a little construction problem

[mizarumonkey]

Funny enough, DPNR stopped caring about this project years ago, as they had their Certificate of Occupancy when the building was only half-completed. How does that work?? 4+ stories what? Setbacks huh? Property rights, heh, not for us!

Please don't call them architects - they're decorators, nothing more. Hence the absolute oblivion towards what the building looks like, how the spaces relate, and how the construction affects the surroundings. Architects do care more than this.

Apparently, the VI NPS wants to set a big precedent here, as they don't seem to care much about someone who has excavated 50' into park lands and cut all trees, dumped all the remnants of the old house 100' more into the Park. They may get a slap-on-the-wrist fine when it's all said and done (which will likely be lawyered-down to lunch money).

Does anyone associate with anyone above the VI NPS leadership and want to have a brief chat with them about this? Better yet, can the people of St. John, or perhaps a class of everyone who uses the VINP, class-action sue the owners, 'designer', and contractor to show them that someone cares?

[jmq]

Here is a tighter crop. That extra cut out to the right (west) is quite significant. How the heck will that be stabilized?

[golfdesign]

What great post. I don't know if folks who haven't been up there can imagine the magnitude of the damage to the National Park lands and the situation it presents for Jumbie, Denis, And Gibney.
It makes you mad and want to cry at the same time.

Whats next? The fact that opening of the old historic National Park road was kept from the public should throw up another red flag. They intend to close off the section from Centerline by destructive means and use the North Shore access and gate it, cutting off all access to the whole park area, creating a private enclave out of National Park land.That area was one of the most beautiful untouched spots on St. John. The road was beautiful with old vegetation and was built like the other old Danish roads with stonework on the down sides. Now after all those years it's being ravaged.There is a lot more to this disgusting story and it needs to be exposed.

A parallel would be to go to one of the most beautiful spots in Yosemite, clear the side of a mountain, excavate it at a vertical cut, reconfigure and regrade one of it's historic roads, and then ruin important watersheds. The consequences in the States for these Federal Offenses would be severe and complicated. Money would be of little help and the public outcry would be tremendous.
In this case a "all they can do is fine me attitude" is working because it is being allowed to.

Where is the new superintendent? Protection of the park is priority one and he has the full backing of the Federal Government. Seems like he would be taking this personally and be beyond mad and upset and call in all the Governmental agencies and authorities.

[Myheart'sinSTJ]

There are so many beautiful villas for sale on island why couldn't these %$#& choose one already built? It is obvious they have no regard for the island, let alone the national park, I wish there was something we could collectively do or say to make a difference but it obviously looks like it is to late, I am just fuming

[Agent99]

Nevermind.

[philbetm]

I don't care how much money they have....Who in their right mind needs something that massive...and ugly ! Never mind.....I DID SAY RIGHT MIND didn't I ....answered my own question !

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

I appreciate and understand the anger and indignation, but the barn door opened with developments like Peter Bay. This latest travesty is just another cow passing through the door. There will be more...that's what happens when the door has been opened.

[Knolmom]

As I mentioned before...they will only own it...they will not live in it or visit St John. The house is being built merely as a showplace to be used for incentive travel and charitable and PR auction. Most of the egregious damage has been done in the last two years. We stayed in Sago Palms in August 2011 and they were still ripping out the old new tiles from the monstrosity, but there was no clearing of the land or road cutting at that time. I believe we have had a change of Park Superintenants during the period from then up until now?

[Xislandgirl]

I have said this on a host of other issues. We can complain all we want but until we, either individually or as a group, bring our voice to the proper people, we are not a solution.

I have already stated drafting a letter that I will send to the Superindent of the Park. I would encourage those that are outraged or upset about it to do the same. While my words may not make a difference, I feel that they need to be read by the person that may have some, albeit small, say in this situation.

I firmly believe that as frequent visitors to STJ, we have a responsibility to let people know when issues affect us. I think the majority of us donate money to help better the island for the residents (2 and 4 legged). I believe that this construction is not good for the island and I am going to make that belief known.

[Myheart'sinSTJ]

If anyone would like to voice their concerns and send an email to the VINP superintendent, PM me and I will give you his email address.

[mizarumonkey]

@Pete,

There is a huge difference between this recent development and the development at Peter Bay.

While I'm not a huge fan of PB, that neighborhood is *private* land, and developed under the close watch of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, CZM (Coastal Zone Management) and has heavy scrutiny to do things right.

The Denis bay monster, on the other hand, has been directly affecting neighboring properties with a multitude of zoning violations, a hundred+ foot debris field (from the old house, knocked down) into *Public Park* land, and now a huge excavation and clearing of trees into both *Public Park* land and other private parcels.

There is a huge difference between pushing the aesthetic tastes of your own property rights, versus directly damaging other properties, and this monstrosity has clearly overstepped that boundary.

[Teresa_Rae]

That's what I was thinking mizarumonkey. What a travesty.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

@mizarumonkey,

Your point is well taken and you are right. With that said, much of this simply is a symptom of the trend on STJ, i.e., more and more massive villas being built.

As an aside, this forum is somewhat ironic in that regard. If there were no rental market for these villas, most would not be built. Through this forum we can both find recommendations for 5 bedroom villas and complain about them.

[Knolmom]

Again Pete, your point has been made about greed and vulgarity, but some villas, such as this one, Presidio De Mar and several others, have been or are being built not as rental villas, but as showplaces and testaments to the owner's wealth.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

That's what I originally thought about the castles that recently were built on Ditliff...but they now are on the rental market.