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In case you're interested, as a result of bill # 26-0033, 30% of the 200 acres of real property on Water Island is being studied to ........assumably to use the land for housing. Below is the web site where interested folks can track the progress.
Posted : October 30, 2006 7:47 pm
Celestino White has been on the radio touting Water Island for affordable housing.
Posted : October 30, 2006 11:45 pm
Topic starter
The whole idea of "affordable housing" on Water Island is .....well......'interesting' to me. Water Island is the least developed of all the islands. We barely have electricity and phone service. Roads are not maintained at all - haven't been for years. Cisterns only (no water resources from WAPA - which is a blessing and, at times, a curse.) There's no fire protection service. Building and living costs are astronomical - much more so than the other 3 islands. No commercial enterprises that would sustain normal everyday living like fuel, groceries, etc. We've had a "temporary" dock since Hurricane Marilyn. We don't have any dinghy space to speak of and no designated car park space on STT . Well, you can see the islander input on the web site.
No misunderstanding here: I'm not opposed to affordable housing. I just think the VI Govt should focus on the basic infrastructure for the EXISTING population before they start touting "affordable housing" for lower income families on Water Island.
Posted : October 31, 2006 11:17 am
I trust it's just Celestino's way of saying he is looking out for his people. There is no way affordabe housing would be affordable over there as the added burden of transportation to the island alone would automatically make it burdensome. Just some political grandstanding.
RL
Posted : October 31, 2006 11:22 am
Ah, but everyone needs to have access to what you are trying to keep all to yourself... ( with irony intended.)
Posted : October 31, 2006 11:24 am
Hey, I think we should open Heidi's for everyone! (same irony intended as EE's)...
btw, how is the new regularly operated rest./bar?
Posted : October 31, 2006 12:57 pm
Topic starter
Hee hee. Water Island offers a wonderful quality of life and I welcome everyone to join our community - our eccentricities and challenges are unique and facinating (smile). Heidi's is an excellent restaurant - even more amazing since its not traditional 'brick & mortar'. Pirate's Ridge is a fun bar, deli, pizza joint (and sometimes has bar-b-q on Wednesdays). Pirates' Ridge is also convenience store and internet WiFi but you do pay for all that convenience - and it is quite expensive especially if that's the only grocery store you depend upon. Since we lost our dear Larry Donoghue who used to provide us with a reliable method of re-filling gas cans, we are still struggling with the process of getting fuel (gasoline & propane). (Transporting flamable materials on the WI Ferry is prohibited for obvious safety resons.)
Please oh please don't misinterpret my comments as whining or complaining! I am not. Just providing my perspective on the challenges that WI residents encounter that may be somewhat different from life on other USVI islands.
Posted : October 31, 2006 1:45 pm
Is Larry Donoghue the gent who used to run the ferry?
Posted : October 31, 2006 3:05 pm
Topic starter
Some years ago, I understand Larry did work a stint as Captain on the WI Ferry. But, more recently and up until his unexpected passing, he filled our souls with happiness and made our lives easier by working as our mail carrier and Fuel Man and Heidi's Grill Man.
Posted : October 31, 2006 3:24 pm
Oh no, is he the gentleman with a gravelly voice?
When did he pass?
Posted : October 31, 2006 3:44 pm
Topic starter
Ah. The "gentleman with a gravelly voice" is Claus. Claus is no longer working as Captain of WI Ferry but when we left (I'm a "winter" resident), Claus was still living on his sailboat 'on the hook' in Crown Bay. Larry's obit notice (with his picture) can be found http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=Community:Deaths&p=1105685255
Posted : October 31, 2006 4:16 pm
Topic starter
www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=Community:Deaths&p=1105685255
Hmmm.....try this again. The first URL I posted didn't work.
Posted : October 31, 2006 4:19 pm
Senator White grandstands a lot, always has done and always will! When he first thought up this piece of brilliance it was ludicrous from the get-go and remains so for obvious reasons. "Affordable housing" cannot be "affordable" for those he's allegedly looking out for, for obvious reasons (lack of infrastructure.) I can't see anything like that happening for donkey's years (if ever) so I think we can all rest assured that Water Island will be Water Island as we know it for many years to come.
Posted : October 31, 2006 6:12 pm
Topic starter
Ah! STT Resident, hope this means you're feeling better.
Posted : October 31, 2006 6:53 pm
