ST. CROIX REALTY

MessagefromLorine… Top CaribbeanDestinationsTouting St. Croix’sexciting chef-drivenfarm-to-table culinaryscene, our classic Danisharchitecture and uniqueboutique hotels such as thenewly renovated Hotel Caravelle on theChristiansted Boardwalk and the family-owned andoperated Buccaneer Resort, the Caribbean Journalrecently recognized St. Croix as one of the “Top 15Caribbean Vacation Destinations for 2017.” Whilewe may have realized all that St. Croix has to offerfor a long time, it is exciting for those in the knowto praise us, too!

Save Now, Travel LaterMany airlines that service St. Croix are offering bigdiscounts if you purchase your winter trip now!Purchase now for September 2017 – April 2018 fortravel on American, JetBlue, Delta, and United andsave up to $300 on flights from Boston, New York,Chicago, Miami and many more. Connections viaSt. Thomas may be required.

New Owners at St. Croix Marine in Gallows BaySt. Croix Marine is now the St. Croix YachtingCenter in Gallows Bay. The new owners plan anupgrade to the current facilities including installinga lift to accommodate larger vessels up to 45 feet,creating a breakwater, and developing retail spacesdevoted to marine maintenance service providers.Their vision is to establish a space for welders,fiberglass repair specialists, specialty woodworkersand other skilled providers targeted to servicing thelocal boating community.

Happy 4th of July!May you be surrounded with family and dearfriends and lots of good “eats.”

Happy Summer, LorineThis newsletter written by Anne Salafia annesalafia@gmail.com

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Lorine Williams

St.Croix Real Estatereviews

St.Croix Real EstatereviewsFeaturing Real Estate Market Updates

and Local News of St. Croix, USVI

SUMMER 2017

Native son Ralph Motta has come home to roost. Hebid the Big Apple farewell, wound down the fancypop-up brunches and dinners he hosted there, and

returned to St. Croix where the Department of Tourismnamed him the 2017 Culinary Ambassador for the USVI.

With Tourism, Motta attends international food andwine festivals as chef, talks with press about St. Croix’sfood scene, works with our vocational culinary programs,and hosts brunches during season.He substitute teaches at GoodHope Country Day Schooland tends to 75 goats.

Flashback: WhenMotta enrolled in PrattInstitute, he refused ameal plan. Heinsisted on a fullkitchen. He studiedpainting, cooked forhimself and friends,and earned a BA inFine Arts.

Working with NewYork cateringcompanies aftercollege, he deliveredprovisions to sets andphoto shoots. And he ranhis own recipes by the chefs.“They taught me so much; Ihoned the skills I had developed during art school,” said Motta. He tested his talents on roommates.

“One day I plated guava-stuffed brioche French toastand took photos,” Motta said. Astonished roommatesproclaimed his calling. That afternoon, while Mottasnoozed, they started a website, designed a logo andlaunched Motta Cuisine. It was April 20th, 2014.

Motta started hosting brunches and dinnersprofessionally. “It was always an eclectic group of 10-16people who shared a dinner experience in my apartmentin Spanish Harlem,” he said. Guests came in from LongIsland, Connecticut, and all over New York. “They drove,they trained, they took whatever from Manhattan,” hesaid.

Motta Cuisine brunches continue on St. Croix inNovember.

Presenting

Ralph MottaCulinary Ambassador for the USVI

Photoby

NicoleCanegata

l lorine@lorinewilliams.com

l 340-690-9628

l coldwellbankervi.com

l info@coldwellbankervi.com

l stcroixforrent.com

l Gallows Bay Marketplace 340.778.7000

l Frederiksted 340.642.3333

Swan SongFOR IRONMAN 70.3 ST. CROIX

Photos courtesy of © FinisherPix

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 2

Triathletes from around the world swam toProtestant Cay at dawn on May 7th. The29th (and perhaps the final) Ironman 70.3

St. Croix was about to begin. At 6:30, theyplunged back into the waves for a 1.24 mileswim through Christiansted Harbor beforetransitioning to the 56-mile bike ride thatfollowed. A 13.1 mile run waited in thewings.

Most hoped to snag a slot in the2017 World Championship inChattanooga. Some wanted to checkoff St. Croix’s famed triathlon fromtheir bucket list. Word had spread: thiswas their last chance.

St. Croix hosted its premier triathlonin 1988 when few other triathlonsqualified competitors for the HawaiiIronman. Big-time triathletes likePaula Newby-Fraser, Mike Pigg andJan Ripple came in those early days.Our seas and a 7/10-of-a-mile bikeclimb challenged them, as did our openwaters, heat and headwinds. Scenerywas lagniappe, and St. Croix’s triathlonbecame dubbed “Beauty and the Beast.”Islanders volunteered, handing out bananasand energy drinks. They patrolled in kayaksduring the sunrise swim, and they cheered atthe finish line. Crucians took our Ironman 70.3to heart.

Now many triathlons act as qualifiers for theWorlds, and the Ironman 70.3 St. Croix has had itsswan song.

2017 Winners: 1st place-Francky Favre(Martinique), 2nd place-Chris Bands (the Netherlands), 3rd place-CruzGonzales (Bogata). Rebecca McKee (Alaska) finished first among women.

Jesus Andres Cruz Gonzalez

Winner Francky Favre.

Spotlight on...WayneNichols

and his “Eyesof Hamilton”

The hoopla over Hamilton thrills Wayne Nichols.“It’s time for St. Croix to capitalize on thisopportunity!” he said.

A longtime historian of St. Croix and of AlexanderHamilton, Nichols has designed “Eyes of Hamilton,” atwo-hour walking tour of the places where Hamiltonlived and worked from ages seven to 17.

“This skinny, scrawny orphaned child inChristiansted learned about commerce andinternational trade and wound up the most influentialcharacter in America,” said Nichols.

A political science major, Nichols was drawn tohistory in college. He gravitated toward the history ofSt. Croix. “What with the $10 dollar bill and the Danisharchitecture, I became fascinated,” he said. “I realizedthat St. Croix was an epicenter of the world back then—mainly because of sugar and its byproducts—molassesand rum.”

Nichols came to St. Croix in 1966 at age 12 andattended Good Hope School for a year. After that, hespent summers here. “I saw donkey carts on the roadand sugarcane for as far as the eye could see. Theystopped harvesting sugarcane in ’66, but it grew wild,”Nichols said.

“Eyes of Hamilton” illustrates the influences St.Croix had on Hamilton: his knowledge of internationaltrade and the need for standard currency, credit and a

sound fiscal policy. “Hamilton saw slavery and hated it;he knew that America could never survive as anagrarian society,” said Nichols who gives motivationaltalks using Hamilton as a model for overcomingadversity and building resilience.

“Without Hamilton, this country would not be whatit is,” he said. Tours start in October.

In an April 21stceremony at CharlesHarwood MedicalComplex, theDepartment of Healthunveiled two of fiveshiny, new ambulancesdelivered to theTerritory. Fresh off theboat, the ambulanceswere designed to takethe island’s roughterrain and come fully-stocked with the latestup-to-date equipment.They will be stationedat Charles Harwood,just west of downtownChristiansted.

In her St. Croix Avisarticle, MarkidaScotland quoted Lloyd

Bough, Property andProcurementcommissioner nominee,as saying, “Thesevehicles haveeverything, they canbasically go anywhereon the island.”

As well as these newtop-flight emergencyvehicles, St. Croix hastwo older refurbishedambulances that canprovide back up for thenew arrivals.

Of the five newambulances, St. Croixand St. Thomas eachreceived two. The fifthwent to St. John.

5 New Ambulances Arrive in the Territory

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 3

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 4

ST. CROIX REAL ESTATE MARKET WATCH249

2015-2016 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIAN 2016-2017 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIANSOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE SOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE

Home Sales 153 322 $255,000 182 281 $277,500 Condo Sales 106 266 $146,450 135 263 $156,000 Land under $39,999 27 368 $24,000 34 393 $23,250Land over $40,000 38 439 $96,000 51 445 $80,000Commercial 16 446 $335,000 14 361 $292,500

Information from the St. Croix Multiple Listing Service * The average sales price and the average days on marketcould be skewed greatly by only one sale or because of thesmall number of annual sales.

CLOSED SALES COMPARISON :5/31/15-5/31/16 VERSUS 5/31/16-5/31/17

e Good News…HOMESELLINGPRICESWERE UP 9%

during May this year,compared to May of

last year.

Feature Property of the Month

Remarkably affordable oppor-tunity to run your own piece ofparadise! 100-seat full servicerestaurant and bar with afantastic beachfront poolsidelocale at popular Club St. Croixcondos on “condo row,” built-in clientele of locals andvisitors, and excellent parking.5-year lease, equipment,kitchen, dining room and barsupplies included.

Only $17,500!

BE YOUR OWN BOSS!ISLAND VALUES203 Schooner Bay Graceful and immaculate 3 BR/3Bath Schooner Bay charmer! Bestlocation near the pool, updatedsmartly designed kitchen, twogalleries to bask in the view!

MLS 17-1078 $369,000

86 Southgate Farm Quiet location yet seconds to sailing atGreen Cay Marina, the beach, dining atDeep End, and golf at the Buccaneer.Gentle slope for easy build. .75-acre.

MLS 15-1857 $89,000

24 Prosperity Elegant West End courtyard-stylehome with screened-in pool perfectfor entertaining. Open layout andmany recent upgrades. 3 BR/2 Bath.

MLS 17-982 $519,000

104 & 105 Green CayEnjoy island living at its finestwith this impressive tropicalestate! With an exquisitehillside location, the homefeatures awe-inspiring panor-amic views of the postcard-perfect Caribbean Sea andBuck Island. Beautifully craft-ed and a dream for entertain-ing, you’ll delight in thesoaring cathedral ceilings,custom Imbuia hardwoodFrench doors, dazzling pooland hot tub, marble andmahogany floors, and openkitchen and living area withformal dining room. Thestately and spacious mastersuite boasts a private coveredgallery overlooking the poolfor romantic sunsets andstargazing. In the upscaleGreen Cay neighborhood onthe East End. 6BR / 5.5Baths.

MLS 17-1019 $1,495,000

Caribbean Classic!

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CALLLORINETODAY!

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