St. Croix Aquarium Negotiating 99-Year Lease for 6 Acres of Land

April, 2003 - The Department of Housing Parks & Recreation (HP&R) has enthusiastically agreed to move forward with a proposed long-term lease (at $1 per year) of a portion of the “Altona Lagoon” area located east of Christiansted.

View of the proposed site, which lies east of the pier.

The waterfront site, which borders on both Christiansted Harbor on the north and the Lagoon on the south, contains an abandoned bathhouse that was badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo.

The Board presented proposed plans for the Altona site at a February 25th meeting with HP&R. From the left, Howard Dyer (Department of Planning and Procurement), Director Ken Haines, Assistant Commissioner Dodson James and Planner Roy Canton (HP&R), and Director Kim Zehender. Director Desi Gandolfo took the picture.

The Board has prepared a preliminary long-term plan for the development of the site in phases, starting with renovation of the bathhouse for use as a utilities/storage/bathroom area. The bathhouse, which has a cistern, a septic tank system and a walled courtyard, was slated for demolition by HP&R. The lease will be prepared by the Department of Property and Procurement, and will be contingent on the Aquarium obtaining the required Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Permit to develop the site.

North side of the bathhouse.

The next hurdle will be getting the approval of the lease by the Virgin Islands Legislature. Support for the Aquarium’s proposal has been received in meetings with Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards, and from Senator Hill, Chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on the Environment. The Board intends to meet with as many Senators as possible before the lease comes up for a vote.

After the Legislature approves the lease, the Aquarium Board will be undertaking a fund-raising effort to prepare the necessary plans and environmental impact studies that are required for the CZM Permit Application. Funding applications have been submitted for preparation of Phase 1 plans for the site to the VI Government’s Community Block Funding Program, and to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

South side of the bathhouse.

For updated news on our search for a new home for the St. Croix Aquarium, and ways you can help, please visit the links on our site or contact us via email at .