DPNR has asked Atlantic Northstar LLC to submit a written explanation regarding why the company was advertising for sale its 15-acre property located at parcel K in Estate Gift and Regenback with a group dwelling permit that is not transferable, following a report by St. John Tradewinds.
St. Croix real estate company Calabash Real Estate removed its listing for the parcel from its Web site following inquiries by the newspaper.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) was unaware of the companyÂ’s attempt to sell its 15-acre parcel with the group dwelling permit, and plans for a 36-unit condominium complex, until the newspaperÂ’s investigation brought it to the agencyÂ’s attention, according to DPNR officials.
DPNR Must Consent
“Before it can be listed for sale, the commissioner would have to consent to the transfer of the permit,” said Marjorie Emmanuel, director of DPNR’s Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning.
Emmanuel said she was most concerned about the affordable housing stipulation in the permit which requires Atlantic Northstar to provide the V.I. Affordable Housing Program, through the V.I. Housing Finance Authority, $850,000 for affordable housing on St. John.
“If Atlantic Northstar sells the property and no longer holds the permit, can we get the new permit holder to commit to the agreement with HFA?” said Emannuel.
“After all that we went through with this permit, and on the heels of it being approved, they are selling it with no notification to us. We have been hounded to get this permit approved and we worked diligently,” she said.
Explanation Awaited
The letter of explanation was due on Wednesday, Feb. 1. As of Friday afternoon, Feb. 17, the letter had still not been received.
Emmanuel was scheduled to meet with a representative of Atlantic Northstar on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The outcome of the meeting was not known at press time.
“We have to look more closely at what is going on,” she said. “Using the permit to market this property is not right.”
