A Visual Impact: Historic Recovery Program Revitalizes V.I. Streetscapes

Backed by a $10 million federal investment, the Virgin Islands Historic Building Recovery Program has already restored more than 45 hurricane-damaged historic buildings across the U.S. Virgin Islands, with dozens more projects in progress.

Following the widespread damage caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria, Congress and former President Biden appropriated $50 million through the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, which the National Park Service administers. The fund was created to support historic preservation efforts in FEMA-declared disaster zones.

Of the $50 million, just over $10 million was awarded to the Virgin Islands.

The VIHBRP is managed by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office. So far, the program has supported the rehabilitation of historic buildings all across the territory.

Traditionally, the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund reimburses property owners after repairs are completed according to predetermined preservation standards. However, according to VISHPO Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Sean Krigger, most residents didn’t have the means to cover renovation costs while waiting for reimbursement.

“Most of the people that really got the major impacts — they just simply couldn’t afford to do the repairs on their own,” Krigger said. “We lobbied and worked with the National Park Service to get approval so that we could pay for repairs up front… once we achieved that approval, we were then able to make a positive impact in helping projects.”