USVI-On-Line

The new house being built on sago palms' property above cinnamon bay is featured in Architectural Digest for May. No mention of all the building violations along the way.........

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/deco ... me-article

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

The article certainly is accurate that they took liberties...

He got what he wanted. did he ever have to pay anything for all the
damage?
Teresa Rae I was doing the same thing. It really makes my heart hurt to know
and see what he did. Sago Palm was the villa we loved and visited for many
years.

My neighbor brought over the magazine. It was upsetting to read such a glowing article about them. In the article Ingrao said "We wanted everything we used to be sympathetic with the landscape..."

It is about the ugliest structure I have ever seen and looks so out of place. Ugh.

I am disgusted by this article. Is it poor form to secretly wish that this McMansion slides down the hill?

We were so fortunate to stay at Sago (thanks Wanda and Jim for the initial advice), and found it to be a real gem. Though at the time of our stay the construction on the beast was overbearing. Looking thru the pics in the link, it kind of looks like they razed Sago, turned it into a yard, and put a garage under it.

Regardless of the fate of Sago (I'm sure the owners were very well compensated), I am nervous about what this may bring for the island's future. Here we have a couple of guys who totally ignored regulations, paid the fine, and gave birth to this eyesore. Just wait until hordes of stock option millionaires read this article and attempt to do the same.

Not poor form at all - I wish for the same.

Oh, and, BAAAARF!!!

Unbelievable.
I loved that place. In my top 3 favorites out of 17 homes I've visited.
Disgusted, and sad.
Sorry, no Smiles.
MJ

Wow! So sad, we were lucky enough to stay there too.
It still amazes me that those views weren't enough. I guess some people will never be happy and have the money to do as they please.

mahojim wrote:Unbelievable.
I loved that place. In my top 3 favorites out of 17 homes I've visited.
Disgusted, and sad.
Sorry, no Smiles.
MJ

17 homes? You, my friend, really get around

mahojim wrote:Unbelievable.
I loved that place. In my top 3 favorites out of 17 homes I've visited.
Disgusted, and sad.
Sorry, no Smiles.
MJ

mahojim ~ I'd love to know which are your other 2 favorite villas!

It is a shame what they have been able to get away with. I pray this doesn't happen again...Protect the Natural Beauty of St. John for our children and our children's children to enjoy!

If you want to send a letter to Arch Digest editor, here is the contact info:

Send us your comments, questions, and suggestions, or write to Architectural Digest, 4 Times Square, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

News of St. John has a link to the editor's email. I encourage everyone who is miffed about this article to write to him and fill him in on all the facts! I surely did.
It is a travesty that breaking the law gets rewarded. Love the wording or the article- " take liberties", "carving"! Blahhhhj!!

Sad really. Just another reminder that one can be a wealthy, famous designer and still be lacking in taste.

I loved Sago Palms. One of my all-time favorites. Assume the home next door shared the same fate?

Ah well.

SteveO.

We don't exist to people with the kind of money that they have...
What's the 'over-under' timespan for them to have a well groomed stairway down the hill from the garage to the beach?
Paradise Bullies.
What the heck is up with that chandelier?!?
I just don't get all that stuff, and I'm pretty easy-to please.
Just too gawdy. Enough of the "Island Tropical Theme", fella's; you're already there, and this isn't Manhattan. Over-kill much? I'm just not picking up what they're putting down.
Surely their defense might be that I have no taste, and if that's the case, I hope I never do.
A shame. That's what it is. Maybe if I had their money I'd feel different, but I don't.
Peacocks.
Wondering which side they put themselves on; preserving the cost of living on STJ, or segregating people that they don't want to be around as they wealthily plow through life and that precious island.
They're not the first to do it, I know. However, it just reminds me of how ignorant I am of what people can do when they have the funds ...
Hoping for the best, just already missing Sago Palms. It was homey..., more natural.
Gonna' freak out people who live/stay there when they share space with a huge spider, large waterbug,and/or a scorpion.
Sorry! I just find this to be a bummer! Hope I'm not coming across too negatively...
Sago Palms is erased forever. So stinks...
I could afford Sago, but wouldn't be able to swing a week's worth at the new space.
Squeezing out people and history.
I'm so sorry to finally personally recognize what's happening there.
MJ