Want to buy a brick? Your money, and your brick, can help spruce up the crumbling, sometimes-dangerous sidewalks in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
The installation of new sidewalk bricks began Wednesday in front of the Emancipation Garden Station post office. The installation is part of the Charlotte Amalie 2000 initiative sponsored by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.
The resurfacing, which will eventually include all the alleyways and streets in downtown Charlotte Amalie, is being funded by the chamber's Adopt-a-Brick program and corporate sponsors.
Engraved bricks, which can have a two-line message, are being sold by the chamber for $50 to individuals and $100 to corporations.
Adopt-a-brick is the brainchild of architectural consultant Jose Ortega and the Charlotte Amalie 2000 committee, headed by Thomas B. Brunt III.
The chamber is suppling the materials for the project and the Public Works Department is providing the manpower.
The corporate sponsors of the Adopt-a-Brick program are:
—- Citibank, N.A.
—- MSI Building Supplies
— Topa Equities (V.I.) Ltd.
—- A.H. Riise Stores
—- Lockhart Caribbean Inc.
—- Cardow Inc.
—- The Yellow Book – VNU Directories
—- Island Media Inc.
—- Diamonds International
—- Guardian Insurance Co.
—- West Indian Co. Ltd.
—- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
—- Knight Quality Stations
—- Spenceley Office Equipment
—- Bernard K. Passman Gallery