On Tuesday, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, St. Thomas-St. John Historic Preservation Committee met to decide on change applications for several projects in the historic preservation district. Changes ranged from aesthetic designs for roofing to the functionality of lamp posts.
Members Kevin Rodriguez, Kurt G. Marsh, William F. Newbold, and Collette Burgess were present and voted unanimously on all items.
Mark Wiechnik of MJB Caribbean Ventures, Inc.’s application HPC-44-2025 for Hotel 1829 involves the repair of two historical-style metal-framed signs at the entrance of the stairway at the front of the property. The application change involves repairing damaged metal signs at the front entrance, where one is missing its top and the other is bent. The signs serve as menu and business boards.
“The one on the left hand side facing the hotel, the one that needs the entire top replaced is the menu board, and the one on the right hand side is the business board,” said Wiechnik.
“Preservation guidelines allow but so many business signs for a business,” said Sean Krigger, director of the State Historic Preservation. “And I know the building has a building sign and there is a business hanging sign.”
Wiechnik clarified that the sign on the building is only the name and the signs that are intended to be repaired will serve to provide operation details.
The applicant’s project also involves restoring and updating the historic hotel. Ensuring that not only the signage maintains its original purpose and aesthetic, Weichnik also replaced light fixtures with elements obtained from Germany. Doing so aligned with street lighting standards approved by the State Historical Preservation Office.
“This light fixture, which is known as the Anno 1900, is from a company called Dhalhaus Lighting. This is the light fixture that was officially adopted as the official light design, or lamp post design, for lighting the public areas of Charlotte Amalie,” said Krigger.
He added that the light fixtures are also used on Main Street and at Roosevelt Park.
Wiechnik also proposed changes for second and third-floor guest suites in the rear of the hotel that were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria. The building will maintain historic rubble walls and structures but a new stairway and additional rooms will be added.
“The goal of the application here is to get the approvals to go move forward with rebuilding these destroyed guest rooms,” said Wiechnik. “Generally what we’re asking for today is for approvals to build back these rooms as they existed historically,” he added.
Committee members raised concerns about parking and enclosed spaces on the property, and cautioned Wiechnik to take heed for functional purposes.
The committee approved the application. Wiechnik was also approved to place a new hanging business sign in application HPC-43-2025 for At Home in the Tropics at Dronningens Gade 25.
Moreso, the committee approved Springline Architects for Crystal Blue Operations’s application HPC-7-2024 for the Crown House Hip roof covering on the west terrace at Dronningens Gade 26 and 27.
Kevin Qualls, the project’s architect and representative, said, “There were some comments and suggestions on the west roof and how to approach that,” he referenced last month’s meeting regarding the west wall.
As a result, the applicant has reduced and lowered the size and pitch of the roof and pulled it away from the chimney.
Additionally, the St. Thomas Historical Trust, Inc. was approved for application HPC-42-2010 to add a solar-powered lamppost on Bred Gade Step Street. Qualls, also representing the St. Thomas Historical Trust, found solar lamp posts from Amazon that he referenced as effective for the scope of work.
Acting board chair Rodriguez questioned the “lumens” requirement for public light fixtures and asked Krigger to verify. Krigger said the Public Works Department will have to provide the stipulations since the light posts are being placed on step-streets, which are pedestrian walkways. Later in the meeting, after the members voted unanimously to approve the application upon meeting the lumens requirement from the Public Works Department, it was addressed that the fixtures appear to be in line with legal requirements.
Application HPC-40-2025 for Clincy & Nelson LLP to add a five-square-foot flush mount business sign on 12D & 12AA Bjerge Gade was approved by the board, as well as Jackie DeCosta’s application, HPC-41-2025, for a new exterior paint color scheme that includes white trimming, black shutters, and a black door at 52 Dronningens Gade.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s application, HPC-45-2025, for Capital Complex Kongens Gade for a 5×8 advertisement to be hung on the legislative fence across from Fort Christian for five months was also approved.
“The Name Your Road Campaign is the most active campaign right now requesting the residents of the territory to assist in generating street names for the respective areas,” said Chris George, street addressing project manager.
Rodriguez questioned whether the new addresses would affect things such as postal deliveries.
“So you’re getting an official street address, nationally standardized, which the post office will use. So your property, your parcel and estate will always remain the same on your deeds, your property tax, your instruments of ownership, we’re linking a street address to it so that’s how it is nationally,” said George. “Most folks nationally don’t know their actual plot address. They know the street address, which is what they use with everything, but what we’re doing is adding that missing piece. So your parcel information always stays the same, you just have a street address that’s now linked to it.”
George added that it will also assist with waste pickup.
Lastly, some applications were tabled. HPC-42-2025 for the review of a new residential building in the Savan neighborhood at Gamle Gade 14B was tabled for the next meeting due to the applicant’s absence by technical difficulties. Applicants for HPC-30-2025 for Garden Bar and Restaurant at 58A Dronningens Gade were also absent.
