The following material is being published, unedited, exactly as it was received via e-mail from the office of the government official named below, as a Source community service. Government office holders wishing to contribute to the bulletin board must e-mail [email protected]. The Source reserves the right to choose what is published.

Jan. 30, 2006 – Senator Celestino A. White Sr. applauds the St. John Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZM) for their vision, strong-stand and courage in approving CZM Permit No. CZJ-5-05L for Reliance Housing Services, LLC, to construct affordable housing at Calabash Boom, St. John.
Calabash Bash Boom, a 24 town home and 48 affordable housing apartment complex to be constructed in Coral Bay, St. John, is being developed by Reliance Housing Services LLC in cooperation with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority as part of the amended Affordable Housing Initiative of 2002, according to Senator White.
Despite a very misdirected, aggressive and negative campaign to stop the project by some members of the "Friends of Coral Bay", the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) provided the CZM Commission with a detail, concise and well researched favorable report regarding the development. Each and every concern raised by the "Friends of Coral Bay" was adequately addressed in the report and mitigation and special conditions were recommended by the staff at DPNR, stated Senator White.
Reliance Housing Services LLC, is the same company that is presently constructing Bellevue Village (72 rental units), St. John and Phase II of Lovenlund (96 rental units), high on the hill at Magens Bay in St. Thomas. Phase I of Lovenlund (99 rental units) was constructed in 2003. Their commitment to quality workmanship, high standard and sensitivity to environmental issues is a matter of public record, continued Senator White.
I have long maintained that our residents deserve and are entitled to live and enjoy the beautiful vistas normally set aside and reserved for the well-connected few. To this end, I am calling on all residents of St. John to stay alert and pay close attention to those groups and organizations hell bent on preventing you from enjoying the beauty of your homeland, concluded Senator White.