Will Golden Resort at Great Pond Finally be Built?

I live up in the hills above Great Pond...would love to have a nice golf course and resort in the area.

Do you really have quicksand on STX?

Felon.

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2003/04/23/casino-developer-being-sued-his-mother

Thank chucky for giving away $20 million and the other 13 senators who voted for it. Unbelievable! But then birds of a feather/felons will flock together. Good luck stx.

Don't forget the governor who signed the scam into law to get Chucky re-elected. As long as Stx votes for John DeJongh's anointed gubernatorial candidate Donna, or Chucky and Sanes, STX will need more than luck

Do you really have quicksand on STX?

Yes. The area is a salt pond / marsh. I have heard stories about Cows being stuck and needing to be hauled out. It completely floods out every 10 years or so. It is a terrible location for a resort. A resort will fail at that location because what is the one thing that all tourists want when they stay in the Caribbean? A Beach. And Great Pond ain't got no beach....and you can't build one due to the Turtle Grass which is protected by the EPA.

The guy shows great character when his own mother has to sue him to get her money back. Our government seems enamoured of doing business with people with criminal histories and no background experience or history of building projects they get permits and our tax dollars for. Were this not the case, I would be all for such a project if it was not as large and as long as environmental and ecological impacts were limited.

I still can't imagine a $32.5 million conference center nor spending that much of our vi tax dollars to build one, when there are so many deserving areas that need money. The VI government could pay its wapa bill and we could have state of the art electricity producing plants, for one.

"Golden said the final piece of financing fell into place thanks to new legislation authorizing the V.I. Public Finance Authority to guarantee as much as $20 million of hotel developer's leases, for a period of up to 25 years."

But it would be okay if it were to be built on St. Thomas, right? Why can't St. Croix have anything nice once in a while. If Golden is savvy enough to come up with a funding mechanism to make it work, I say go for it. As I've said before, I live very near the site and would welcome this development and the increase in my property values it will bring.

It would've fostered the same reaction in me sunshinefun if it was being built in stt. Probably more so. I just hope your future views won't encompass a half built and derilect mega hotel.

That savvy funding is our money.

I also find the timing of this project and the sale of hovensa, coming so close to the elections, just a bit too coincidental.

I think alot of people will be eating mud come February! !

And Beeski, you're being a little to dramatic. I use the beach just east of there all the time!! I have not seen any quicksand or any other issues that you would not see anywhere else.

it may not be the best location, but i think that money may actually be available:
http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/lender-seeks-to-foreclose-on-golden-resorts-1.906867

that link shows that golden persuaded a hedge fund to commit close to $60m for the project, so now this new group's commitment of much more than that, may be real.

I think alot of people will be eating mud come February! !

And Beeski, you're being a little to dramatic. I use the beach just east of there all the time!! I have not seen any quicksand or any other issues that you would not see anywhere else.

The Great Pond is not like the beaches east of it (which are some of the most beautiful on island). The Great Pond is either:
a) dry, dusty, and being downwind the Golden Resort would feel like its in a dust storm
b) wet, stinky, and sticky enough for cows go get stuck in the muck
c) completely flooded up to the road (happens every 10 years or so).

There is a reason nothing was ever built in that area....it sucks for humans.

I completely disagree Beeski but that's okay as healthy discourse is positive. The property would make an excellent golf course and can be remediated for just about any type of land use. I don't get why you're so against it. If they build it, people will come.

I completely disagree Beeski but that's okay as healthy discourse is positive. The property would make an excellent golf course and can be remediated for just about any type of land use. I don't get why you're so against it. If they build it, people will come.

You can't remediate wetlands any more according to the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA. When you add in the migratory birds that use Great Pond and the turtle grass that feeds the Green turtles in the shallow waters.....This will be a slam dunk in court.

I think he has all the required permits in hand...but I could be wrong.

There are new rules and regulations in effect from both EPA and NOAA since the CZM permit was originally issued (by default) so many years ago. At the very least, they need to be forced to submit a new, comprehensive, environmental impact study.

"Golden said the final piece of financing fell into place thanks to new legislation authorizing the V.I. Public Finance Authority to guarantee as much as $20 million of hotel developer's leases, for a period of up to 25 years."

Additionally, the VI government pledged $32.5 million to build their conference center. That's a heck of a lot of money coming from our VI coffers especially considering our already overextended budgetary concerns and the considerable lack of basic services afforded us.

I noticed the name Wyndham was not associated with this project, anywhere in this announcement.

I have to ask, if the present hotels in St. Croix are at such a overflowing capacity that St. Croix would require a project of this immense scope and size.

A good hotel succeeds not because the government advertises for it, but because it advertises for itself. The poor performance of local hotels is partly based on their poor marketing.

Why is the Buccaneer doing so well and others are not?

Most people look for a vacation destination first, then choose a hotel or other type of lodging to at which to stay. They don't choose their lodging first, then look for the destination. Other islands do a better job of promoting their destinations and keeping their islands clean, safe and user friendly.

I hope they build this resort. I'd much rather have a nice golf resort there than that vacant lot. It will be convenient for the ABR refinery contractors to stay there while rebuilding the refinery.

You really think refinery workers and/or their contractors could afford expensive hotel fees, should this abomination ever be built? You're delusional. (Sorry!)

Plus there are a slew of rentals on STX, much closer to the refinery. Since the refinery closed there have been a glut of rentals.......

You really think refinery workers and/or their contractors could afford expensive hotel fees, should this abomination ever be built? You're delusional. (Sorry!)

Back in the Hovensa days, refinery contractors routinely stayed at resorts like Divi.

And calling it an abomination? You haven't even seen it yet. But I'm sure you would be fine with it if it were to be built on St. Thomas. I haven't heard you refer to Margaritaville as an abomination.

Alana why call it an abomination?

Golf, hotel, casino... I bet it'll look great and I'm sure many contractors would stay there.

I already said that if this mega project, proposed for and located in a wetlands location, with endangered species on site and in surrounding locations, was being planning to be built in STT, I would oppose it, wholeheartedly.

Does STX really need this mega hotel project because all other hotels, and vacation rentals, B&B's, etc., are so filled to overflowing capacity, year round? Tell me you're bursting at the seams and I'll admit you need another hotel, but maybe not in this location nor such a gigantic project headed by the present owner and CEO who admittedly has a shady past and problems getting financing without VI government aid (our money).

Margaritaville is a different situation entirely as they are rebuilding, in the same footprint, the resort that was already there, had been built many decades ago, had been abandoned for a decade or more, by last owners and was in a state of complete decay.
Plus, it is being funded by a known entity (Wyndham) with financial capability of its own,
a reliable and responsible reputation and facilities worldwide.

They are not getting or planning on raiding or being dependant on the VI coffers to the tune of $52Million or more for a grandiose project which is oversized and inappropriate for the setting and location and which Mr. Paul Golden has done.
Apples and oranges, Kokonut, apples and oranges.