Draft Bill Clearing Path for Development of Historic Towns Meets Support, Opposition During Hearing
While there was significant support for a draft bill that seeks to limit the number of sites listed for historical preservation in the U.S. Virgin Islands by identifying specific locations in an effort to foster development, there were others who expressed concern about the effects the measure could have on some historic buildings.
2022-03-04 12:25:34 - VI News Staff
The draft bill was introduced and issues raised during a town hall hearing Thursday, organized by the Senate Committee on Economic Development & Agriculture, led by Chairman Sen. Kenneth Gittens.
“The bill draft as presented raises numerous questions that if enacted as written could lead to the further destruction of the historic towns of Christiansted, Frederiksted, Charlotte Amalie, and Cruz Bay,” said Frandelle Gerard, executive director of Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Inc.
She said that if the proposed measure is based on the premise that historic preservation is too costly and restrictive, it ignores the reality that historic preservation is about telling the history of a people through built heritage.
“In most jurisdictions, historic preservation is by and for the wealthy and grand structures. But here in the Virgin Islands we have the opportunity, and may I say the duty, to preserve the vernacular buildings of our towns and the historically Black neighborhoods in the historic districts,” said Ms. Gerard, who explained that the stories behind some of the buildings are linked directly to African ancestry.
“The historically black neighborhoods of the islands' towns and the areas called “Free Gut” on St. Croix, are arguably the oldest continuously occupied Free Black neighborhoods under the U.S. flag. Neighborhoods occupied by Free Blacks and their African-Caribbean descendants are passed down from generation to generation,” she said.
Ms. Gerard said historic preservation is about preserving the territory's culture and heritage. “The buildings hold the energy, display the craftsmanship and engineering of our African ancestors who toiled under unimaginable circumstances and left behind both grand and modest structures that speak to us, if we only listen,” she said.
Mr. Gittens at the beginning of the discussion showed several photos of the current dilapidated conditions of some buildings and said revitalization of the downtown areas is economic development, therefore the purpose of the bill is to identify specific buildings and locations as historical preservation sites to relieve the other properties in the downtown areas from restrictive historic preservation rules.
“This will also provide property owners with the ability to rebuild or renovate their property at a viable cost and allow for economic growth while creating jobs, increasing property value and attracting tourists,” he said.