CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – November 5, 2013 – Residents and owners of properties and businesses in Christiansted will have a second chance to view and cast their vote for one of two proposed town plans for Christiansted on St. Croix. The Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC), a division of the V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), will host a second series of viewings of the proposed town plans from November 6-8, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Steeple Building on Company and Church Street in Christiansted.
The proposed town plans are designed to provide a road map for the economic, social, and architectural development of Christiansted. The community's full participation is essential for the selection of the best town plan that will help revitalize the town of Christiansted. Christiansted is one of four designated enterprise zones in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This selection process is a competition between two local design architects from St. Croix who will remain anonymous during the voting process. The proposed plans are identified at the viewing site as "Plan A" and "Plan B".
According to Nadine Marchena Kean, the director of the EZC, attendees can also review the details of each design architect’s proposal for the town plan prior to casting their vote on a ballot. The proposals of the design architects are available at the viewing site. Photos of certain parts of each plan display are also posted on the VIEDA’s website at www.usvieda.org ; however, individuals can only vote at the viewing site. Attendees can also provide comments on their ballot.
The proposed town plans will also be reviewed by a renowned professional that reviews town plans in various jurisdictions.
The EZC will tally the votes and the proposed town plan with the majority of the votes will be selected. The EZC will then prepare a proposal based on the selected proposed town plan and will present the proposal to the EDA Board and the Governor of the Virgin Islands for review and adoption as the Christiansted Town Plan.
The EZC has also applied for federal grants to fund the project.
In October 2013, several residents, business and property owners, and leaders of various non-profit organizations came out to cast their vote for one of two proposed town plans designed for Christiansted.
Marjorie Robbins, a member of the C’sted (or Christiansted) Community Alliance and an owner of an art gallery in Christiansted, is enthusiastic about the idea of the development of a town plan and casted her vote during the first series of town plan viewings. “I think it’s a fabulous idea [and] it would be great if someone follows through. [Christiansted] is one of the most beautiful towns in the Caribbean.” Robbins has been a resident of St. Croix since 1980.
Some of the features on the proposed town plans include enhancements to the boardwalk, elevated car garages, a seaquarium, and a proposed University of the Virgin Islands' VI Caribbean Culture Center and Architectural School. Kean also emphasized that this is a public-private sector project, and the town plan must reflect the vision of the community. The proposed Christiansted town plans are a result of a series of town meetings and workshops - a charrette - that were held in Christiansted in March 2013.
At the charrette, panelists who specialize in various subjects that affect community and area development, and the general public came together to share their ideas, opinions, recommendations, and possible solutions to the problems that exist in Christiansted.
For more information, contact the Director of the Enterprise Zone Commission, Mrs. Nadine Marchena Kean, at 340-714-1700, ext. 256; or Enterprise Zone Specialist Mr. Deray Calixte at 340-773-6499. To learn more about the Enterprise Zone Commission, visit http://www.usvieda.org/about-vieda/divisions/enterprise-zone-commission .
# # #