June 11, 2025 - Page 3 of 30 - Virgin Islands News

Local News

VIHFA Housing Expos Scheduled the Next Two Weekends

Over the next two weekends, the V.I. Housing Finance Authority will host its annual Housing Expo – Saturday at the DC Canegata Recreation Center on St. Croix and June 21 on St. Thomas at the University of the Virgin Islands Eldridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. Both events are free and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nikya Kirnon, communications director for the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, said the event is intended to inform the public about ongoing activities and upcoming developments within the Authority’s Homeownership Division.

“We really just collect, in a space, a variety of people from the territory where they can learn about the many offerings at the Housing Finance Authority and at the same time try to connect them with resources – contacts with lenders that are local, national, developers and contractors in the territory that offer services that are in line with home ownership” she said.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about home buying and building, available loans, insurance options, and more. VIHFA will host a variety of vendors and share information about its own programs, including the $4 million First-Time Homebuyers Program. Other exhibitors will include hardware and building supply companies, real estate agents, and vendors specializing in solar and other green technologies.

According to VIHFA’s website, the First-Time Homebuyers Program is funded by $4 million from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund and provides mortgage assistance to first-time, moderate-income homebuyers. The program supports the purchase or construction of prefabricated homes or structures that meet current building codes. In addition, funds can be used to build, improve, repair, or rehabilitate a single-family home, including work on cisterns, foundations, retaining walls, or to purchase land for a single-family residence.

The maximum loan for home purchase or construction is $250,000 for 30 years. The maximum home improvement loan is $40,000, and $50,000 can be borrowed to purchase land.

Sponsors of the Housing Expo include First Bank, Banco Popular VI, Home Depot USVI, Marshall and Sterling Insurance, Sherman Williams, Ashley Furniture and AARP of the Virgin Islands.

For more information, contact VIHFA at 340-777-4432.

June 11, 2025

Local News

Historic Preservation Committee Approves WAPA Utility Projects, Building Upgrades Across Downtown Charlotte Amalie

The St. Thomas-St. John Historic Preservation Committee on Tuesday approved several WAPA projects, including underground power and water line installations and upgrades to historic buildings in Dronningens and Kongens Quarters.
WAPA presented an application for water line rehabilitation, the installation of a new water main, secondary waterlines, and water meters, as well as the installation of a new 16 by 11 foot pump station in the Government Hill and Blackbeard Hill neighborhoods.
Concerns were raised by some committee members about exposed meters and service lines. Sean Krigger, director and deputy state historic preservation officer, informed the committee that some locations are exposed due to the surrounding landscape and that it would not be possible to cover them.
“Some of the areas, that’s not practical,” responded Krigger.

“My concern is in the raised meter. The one that comes to mind is that meter monstrosity across from the Department of Labor on Back Street. Right across the street from the car wash,” said Enrique Rodriguez, acting committee chair. “That’s the kind of stuff that we would not like to see.”
“Most times, when we install water meters we try to keep it out of the walkway,” responded La’Ron Henry, engineer and project manager for the Water Division at the Water and Power Authority. “If it is in a sidewalk we try to keep it flushed to the sidewalk.”

The committee unanimously approved the project’s application. After, they approved another WAPA project to convert overhead distribution to underground distribution for the power lines on feeder 9A, install duct banks, pad-mounted transformers and switch banks, and electric manholes in the area. The project is anticipated to take approximately 10 months and be executed between November 2025 and September 2026.
Krigger expressed concern for a screening element or fencing for switchgears that are exposed.
“We can definitely look into potential options. We can go out and survey the space around and see if we can meet the feasible standards for the space limitations,” replied Danielle Norris, engineer of record for the project.
Rodriguez inquired about the green color of the electrical boxes and referenced paintings using sea life like octopuses and turtles, in San Diego, to decorate their switch banks. Norris responded that the boxes remain green due to WAPA’s standards and to avoid warranty issues with the manufacturer.
Members voted unanimously to approve the application.
During the four-hour meeting, committee members also unanimously voted to approve viNGN’s ARPA application for the installation of Wi-Fi access points in Drake’s Passage and the Grand Galleria. Concerns about the aesthetic of the access points were raised, with some committee members inquiring about painting the access points or placing them closer to existing objects on the buildings, such as a light fixture, to minimize their visibility.
“It is about the visual,” said Rodriguez.
The board then heard from Lilibet Foster, who requested masonry repairs to a historic retaining wall, installation of new doors, gates, a concealed backup power generator, and solar panels to the Galleon House Restaurant, and approved the application unanimously.
Additionally, committee members unanimously voted to approve an application for Chicken of the Caribbean. Jonny Tindall, who spoke on behalf of the business, presented a revised design that included the addition of roof hood fans, a compressor unit, removal of the existing power meter and signpost at the northwest corner of the site, and the installation of a permanent power meter panel and weather head pole.
Customizations for Royal Dane Mall were also approved. Paul Silverberg requested the committee’s approval for exterior painting, new windows and doors, new lettered signage on the south side, the creation of an open courtyard through the demolition of existing walls, and the replacement of existing wooden stairs with concrete stairs on the north side of the mall site.
Committee members William Newbold, Colette Burgess, and Enrique Rodriguez were present.

June 11, 2025

Ava Phillippe Reacts to Fan Comparing Boyfriend to Dad Ryan Phillippe

Ava Phillippe has an objection to this comparison.
The 25-year-old had a hilariously awkward reaction to a fan’s comment about her and boyfriend Dakota Brubaker’s “close” resemblance to her…

June 11, 2025

Entertainment

Amanda Batula calls Paige DeSorbo’s Bravo exit ‘taking a summer off’: She’s ‘not done with TV’

The reality star is hoping her partner in crime will be back soon enough.

June 11, 2025

Politics

Defense Lawyers for Returned Deportee Ask Judge to Release Him Pretrial

The request came as lawyers in Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s separate civil case were poised to ask a different judge to hold the Trump administration in contempt for sidestepping one of her orders.

June 11, 2025

Governor Bryan Calls Legislature’s Unfunded Pay Mandate Irresponsible and Catastrophic to Government Budget

Warns of Empty Promises and Fiscal Setbacks for Government and Workers Alike U.S. Virgin Islands — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is strongly urging caution following the Legislature’s passage of Bill No. 36 0053, calling the mandated increase to a 35,000 dollar minimum salary for all government employees irresponsible, unfunded and catastrophic to the Government of the
The post Governor Bryan Calls Legislature’s Unfunded Pay Mandate Irresponsible and Catastrophic to Government Budget appeared first on Government of the United States Virgin Islands.

June 11, 2025