ST. CROIX REALTY

Messagefrom Amy… Hello dear friends,

I’ve got news! TheNational Oceanic andAtmospheric

Administration (NOAA) isawarding the USVI a$505,000 coral reefmanagement grant. Fundswill go to the Departmentof Planning and Resources.

In the last few years, the Territory has madetremendous strides toward reviving our coral reefs.This grant is such a boon to our efforts. AsDelegate Stacey Plaskett put it, the award willallow us to continue our work in preservation,protection, and conservation of the coral reefecosystems. Who knows? We could become aglobal model for restoration.

Anyone interested in Caribbean reef restorationcan check out the new Coral RestorationConsortium at www.reefresilience.org.

St. Croix has been consumed with archaeology.Archaeologists are busy excavating the NationalParks Service grounds at Fort Christian, and wehave another ongoing dig at Estate Bethlehem incenter island. (See our story on Dr. Steve Lenik andhis work there.) The estate started as a royal sugarplantation owned by the King of Denmark in 1734.Over time it operated as a family plantation, aDanish Central Factory and an American CentralFactory, finally closing in 1966. For centuries,sugar cane grew for as far as one could see. Thatrich, fertile land is rich in history, too.

The International Association for CaribbeanArchaeologists held its annual conference at theDivi Carina Bay Resort, July 23-29, and hundredsof professional and amateur archaeologistsattended as did folks who were just plaininterested. Friends of St. Croix’s National Parksvolunteered, helping out in whatever way theycould.

Speaking of which, did you know that the NPShosts fascinating lectures on the second Thursdayof every month? (www.stxparkfriends.org)

Never a dull moment on St. Croix...not even inthe quiet of summertime.

AmyAmy Land-de Wilde, Broker/Owner

This newsletter written by Anne Salafia annesalafia@gmail.com

CLICKHERECLICKHERE

l coldwellbankervi.com

l info@coldwellbankervi.com

l stcroixforrent.com

l Gallows Bay Marketplace 340.778.7000

l Frederiksted 340.642.3333

Amy Land-de Wilde

St.Croix Real Estatereviews

St.Croix Real EstatereviewsFeaturing Real Estate Market Updates

and Local News of St. Croix, USVI

AUGUST 2017

Government officials put on hard hats and picked uptheir shovels on July 6th. So did contractor JohnWessel. In ceremonial fashion, with press and islanders

snapping photos, the group broke ground on the new PaulE. Joseph Stadium in Frederiksted.

The Lew Muckle Elementary School Steel Orchestrastruck up a tune, and the ceremony continued under thetent as dignitaries voiced optimism for St. Croix’s future.They cast back to the glory days of the old ball field; theypaid tribute to Virgin Islanders who played there beforemoving on to professional baseball leagues.

Governor Kenneth Mapp considers the project a big stepin the economic revitalization of Frederiksted. Sports, Parksand Recreation Commissioner Pedro Cruz sees “sportstourism” in the picture.

Known as Phase II of the Frederiksted RevitalizationProject, the project encompasses not only the ball fieldand stadium but an entire sports complex and permanentCrucian Christmas Festival Village. Plans include thesecondary Terrence Martin Softball Field, two soccer fields,refurbished tennis and basketball courts, renovations toKing and Prince Streets, and an extension of the beach.

The new stadium has been on and off the drawing boardsince 2002. With these final revisions, the project will cost$27 million, according to Governor Mapp. Twenty milliondollars have already been set aside for the task.

BREAKING GROUNDon new

Paul E. Joseph Stadium

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 2

Archaeologist Steve LenikSpeaks at NPS Lecture

Katie Gill(left) andThomasBaker siftexcavatedsoil to collectartifactsassociatedwith thelaborerhouses atEstateBethlehem.(photo by Dr.Steve Lenik)

On July 13th, the Friendsof St. Croix’s NationalParks packed the house

at the Danish West India &Guinea Company Warehouse inChristiansted. “The goal of the National Park

Service is to Preserve, Educateand Enjoy” said the organiza-tion’s President, and, with asweeping gesture, she welcomedDr. Steve Lenik to the mike. Hislecture: Historical Archaeology atBethlehem, Old Works. Lenik discussed an archaeo-

logical site on the grounds of theNational Guard armory in EstateBethlehem. He talked of a “lost”cemetery under an ancienttamarind tree and about aforgotten plantation village ofenslaved laborers in the late 18thand early 19th centuries andabout relics that reveal theirstory.“As archaeologists, we access

daily life that might not berecorded anywhere, and we tiethat information to the largerquestions of colonialism and theeconomics of the time,” Leniksaid. An historical archaeologist of

the African Diaspora, Lenik hadcompleted a three-weekBethlehem study tour with hiscolleague Dr. Iris Ford and tenstudents from St. Mary’s Collegeof Maryland. They worked on the

Bethlehem dig and interviewedlocals with ties to the site.“We are at the tail-end of

people’s memories of living andworking at Bethlehem,” Leniksaid.

Their excavations near a longrow house (used from the19thcentury to 1966) turned uparchitectural materials as well asbottle glass, a tobacco pipe bowl,and a bead. Previous workunearthed artifacts circa 1750-1825 and included “Afro-CruzanWare” and pieces of pottery leftby Moravian missionaries.

“Historical archaeology relieson materials left behind as wellas on documents, writtenaccounts, and memories,” saidLenik.The Bethlehem site represents

over two centuries of enslavedand free labor. It captures thearrival of the Danes, theestablishment of plantations, theclosing of the central sugarfactory and times since. “This site reveals an important

part of St. Croix’s history anddevelopment. We must preserveit,” Lenik said.

Students and professors speak with former residents of Estate Bethlehem wholived there until the factory closed in 1966. They met across the street fromthe armory, in the property leased by the St. Croix Farmers in Action. SteveLenik is the gentleman with dark hair, red shirt and sunglasses on the far left.(photo by Lindsay Wooleyhand)

“is site reveals an important part ofSt. Croix’s history…We must preserve it.”

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 3

On July 9th, folks from across the island came out incelebration of mangoes. The 21st annual Mango Melee and Tropical

Fruit Festival at the St. George VillageBotanical Gardens showcased varieties ofmangos; people saw Irwin, East Indian,Jakarta, Palmer, Bombay, Haitian Kidneyand huge Pineiro mangoes, to name a few.Jack fruit, guavas, cashew fruit,gooseberries and pomegranates tookcameo roles.For 50 cents a pop, festival goers

sampled mango concoctions at the“Mango Dis, Mango Dat” table: mangopesto, mango habanera jam, mango mead,mango pork stew, mango upside down cake,juices, lemonades, and more. Diehards entereda mango-eating contest. (The winner consumedeight.)“This is the premier event of the summer for me,” said

vendor Toni Downs of Queen Caribee. “You see people youmay not have seen for a year!”Downs brought her mango chutneys (hot or mild), mango

flower soaps, candles, and jams of all flavors. “I alwaysbring my mango-orange jam, but this year I added a versionwith dark Cruzan Rum—and that about sold out,” she said. On the table next to Downs, Wanda Wright of Wright

Apiary sold her famous aged Crucian meads, along withsalad dressings, vinegars, and mead honey mustards.Wright won second place for her aged mango mead in the“sips” category of Mango Dis, Mango Dat.People drifted toward the Beer Garden to dance and

listen to the lineup of local musicians.

Philadelphia real estateagent and writer Zeta Crossoffers advice in her article,“11 things sellers should doonce the for sale sign is up.”Here are highlights, slightlyparaphrased:

Never turn down ashowing. Try toaccommodate all showings;some buyers do not reschedule.The more often you show yourhouse, the quicker it will sell.

Leave lights on.Makesure buyers enter a bright,welcoming room. Low lightsmake a house look gloomy, andfirst impressions are lasting.

Crank the air-conditioning. If you’ve gotit, flaunt it. (While you may notneed AC on St. Croix, it’ssometimes a selling point.)

Humor curiousneighbors. They may knowsomeone looking for a house.Don’t discount word-of-mouth.

Stay ‘show worthy.’Cleaning and decluttering neverstop. Signs of everyday life

must go–pet odors, cookingsmells, wet towels. Let buyersimagine your home as theirown. Stash toys, toasters,laundry baskets, mail, andnewspapers.

Tone down the kids’room. Precious as your motifmay be, keep furnishings anddecor minimal and neutral.

Make yourself scarce.Chatting with buyers is morelikely to hurt a sale than to helpit.

Treat it like a business.Let your agent handle thebuyers start to finish.

Cross counsels sellers to makearrangements for Fido, fix orremove tripping hazards, andlock up valuables.

After the “For Sale” Sign is Up

Mango Melee I N T H E G A R D E N

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 4

ST. CROIX REAL ESTATE MARKET WATCH249

2015-2016 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIAN 2016-2017 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIANSOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE SOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE

Home Sales 171 318 $232,000 171 274 $280,000 Condo Sales 117 295 $150,000 133 239 $150,000 Land under $39,999 25 401 $24,000 44 327 $24,250Land over $40,000 42 488 $86,000 43 481 $80,000Commercial 15 345 $320,000 11 422 $250,000

Information from the St. Croix Multiple Listing Service * The average sales price and the average days on marketcould be skewed greatly by only one sale or because of thesmall number of annual sales.

CLOSED SALES COMPARISON :7/31/15-7/31/16 VERSUS 7/31/16-7/31/17

e Good News…MEDIAN HOME

SELLINGPRICES WERE

UP

21% during July this year,compared to July of

last year.

Feature Property of the Month

Simplyclick ontheseimagesto seemore!

ISLAND VALUES29 Seven Hills Sitting high in the Seven

Hills/All For The Better subdivision isthis impressive 0.63-acre lot. Thebirds-eye view from this homesitelooks down on Buck Island and acrossto St. Thomas, St. John and the BVI's.The high/flat topography makes iteasier and less costly to build.

MLS 17-779 $94,000

36 Prosperity Exceptional .79-acre lot in the

popular North Shore gatedCarambola community of

Prosperity Ridge offersunderground utilities as well as

privileged access to theCarambola Beach Resort and

golf course properties. Thiscorner lot is surrounded by lush foliage and extends to the end

of a private cul-de-sac allowing for ultimate tranquility.

MLS 15-948 $139,000

44 Estate Turner's HoleCome live the resort lifestyle at this rare beachfront estate located on 1.62 acres on the beautiful South Shore! The estate has 200+ feet of sugar sand beach with a seaside swimming pool. The 55,000-gallon kidney-shaped pool has stone steps that lead straight up to a 60' lanai that spans the length of the living room and kitchen and is flanked by the two executive suites. The main villa of the estate has a total of 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, an entertainers kitchenand an open living room. A detached 2-bedroom cottage with privatedeck space is located a discrete distance away - great for long termguests or caretakers. Additionally, there is a spacious 2-car garagethat is great for protecting your vehicles or storing paddleboards,kayaks and other outdoor adventure equipment (And living in theCaribbean on a sandy beach you will surely have a ton of watersportgear!). Your slice of paradise is right here at Villa del Rios!

MLS 17-1236 $1,990,000

Villa del Rios

52 Solitudeis East End villa

has it all!4 Caribbean Sea and Buck Island

views4 Swimming pool4 One bedroom apartment4 Three bedroom, two

bathroom main house4 Open great room with soaring

ceilings

MLS 17-1209 $495,000

BACK ON THE MARKET!

UNDER $500,000!