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August 05, 2005
Negotiations for Developing Maho Bay Are Under Way
There is a story in the St. John Source about the possible development of Maho. I don't see any mention of a public school being built there, which only a few months ago seemed like a real possibility. One interesting paragraph:
"Dudley said that today, no agency would allow a road to be built that close to the shore, but when the North Shore Road was built in 1961, people were less environmentally aware."
From what I have heard (and I think there are pictures that can support this) Maho was one of the largest beaches on St. John - width wise. Now it is really quite narrow. The reason is that there was so much sand there that the Army Corp of Engineers took that sand to fill in the marsh at Cruz Bay where the Westin is. Back then what they didn't understand was how the beaches formed and assumed the beach would come back - it never did. So even though the road is close to the beach, it originally was probably much further from the water line.
Posted by afinta at August 5, 2005 10:28 AM
Comments
The things that really got me with this is when they mentioned a dock, a "think tank" building on/near the beach, clearing rocks and dredging a former salt pond, and oh yeah, the public parking lot, somewhere near the beach. Maho will become an eyesore. IMO the undeveloped nature of Maho is one of the very things that makes St John so special. Where else in the world can you go and find a beach as beautiful, so near civilization? I hope either the zoning can be changed, or someone will step up to the $20-$30 million the heirs want and get that property to the Park, where it belongs. Or both.
Posted by: tencats ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/coconut-telegraph/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 5, 2005 02:21 PM
This whole thing just makes me want to cry! When we go to St. John, we stay at Maho Bay Camps. We enjoy the "eco-tourism" and the fact that where we stay was built with preserving the environment as much as possible.
I cannot imagine approaching the Maho Bay overlook and not seeing the lush green hillside, the beach, and the water. You can barely see MBC from there! The sight will just be horrible!
I also heard rumor of a hotel chain getting in on the action. Is there any truth to that?
Posted by: EvieLou at August 11, 2005 11:52 AM
There have been many stories floated about what is going to happen with that property. I would think a straight commercial use such as a hotel would face the stiffest resistance and rate that a very long shot - but that is just my opinion!
Posted by: afinta at August 11, 2005 12:08 PM
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