Dec. 28, 2001 – Anyone who noticed four groupings of ungainly large brown cement objects huddled on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront apron on Christmas morning may have blamed it on too much eggnog the night before. Except that they were still there the next day, and the next.
Well, on Friday morning the odd-looking objects were transformed into things of beauty — a dozen planters that now embellish the waterfront eastward from across Veterans Drive from Palm Passage, filled with the tropical foliage of palm trees and silver buttonwood plants.
Port Authority workers brought in truckloads of the palms, which they transferred with an earth mover to the waiting planters. The buttonwood plants didn't pose any such logistical challenge.
Byron Todman, Port Authority senior engineer, said the planters are part of an overall waterfront beautification effort – but should not be confused with the waterfront apron beautification project awarded to the Yssis Design Group by the VIPA board last June. That project is still in the contract stage, he said.
Meanwhile, another St. Thomas waterfront enhancement initiative ran into trouble earlier this week. The newly refurbished Emil White monument, surrounded by planters and benches, was partially up-ended when a water line abutting the structure had to be replaced by the Water and Power Authority. Todman said he expects the monument, across from the USO building, to be repaired soon.
