The multi-story building in downtown Christiansted formerly occupied by International Private Bank, now purchased by the GVI to be transformed into a Community Technology Center offering telemedicine and business training programs. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. CROIX — The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Department of Finance, has purchased a multi-story building in downtown Christiansted that once housed International Private Bank, LLC, with plans to transform it into a Community Technology Center offering telemedicine services and business education programs.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. confirmed the purchase during an interview with the V.I. Consortium on Friday, stating that the acquisition is part of a broader initiative to revitalize downtown areas and stimulate local economic activity.
“We bought it with a grant that allows us to use it as like a Community Technology Center,” Governor Bryan said. “They’re putting in telemedicine there, and then they’re going to use it to keep doing EDA classes, as well as some other business classes downstairs.”
According to the governor, the property was purchased for approximately $6.8 million using a $7 million federal grant. An additional $7 million has been set aside for a second project — the renovation of a large, historic brick building near Fort Christian’s parking lot on St. Thomas. That building, he said, is currently in the architectural design stage and will serve a similar purpose.
The planned Community Technology Centers are intended to create new spaces for digital access, small business training, and health services while helping attract more foot traffic and commerce to historic downtown areas.
Governor Bryan noted that these investments reflect a strategic effort to bring renewed energy and opportunity to the territory’s towns. “It’s part of our effort to bring more activity into our towns, like Christiansted,” he said. “That’s why we bought the Firstbank building where the Lieutenant Governor’s office is going, and that’s why we bought that one too. It’s just to have more commerce in town, to help our retailers and to create activity.”
In addition to the new technology and telemedicine centers, the governor revealed plans for a $2 million lighting project aimed at illuminating the downtown Christiansted area. “I’m gonna be doing a lighting project in town too,” he said. “So we could light up Christiansted again.” Governor Bryan noted that funding for the lighting project will come from proceeds related to the sale of King’s Alley Hotel.
These initiatives—spanning new infrastructure, public lighting, and business development—are designed to increase activity in the town centers of both St. Croix and St. Thomas, while supporting long-term economic revitalization across the territory, according to the governor.
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