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July 11, 2007 – On news that the V.I. Board of Land Use Appeals rejected an appeal by the Friends of Coral Bay, Senator White immediately urged the V.I. Housing Finance Authority and developer, Reliance Housing Services to get moving on completion of the home ownership and rental project.
"People are desperate for housing," Senator White said. "While those who have hide behind bogus claims of environmental impact, indigenous St. Johnians are being forced into homelessness or have no choice but to live with their parents."
Calabash Boom is an affordable housing project consisting of 48 rental units and 24 town homes for home ownership. The project is inject $51 million into the St. John economy.
"Every time certain people in these islands hear the words 'affordable housing' suddenly they are anxious to try and abuse the appeals process and court system to keep grass roots people from getting what they already have," protested Senator White. "No one complained when they were building their homes, but now that Virgin Islanders are getting a shot at owning a piece of the rock, suddenly every housing project is bad for the environment."
The Board of Land Use Appeals arm of Coastal Zone Management voted unanimously to dismiss the charges made by the Friends of Coral Bay.
"Every single member of the board, a board of experts, found no problem with Calabash Boom proceeding," said Senator White. "72 families on St. John can now breathe a little easier and look forward to the day, several months from now, when they will be able to move into their new homes and apartments.
"I ask that the Friends of Coral Bay consider the needs of St. Johnians and instead of trying to hold up homeownership become Friends of the People," concluded Senator White.
