Bryan Reveals Revitalization Projects for Christiansted and Frederiksted Towns

  • Kyle Murphy
  • May 06, 2021
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Cruise ship view of the Frederiksted waterfront. By. VI CONSORTIUM

Governor Albert Bryan this week spoke of a number of projects aimed at uplifting the towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted.

“For years we have talked about what we can do and the development of these downtown areas, but the Byran-Roach administration, we are just not talking, we are doing something about it and it is our intent to continue to develop our downtown areas," Mr. Bryan said during Monday's Covid-19 response press briefing.

He spoke of a bill to appropriate $1.5 million to renovate the waterfront in Frederiksted from Dorsch Beach to Midre Cummings Park. "We will be working with nonprofits to create an incredible playground at Midre Cummings that we are all going to be proud of,” stated the governor. Mr. Bryan said the waterfront project will include some necessary repairs such as lighting, repairs to the fish market and the picnic tables placed alongside the drive to the Frederiksted Pool.

For the town of Christiansted, Mr. Bryan said, “We have awarded a bid proposal to a company called Neighborhood Establishment for the redevelopment of the Hotel on the Cay property.” The Consortium has the full story on the redevelopment here.

“We are also in the process of moving the last remains of Gallows Bay and doing new things to develop the marina," the governor added, referring to the Gallows Bay marine project. The V.I. Port Authority is expected to move operations to the South Shore of St. Croix later this year. Mr. Bryan suggested this would lead to the opening of commercial centers and “a lot more traffic and beauty to our downtown Christiansted.” 

On St. Thomas, the Main Street Revitalization Project is almost finished. As part of completing the project, Mr. Bryan said his administration has decided to pave Garden Street and Bunker Hill because “those roads weren’t looking good connecting to Main Street.” 

He also spoke about bills allocating funds to projects on St. Croix that were heard during Tuesday’s legislative session to repair the King’s Alley Hotel wharf and the boat dock, and a bill to place a tender pier next to the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted. Those measures were supported unanimously.

WAPA has also been installing new water lines in Christiansted and Frederiksted. "We should be finally seeing an end to the brown water issues that plagued us for so many years with all those rusty pipes,” Mr. Bryan said 

The governor also mentioned a V.I. Waste Management Authority project for the rehabilitation of the sewer systems in Christiansted and on St. John, and WAPA's undergrounding of electric grids on St. Croix, the latter to be completed in 2-5 years.

 “We are building in the infrastructure that we have in our downtowns that will allow our towns to remain commercial hubs of our economy far, far into the future," Mr. Bryan said.

 

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