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tedprosser
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- Location: Coral Bay, STJ
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Maho Bay Camps Gets Six-Month Lease Extension
By Lynda Lohr — October 18, 2010
With its lease on the 14 acres of land that houses Maho Bay Camps set to expire in January 2012, owner Stanley Selengut got a six-month extension from the owners until July 31, 2012.
This will enable the popular campground on St. John’s north shore to operate through the 2011–12 winter season.
Maho Bay planned to close in the summer of 2011 because with the lease expiring in January 2012, it would have to close part way through the winter season.
The extension gives the Florida-based Trust for Public Land a little bit more time to negotiate a purchase of the property from the Giri Giri Corp., which owns the property.
John Garrison, project director at the Trust, has spent the last 1.5 years negotiating with Giri Giri to buy the property.
“We’re going to need the time to raise the money,” he said of the extension.
The Trust has a spot on its website for people to donate specifically so it can purchase the Maho land.
Garrison said he couldn’t comment further because the deal was in negotiations.
Maho Bay announced in its newsletter that Giri Giri promised another extension if needed but spokesman Melody Smith said no amount of time was specified.
Selengut leased the property in 1974, opening Maho Bay in 1976.
In a 2009 interview, Selengut said that Maho Bay holds an Economic Development Commission package that exempts it from real estate taxes on the campground improvements. That exemption will not carry over if Selengut closes Maho Bay, so Giri Giri will have to start paying taxes on the improvements even if they don't run it as a campground.
Additionally, Selengut said in the interview that the upkeep on the property is immense. He said that crews continually replace rotten boards and pressure wash "slimy" boardwalks to keep the property safe for guests. He anticipated that vegetation would soon take over the property if left unattended.
Selengut also spoke about the loss to the territory if Maho Bay closes. He said Maho Bay puts about $20 million into the territory’s economy.
According to Selengut, Maho Bay spends about $5 million to $6 million a year locally on food alone. Then there's the money guests spend on taxi fares, ferry fares and more.
Donate to the Trust for the Maho Bay purchase at http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content ... er_id=3388
By Lynda Lohr — October 18, 2010
With its lease on the 14 acres of land that houses Maho Bay Camps set to expire in January 2012, owner Stanley Selengut got a six-month extension from the owners until July 31, 2012.
This will enable the popular campground on St. John’s north shore to operate through the 2011–12 winter season.
Maho Bay planned to close in the summer of 2011 because with the lease expiring in January 2012, it would have to close part way through the winter season.
The extension gives the Florida-based Trust for Public Land a little bit more time to negotiate a purchase of the property from the Giri Giri Corp., which owns the property.
John Garrison, project director at the Trust, has spent the last 1.5 years negotiating with Giri Giri to buy the property.
“We’re going to need the time to raise the money,” he said of the extension.
The Trust has a spot on its website for people to donate specifically so it can purchase the Maho land.
Garrison said he couldn’t comment further because the deal was in negotiations.
Maho Bay announced in its newsletter that Giri Giri promised another extension if needed but spokesman Melody Smith said no amount of time was specified.
Selengut leased the property in 1974, opening Maho Bay in 1976.
In a 2009 interview, Selengut said that Maho Bay holds an Economic Development Commission package that exempts it from real estate taxes on the campground improvements. That exemption will not carry over if Selengut closes Maho Bay, so Giri Giri will have to start paying taxes on the improvements even if they don't run it as a campground.
Additionally, Selengut said in the interview that the upkeep on the property is immense. He said that crews continually replace rotten boards and pressure wash "slimy" boardwalks to keep the property safe for guests. He anticipated that vegetation would soon take over the property if left unattended.
Selengut also spoke about the loss to the territory if Maho Bay closes. He said Maho Bay puts about $20 million into the territory’s economy.
According to Selengut, Maho Bay spends about $5 million to $6 million a year locally on food alone. Then there's the money guests spend on taxi fares, ferry fares and more.
Donate to the Trust for the Maho Bay purchase at http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content ... er_id=3388