Community Development and Historic Preservation
St. Croix Foundation firmly believes that the health of St. Croix’s towns plays a pivotal role in the community’s social and economic development. As part of our focus on Community Revitalization, St. Croix Foundation has taken the lead in rebuilding and revitalizing our historic town centers through several ongoing initiatives.
Scrape and Paint and Rejuvenate
Hailed as St. Croix’s Twin Cities, two of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, the rapid deterioration of Christiansted and Frederiksted has resulted in a loss of cultural resources and economic growth. In an attempt to address the problem in 2001, St. Croix Foundation launched the Scrape, Paint Rejuvenate Program, which identifies selected commercial and residential properties in need of painting and minor repairs. The program also aims to eliminate trash-infested areas through abandoned lot cleaning.
To date, some 100 buildings within Christiansted town limits have been repainted and numerous lots cleaned, slowly improving the tenor of the town.
St. Croix Foundation has partnered with several community based organizations to secure funding so that the SPR program can be replicated in Frederiksted and St. Thomas.
The Scrape, Paint & Rejuvenate Program is funded by a Community Development Block Grant and accepts applications from private properties in downtown Christiansted on a rolling basis. To apply, download both SPR Application and the V. I. Historic Preservation applications.
Scrape Paint Rejuvenate Application, click here.
VI Historic Preservation Application, click here.
Alexander Theater Project
Once a thriving movie theater and the center of activity in the mid to late-1900s, the Old Alexander Theatre currently stands in disrepair. In St. Croix Foundation’s long-range plans, the theatre is slated to be transformed into a modern performing arts center, which will include a movie screen primarily for independent and foreign productions, and a stage for plays and performances.
The first phase of renovations includes demolition and removal of old furniture and fixtures and installation of new electrical wiring and plumbing. For photos and information on the history of the theatre, click here.
Sunday Market Square
In 1998, through the acquisition of several abandoned buildings, previously owned by a bankrupt Community Development Corporation, St. Croix Foundation committed itself to reviving the once healthy commercial center historically known as Sunday Market Square.
As the official entrance to downtown Christiansted, Sunday Market Square, or “Times Square” as it is commonly referred to, for centuries served as a center of commerce and a communal meeting place for slaves and freed coloreds. It remained a gathering spot among St. Croix’s residents through the mid 1900s. However, after several decades of neglect and social decay, coupled with the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the Square became host to seedy elements in the community.
To date, St. Croix Foundation has restored four of our properties in Sunday Market Square all of which are now occupied with viable commercial businesses. For more information about Sunday Market Square, click here.
Sunday Market Square Business Incubator
Maintaining our commitment to economic development, in 2009, St. Croix Foundation launched the Territory’s first Small Business Incubator in Sunday Market Square, with the goal of nurturing and strengthening burgeoning small businesses- the core of every community’s economic health and vitality.
Having identified the most prominent building in the Square for our Business Incubator, the Old Chase Building currently provides cost-effective fully equipped office space for new and emerging small businesses. Our Incubator also contains a twenty-seat conference room with video/internet capabilities for use by the community at-large.
For SMS Business Incubator Information and Inquiry Price Sheet, click here.
For Video Conference Room Rental Rates, click here.
For more about Sunday Market Square, click here.
