Buffett in STT

what does "no air service" even mean?

Not enough flights...sorry

Not enough flights...sorry

oh, no problem.. I was just scratching my head 'cause I know there's an airport here.. Flights would increase as draw did it seems also...

I guess its a chicken and egg situation?

jostvandog, I was thinking the same thing. STX needs some love for sure.

Not a fan of timeshares but it will be nice to have the location active as well as looking beautiful and well maintained, once more.

Hold on there Alana....
A few months back you were all gun-ho on this development project. And blasted me with both barrels when I voiced my opposition. I still think there is alot of very shady nonesense behind granting the permits. As more details come out the shadier it appears. A few very rich people stand the chance of getting even richer with this deal. The rest of us loose--big time. Our VI government has once again pimped out our natural resourses to line it's own pockets. EDC befentis for an undisclosed investment bank co-owner. Extermerely invasive costal development permits granted to "undisclosed" entities. This is not a renovation project at all. It's a new mega resort. I am begining to wonder if it's not shell game to avoid paying state side corportate taxes. CAn STT even absorb this type of development? Howmany more "rooms can the island's infrastructure support?

Hey Blu4, nice to imagine your voice, again.
Actually, I believe we were discussing Pineapple Villages, at the time.
I am glad the presently derelict resort will reopen, the area beautified, revitalized and brought back but I was hoping for a hotel resort instead of those darned timeshares. Look how well the development in Cruz Bay fared.(not) Sorry I have forgotten it's name but it's the monstrosity across from the beach on way to up Gallows Pt. from town. Then there's Sirenusa, over there as well.

I think revitalizing the old Renaissance is much better than permitting an entirely new resort/timeshare development in another pristine area.
It just gives us back the same amount of rooms we already had.

Alana, If the scope were true a "re-hab"/"revitlaization"/"remodel" than I might feel differently....maybe....

But the actual scope is hugmongous: new dock and water sports complex, new pool complex and pool, new common buildings, complete landscape/hard scape redesign (moving tons of sand, dirt and requiring alot of water (run-off) to maintain) new mechanical plant, the list goes on.... This is a completely new mega-complex NOT a "remodel of an existing resort. At least that what the plans call for. (look at what Ritz did to Black beards) Who can predict what will actually be built. I'm all for sprucing-up our existing facilities and even supporting infrastructure improvements for energy conversation and asthetic appeal. But I just don't like to see another section of shore line destroyed for no reason. (other than giving away EDC benefits to an "undisclosed investor" and pay days for some off-island muckitee mucks and their pet public officials.

The property could be put to much better use. More "park-type' beaches (aka lindquist, megans) are what we need now. We have enough "rooms". When visitor want to go to the beach, they jump on ferry to STJ. Heck, I go often to the beaches on STJ myself and I can't stand STJ/cruz bay/stupid STJ BS... Water bay is ideally located as an altrnative 'day beach' for cruisers and condo guests and local families. I would have supported a plan that "revamped" the resort and with day use facilities for a fee like public parking, picnic tables, toilets, life guard, light security, even a snack bar. If the area were cleaned up, cut back, delapidated structures removed, it would be very pretty.

It is, what it is, Blu4.

I, personally, liked Sapphire much better when the salt pond was there where they built the marina and I much prefered the small intimate cottage type bungalos they had instead of all the 3 story monstrosities they built on the beach, the hillside and surrounding the area.
I remember when there was actually lots of live coral and fish all over there since that's where I learned to swim before I was a year old. They had a bar & restaurant, hot dog stand for the kids, a trampoline and volley ball court and it was great. I never go there anymore.
However, they own it and can now do what they wish with it, with our government's blessings.

I personally liked Cruz Bay and Gallow's Pt. the way it was when I was groing up and spending summers in STJ.

I don't like all the changes either but since it is already there and has been falling into decay for years now, may as well use it rather than starting from scratch on a pristine beach, elsewhere.

The time to object to the developments, is before they are built and applying for the permits. Yes, I, too, wonder how many pockects will get lined with this endeavor as we all know our polictians and other government agency officials always seem to have their hand out. That's pretty much a given.

ya see, that's where we differ. i don't believe our (collective) past needs to dictate our future. Just becasue once upon a time there was a shore line resort (renisaance et al) on water bay, doesn't mean we need to build a new replacement. The VI govenment could have brokered a tax deal for donation of the land. I was one of the few who stood against this project from the get go. The develpers did a nice PR job talking up how the project would improve the economy and "clean up" water bay. Alot of folks bought into the sham and were too short sighted and blinded by the promiss of more condo to rent and sell and (short term) rentals to the construction companies. This project does nothing to bring in longterm "carreer" employmnet for Virgin Islanders.

As side note, I don't know why the VI govement allows commerical property owners (like the renissance or Mandahl bay) to allow their waterfront properties to fall into un-mantained shambles. Prepetual standards of upkeep should be written into the premits. I believe that the goverment should insist upon an acceptable level of up keep, maintence and security. If a commerical property owner fails to prevent thier holding from becoming a health and safety hazard, then the government should be able to assess a fine/tax levy to keep the property up to standard or auction off the property. One of the reasons the reinssance project passed was that the nieghbors were sick of living next a impromtu all night dance hall - open air crack house -dog fighting arena and year round malaria breeding ground. To me this was simply black mail to gain support for issuing permits. This is tactic used by VI land holders all the time. Oh boo hoo. if you won't let me develop without restriction, then I'll just let the drug addicts and moscitos take over the place.

I don't think it's too late. There are plenty of other full opperational resorts which could use Mr. Jimmy Buffet's support.

I, personally, liked Sapphire much better when the salt pond was there where they built the marina...

When did they build the marina? I've been there once in 2006 but don't remember the marina in the late 80s...

I know the marina was there in the 70's as in 1977-78, I captained one of the fleet of Pearson 26's daysail boats out of the Marina for John Hamber Watersports which was then owned by Gary Deering. We took guests, mostly cruiseship passengers/hotel guests for a sail across Pillsbury Sound to Honeymoon Beach and back for 1/2 day trips, twice a day. The entrance could be a bear to sail out of depending on the wind and none of the boats had engines so it was always interesting. I worked with a great group of guys. People were not used to a very young female captain in those days and would always ask as I am tacking out of the entrance, "Where's the captain?"

I also ran daysail trips out of the old Pineapple Beach. It was a great place back then. They had a couple of 36 and 42 ft. daysail boats, a sportfishing operations run by Nelson, a beach concession that rented snorkel gear, sunfish, etc. It had a nice bar and restaurant. I still see some of the waitstaff that worked there at the time. My favorites were Yvonne and Simon. Yvonne is now a taxi driver and Simon is still the best bartender, ever.

Very hard growing up here and looking back on all the changes that constantly take place. Red Hook was very quiet back in those days as well, Not much in the way of anything except Mama's Dohm's ferry concession where you could get snacks and wait for the 25 cent ferry with your unmuzzled and unleashed dog. We always spent our summers in Cruz Bay where my family would rent cozy cottages right across from the beach or 1 of the old Gallow's Pt. cottages on the point before they built the new condos. It was a lovely time and I am glad to have so many great memories. Things have changed drastically.

That's the way of "progress", I guess.
Sorry for rambling on but the question brought back so many memories. Thanks for asking it.

Just like the Eagles song The Last Resort says...... "Call someplace paradise...kiss it goodbye"

Or Joanie Mitchell's "Pave Paradise and put up a parking lot!"