Although it’s been about seven years, controversy surrounding Vessup Bay development was pushed to the fore once again by recent Senate action, which is raising concerns among East End residents.
The issue over development originally surfaced in 2003, after Miami-based developer Lionstone Hotels and Resorts purchased land in Cabrita Point and Muller Bay, and contracted to buy about 17 more acres surrounding Vessup Bay for a hotel and condominiums, among other things.
Protests from various civic organizations — the Red Hook Community Alliance among them — led a 10-month charge against the development, which later paid off as senators passed a bill in April 2004 allowing the government to take the Vessup Bay land by eminent domain, and appropriating $3 million from the interest earned on debt service reserves account for its acquisition.
While then Gov. Charles W. Turnbull line-item vetoed the funding source, Sen. Louis P. Hill — the bill’s original sponsor — called for an override, which was enacted on a 10-2 vote.
While community groups continued to push for the government to move on the property, nothing happened, and during a full session held last month, senators voted to repeal the provision, which Hill said Monday has continued to hold the land’s owners "hostage."
The repeal was included in a last-minute omnibus bill that was recently signed into law by Gov. John deJongh Jr.
Contacted Monday, Hill explained that his original intent was to set up a public space on the East End of St. Thomas for residents to enjoy — a goal that was later accomplished when the government bought Lindqvist Beach. Meanwhile, no attempts were ever made to do the same with Vessup, and eventually, the $3 million was reprogrammed, he explained.
"It’s been eight years," Hill said, adding that he did not sponsor the repeal. "Nothing has been done to buy the property. So we’ve found ourselves in a situation where the private property owner has been in limbo, unable to develop their property, and I think it’s unfair for us to continue that, so, when this was proposed, I voted for it."
In a statement Monday, deJongh said that in signing the bill into law, the issue also came down to funding and that the money to buy the land has already been reprogrammed for "uses deemed to be a higher priority during this time of great economic hardship."
“But as I have recently stated, were a viable funding source identified, I would support the acquisition of the property," he added.
Meanwhile, local community groups are back out in full force, protesting the repeal. A meeting to discuss the issue will be held at the beach from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The meeting is being organized by former Red Hook Alliance President Andrea King, who led the charge the first time around; but joining in the fight this time are organizations, such as the Environmental Association of St. Thomas, which has been forwarding emails alerting residents to the issue.
