Dec. 4, 2003 – Two sets of back-to-back public hearings relating to historic preservation in the territory are scheduled for Dec. 11 in Christiansted and 12 in Frederiksted, according to a release from the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
The St. Croix Historic Preservation Commission will conduct two hearings regarding the nomination of structures and locales to be placed on the V.I Registry of Historic Buildings, Sites and Places. According to the release, the hearings are to review nominations received, which include public and privately owned buildings, cemeteries, wells, churches, markets, piers, schools, trees, archeological sites and sugar mills.
The first hearing will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the American Legion Hall in Christiansted.
The second is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Fort Frederik Museum.
Nominations to the registry must be approved by the Legislature. Properties already listed on the National Register are automatically included in the V.I. inventory.
After those two hearings conclude, the territory's Historic Preservation Office will solicit public comment from 8 to 10 p.m. at the same locations on its proposed five-year plan for 2003-2008. The plan "outlines the goals and objectives for the next five-year cycle," the release stated.
According to another DPNR release, the document "provides a thematic framework for the study of the islands' prehistory and history and briefly outlines the range of cultural resources known to exist throughout the islands." It also summarizes preservation efforts to date and related legislation, along with the outlook for proposed efforts.
With 2003 nearly at its end, it was not clear how the year would be included in the plan.
A St. Thomas hearing also is scheduled on the draft plan, on Dec. 15.
Copies of the draft five-year plan and of the local and national historic registry lists are available to the public at the DPNR main office at Mars Hill, Frederiksted, and at the Florence Williams Library in Christiansted. At the two 8 p.m. hearings, marked-up copies of the draft plan will be collected, along with comments and questions, the release stated. For more information, call 773-1082, ext. 2238.
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