legislation.

Thanks, Alana, but I shouldn't have to contact them and wait for a response just to get that information. They should just put it out there so I can make an informed decision.

Um, have you been to St Kitts lately? I don't care what they say, there's little evidence of cohesive rehabilitation for historic properties. I was there twice last year, and will be back again in Nov, and their historic properties near the port look no better than ours. They used to give a walking tour of the historical district, but it's not even offered any more, and I'm sure it's because there's little market for it.

I post regularly not only to this forum, but to cruisecritic.com and tripadvisor.com, and the number of questions regarding historical tours is tiny. Very tiny.

If the properties could be converted to nice guest houses or B&Bs to expand the affordable vacation properties options, I think that would be a great attraction/incentive. But to just restore them to make a pretty town area won't help anyone pay the bills unless they're part of a tour like Blackbeard's Castle or the Kura Hulanda Hotel in Curacao. Now those are GREAT renovated projects!

The nearest example of what restoration can do for a community is to look at Falmouth, Jamaica. The city has had a major rebirth this last decade from a run down slum to a thriving village with beautiful restored historic buildings and a booming tourists destination. You could also look at larger State side examples for rebirths of cities like Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, SC.; and Alexandria, Va...to name a few! These cities were mostly run down and dangerous until the local communities finally saw restoring their old historic buildings as a way to save the commnity and make a lot of jobs and money on tourism. These cities have made billions on tourist wanting to see their local culture and historic charm. We need THIS type of tourism...not the typical mass only wanting to spend $5 on each island they visit!

We will have a thriving, healthy, and beautiful comminity with our own culture...and beautiful beaches with clear water too!
We will have a unique tourist destination that will be the envy of the other Caribbean Islands!

Thanks, Alana, but I shouldn't have to contact them and wait for a response just to get that information. They should just put it out there so I can make an informed decision.

If you really want the information, you would make the effort. Or you can Call April Newland ((340) 774-8888)or Kerstin (pronounced Kastine) McConnell (

 

Sorry - hit the wrong button!

Kerstin's number is (340) 774-5277. I am sure they would be happy to provide you with lots of info. I don't understand why you wouldn't contact and wait for a response which is sure to come quickly as you surely must do that for any other inquiry you may make online.

I wasn't considering the revitalization as some part of a walking tour but as a restoration of town, itself with all the great shops, restaurants and fun places to go which can't be said of downtown STT, presently. I think it's sad that most locals avoid town, these days, unless they work there and when town shuts down completely at the end of the work day, the streets are empty except for a criminal element..

I think we can do better and we should do better.
If we want to to be an attractive, dynamic and safe - high end tourist destination, we MUST do better.
This bill will help.

I was refering to a WTJX special with Addie Ottley on St. Kitts when I spoke of revitalizing town.
I'll try to find the youtube link.

You shouldn't belittle this bill without making the effort to educate yourself about it.

I have given you the contact link http://www.preservevi.org/Contact.php as well as phone numbers so there really is nothing stopping you from getting the info you say you want.

Do you guys know that most of those laws already exist in the USVI?

Ronnie, I thought so, which is why I'm confused as to how this proposal differs.

I would love to see Falmouth. Let me check prices for Royal Caribbean cruise....

Do you guys know that most of those laws already exist in the USVI?

Those laws have no teeth and no funding source to enforce, nor deptpartment capable of enforcing and are are not being enforced.
To my understanding this comprehensive bill incorporates the laws in place and then some. Plus, hopefully, if passed, will allow for
funding for the enforcement and means for restorations. If you have serious qustions, ask the sponsors of this bill, directly
In addition to the link and the phone numbers, you can contact Senator Hill's office as well.

You mean the Senator who never asked the Historic Preservation Commission for input? You mean the Senator who approved putting in a beach at the legislature, doing renovations as well as almist chosing a new color without permits?

I totally agree that something needs to be done to help those not fortunate enough to restore their properties. There are casino tax monies alloted to St Thomas for a revolving fund for such a thing. We get 20% or $200,000 and St Croix gets the rest. We have not seen it as yet!

If they were just able to give enough money in their budget for one enforcement officer, it will be a great start. Unfortunately you have a volunteer commision chair and a secretary that must do this while sometimes being threatened by store owners when cited.

April Newland was on the radio today, and I think she made a distinction between this bill and previous bills. I may go to the hearing on Wed.

I went to the hearing today, and I was very impressed with the presentations I heard. The National Association of Realtors funded the property studies based on specific criteria, so it was very comprehensive. Other groups gave recommendations based on what had been tried elsewhere.

I hope the bill gets amended to include some of the proposals recommended today, and eventually gets passed. The deterioration of town needs to be reversed NOW, IMO, so we can have a unique setting that we can all be proud of.

It doesn't look like many senators are supporting it, though.

Hopefully someone will keep us posted.