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June 28, 2007 – In a letter sent to Delegate to Congress, Donna M. Christensen, Senator Carlton Dowe asked Christensen for her "assistance in having the 34.5 acres of land located at Parcel No. 119 and 120 Remainder Estate Bordeaux as well as the properties located at 100 1-5 Taarneberg, 3A, 3B-1, 2, 3 and 4 and 3B Donoe and 2-BD Estate Paradise returned to the Virgin Islands Government."
The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority conveyed the 34.5 acres of land to the Virgin Islands Housing Authority in July 1995. The properties also include the former Warren E. Brown and Donoe apartments on St. Thomas and the Louis Browne apartments on St. Croix.
The Senator had previously written to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) asking that the properties owned by the Virgin Islands Housing Authority be relinquished to the Virgin Islands Government so that they can be developed.
"The lack of action by HUD to utilize these properties for affordable housing opportunities has demonstrated that there is no interest in developing these properties," the Senator wrote. "Since, the Virgin Islands Government is fully prepared to have these properties developed for low income and affordable housing opportunities it is only fitting that these properties be relinquished."
"We must be prepared to do for ourselves what the Federal Government is not willing to do for us," the Senator concluded.
