Estate Concordia Preserve - St. John Virgin Islands

2008-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

We're Back Online!
Our apologies for not keeping you up to date on happenings at Concordia.

Great News
Our roadway to Cafe Concordia and Concordia General Store is now paved and we're open for business. Dates, Hours and details coming soon!

Thank you for your continued interest in Estate Concordia Preserve

2007-11-20T05:16:00.000-08:00

Cafe Concordia Is On The Map.....

We hope that as high season rolls in you will all stop by and participate in many of the Activities we have planned.
We expect a busy season!

The store and cafe have reopened and business is really picking up!! As word spreads about our new pavilion area more locals and visitors have stopped in to see what we have to offer out here on the south side of St. John!!

Shane Casto, our new Chef-Cafe Manager, has prepared a long list of delicacies for the upcoming season. If the food is anything like what I've tasted since he fired up the grill on November 1st the Cafe is going to be a popular spot as word spreads across the island.

Shane (seen above) recently moved to island and was working at the Maho Bay Camps restaurant. The opportunity to try his hand at running the cafe here at Concordia was right up his alley. His fresh ideas combined with interest in organic food, bio-dynamic gardening, and vegan options have amazed diners night after night. The cafe features a refreshing salad bar offering organic "Josephine's Greens", locally grown in Coral Bay. Also offered are nightly vegetarian options, tropical smoothies, and scrumptious delicacies off the 6ft grill. The cafe, on our lower level, offers alfresco dining with a sunset view.

The store has expanded its selection for the season and guests have been giving welcome feedback on both the prices and our selection. Don't forget we offer a pre-provisioning service. Your goods will be waiting for you in your unit. Make sure to get your order in a week before arrival!

We can also make gift baskets for any occasion under the sun!!

Our Activities desk has been busy arranging outings for our guests such as sails around St. John, hikes, donkey rides, and day excursions to the British Virgin Islands. We can book any of these activities for you in advance, particularly if you will be visiting during the holiday season or school vacation weeks. It is a good idea to book these trips early due to heavy demand during the high season from December to April. If you are interested in and excursion contact our Activities Desk directly by emailing them at ecactivities@maho.org!!

The Concordia Staff was honored to host the reception for ReCaribe 2007, the 13th Annual Wider Caribbean Wast Management Conference on November 5th. Over 100 representatives from 15 countries munched on Shane and Caroline's hors d'ouvres while listening to keynote speakers from as far away as Canada. The response to our food and service was wonderful. The event served as a great learning experience for our Pavilion rental business amd he facility easily accomodated the large group.

The speakers included our very own Stanly Selengut, who spoke to the group on his own "Trash to Treasures" recycled art program at Maho Bay Camps.

The images above and below are views of the pavilion are a during Stanley's speech.The Maho Bay Camps Art Center uses recycled paper, textiles, glass, aluminum, and clay to create works of art that are sold in the Maho Art Gallery and in stores across St. John. We also feature a selection of the recycled products in our own general store.

The Art Center offers many classes for adults and children. During the high season nightly glass blowing demonstrations draw guests and visitors to the Maho Bay Camp Art Center.

To get more information on art classes and purchasing your own recycled ware email Melody Smith at melody@maho.org.

You can also purchase Maho Camps art and logo wear on our website www.maho.org.

We have begun promoting our pavilion space for the upcoming spring wedding season and we hope to host weddings and receptions here at Concordia. Our pavilion is the perfect spot for any type of function from yoga retreats, wedding receptions, group meetings, star gazing, and even meditation sessions. The constant breeze and dramatic view is a beautiful backdrop to any occasion.

For more information and to book the pavilion space email me at audrey@maho.org or weddings@maho.org!!

I look forward to hearing from you!!

2007-09-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

~ Estate Concordia Preserve ~
Now that our Pavilion, Store and Cafe Concordia construction phase is nearly 100% completed, we'll be morphing the blog into an info space where you can find out what's happening here at Concordia, at Maho Bay Camps, and around St. John. I will continue to post as frequently as possible, probably weekly. The photos in this posting were taken around our property so you can get an idea of the tranquility and beauty of our location on the island. Feel free to write to me if you have any questions about either property and if I can't answer your questions I will pass them along to someone who can.

Concordia has been closed for the month of September for maintenance and renovations , and has reopened on October 1. The store is open , Cafe Concordia will reopen in late October or early November.

As you may have seen in the last posting we have begun to add new activities to our weekly schedule and we are planning to have many more exciting activities for the upcoming season. I would love to use this blog and the ease of the Internet to invite you to give us feedback on the sorts of activities you would like to participate in at Concordia.

The Activity desk is in the Concordia general store where you can also rent snorkel gear and beach chairs during your stay. You don't have to be a guest to utilize our activity desk so feel free to stop up if you are visiting Salt Pond bay or hiking to Ram Head while you are on St. John. For the upcoming season our activities will be expanding to possibly include many of the following functions: movies, tours, introductory slide show, live music, crab races, guided hikes, massage, yoga, and guided snorkels. As I mentioned feel free to give me your feedback, we want to provide our guests with as many exciting activity options as possible.

I would also like to announce that both Concordia and Maho will be joining the fight to reduce plastic waste on our planet. Beginning this season we will be removing all single serving bottled water from our store shelves and replacing them will refillable containers that can be purchased and refilled with chilled reverse osmosis water from an island bottling company. We hope that this will greatly reduce the amount of plastic waste on St. John. St. John does not currently have a plastics recycling program. The Maho Art Center works to reduce waste at the camp by recycling linens, glass, and aluminum. Every scrap of solid waste removed from the stream makes a difference. In a recent August 20th Time magazine article it was shown that a leading bottled water company produced 7lbs of green house gases in just transportation of their product. It also stated that we create nearly 2 billion lbs of plastic bottle waste a year in the US alone. By making this small change, we hope to affect a considerable reduction in the amount of waste created by our campgrounds. We hope that you will support us in our efforts to preserve our island paradise for our residents and future visitors alike.

In the coming season we will also begin offering our guests a high speed internet connection at three stations in our general store. The time for Internet use will be purchased in the store and can be used during your stay with us. Perhaps in time we will also be creating a hot spot in our Cafe, where for a fee anyone would be able to connect a wireless equipped laptop!

I hope you choose to join us this season, partake in our new activities and see how great a green vacation realy can be!!

Hope to see you soon!!!

2007-08-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

~Whats Happening At Concordia~

WHAC

It's been very busy around camp since the store and cafe opened in early May. It has been hard to find time to update the blog much less take pictures of the events that we have hosted in our new pavilion.

Our recent guests have had the chance to enjoy our new Activity area, weekly yoga classes, guided hikes, hermit crab races, and of course the delicious food in our cafe.

Above you can see one of the hermit crab races that were held in the pavilion area. Currently we are having hermit crab races twice a week. We are trying to make the pavilion activities both fun and educational so a brief lecture on the crabs and their activity in the wild is given prior to each race. The kids come up with their own names for the crabs and bait is used to lure the crab to the end of the track.

The hermit crab races have been very popular with the kids and their parents as well. We always insure that no kids or crabs are hurt during the race.

The race above was a photo finish, I think he won by an antennae....!

I have also been doing a weekly hike to Ram Head, which is the closest of the hiking trails in the National Park. During the hike I identify numerous plants and animals that we come encounter with and also answer any of the guests questions. The hike is almost 2 miles there and back across the rugged terrain of the south side of St. John. Above is a picture of my first group of hikers: Bob, Tom, Rachel, Thomas, Grace, Cam, Laura, Colin, Ellie, and Owen. You guys were great!!

We stopped at the top of Ram Head for a break, snack, and a chance to cast a wish into the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Ram Head is 300ft above sea level.

Ram Head is a very unique location that is touched by both of these oceans!!

The image above is a picture of Concordia from the top of Ram Head. You can see how far the hike is with this picture. The large structure in the lower part of the resort is the store, cafe, and pavilion area.

The resort will be closed during September but when we re-open in October there will be new activities and events so keep checking back with us.

Don't forget to send your comments and questions I am always happy to help!!

2007-06-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Cafe Concordia!!A great deal has happened here at the resort since my last posting over a month ago. I have been so busy it was hard to even find time to make this posting.

Please send me your comments, many guests have told me they have enjoyed reading the blogg and I am glad to have such a wide range of readers out there in cyber space.

As always, feel free to ask me any qestions about our property or your future stay with us.

We had our grand opening ceremony on May 11th and it was a great success. The festivities began and ended with the food, of course. Our Chef Mon Phon grilled up tantalizing appetizers to go along with his large buffet table that was set up in the cafe. On the menu we had Mahi taco's, bruchetta, sushi, grilled sausage, heart of palm dip, veggie platters, homemade organic salsa, and much more.

Above Mon shows off his knife skills in the kitchen as he prepares for the grand opening.

In the image above you can see the rum punch station outside of the store. Below you can see the larger of the buffet tables down in the cafe.

The turn out for our opening was great. Locals and tourists alike showed up to see the finished product of our latest expansion project.

I know they were all impressed by what they found!

Above Mervin shares his tray of bruchetta with our guests.

Papa Joe our outgoing General Manager and Cici mingled with our guests down at the bar in the cafe.

The food was enticing but the sweet steel pan music of the Love City Pan Dragons entertained all of our guests throughout the night. You can see a couple on the right dancing to the music. When you do visit St. John you should try to visit the LCPD pan yard or even catch a performance if you are lucky!

The store was open for business that night and discount cards were being distributed to potential customers. Our general store features an activity center(see below), cyber cafe, wine, beer, produce, ice cream, snorkel gear and chair rental, hygienic products, Maho art, dry goods, locally made items, and we also offer pre-provisioning for our tents and studio units. Let me know if you would be interested in any of the services we provide.

Above you can see the gift corner in the store were guests can purchace local hot sauce, post cards, Concordia wear, Maho art, and books.

Yoga class have also begun in our Yoga pavilion. Classes are held on Thursday mornings at 8AM with Lori Walden. Each class is $15 per session paid to the instructor.

Come join us.... your table awaits you!!

Cafe Hours: Thursday - Tuesday 5:30 - 8

"Grill It Yourself" Monday and Tuesday Night!!

Store Hours: 7 Days 8AM-7:30PM

2007-04-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new Cafe, Store, and Pavilion!!

The day is fast approaching for you to join us at our newly built pavilion site. The construction is complete and we are stocking the shelves, fine tuning the menu, and rolling up the yoga mats in anticipation of your joining us for our grand opening.

Our cafe manager Mon Phon and store manager Sara Over have joined the team and are ironing out the workings of our brand new cafe and store. Mon, a well traveled chef is planing a wonderful menu that will feature both Caribbean and Asian cuisine as well as special "you be the grill master" dinner . Sara joins our team from our sister property Maho Bay and hopes to provide you with all the essential sundries for your Caribbean vacation.

Above is a picture of the cafe area and chairs overlooking beautiful Salt Pond Bay where fantastic sunsets can be viewed all winter long. You may think the image below was taken from the pavilion but it is a mural done by local artist Kat Sowa.

Gail Van De Bogart a local potter made these beautiful sconces for us at the Maho Bay art studio. The sconces are made of both clay and recycled glass. They line the breezeway between the store and massage area.Our first guest were able to enjoy the pavilion this weekend and all reports on their stay were great. We can't wait for you to join us as well!

The image below gives you a view of the pavilion area with the rock garden in the back ground.

We are only a 20 minute walk up our trail from Salt Pond Bay and only 20 minute drive out of near by Coral Bay on Route 107. The view is beautiful and the breeze is cool so stop by and visit us. Our site features a general store, yoga and massage by appointment, activities center, beach gear rental, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We are fully wheelchair accessible and of course groups are always welcome!

We hope to see you soon!

2007-03-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

We have all been hard at work in the last few weeks. The crew is working to set up the cafe today and the store will be soon to follow. Kat Sowa has been on site these last weeks working on the finishing touches of her mural and also on the positioning of the boulder garden landscaping around the site. Above is a picture of Kat's completed mural. The picture hardly does it justice you just have to come and see it in person.The guys were able to complete the slab pour between the two buildings that will aid in wheelchair access to all parts of the site. Our campground already has 4 accessible tents and this will allow our guests who are in wheelchairs to also access our dining, yoga center, store, and pavilion facilities.Above Cyrille smoothes out the slab to insure that no water will pond on the slab when it rains.The back staircase is almost completed as well. Alfredo is working diligently on the fabrication of the baulsters now that the handrails are in place.The awning is complete and ready for the fabric to be installed. We are ordering a sand colored fabric in a fire resistant finish to complete the cafe site. The grill will be out doors and we need to insure the safety of its constant operation. Out bar is ready this week and will be delivered and installed by the end of this week. I will be sure to add pictures when this happens.

Kat is overseeing the placement of each boulder to insure that they all add to the natural beauty of the site. All of the boulders that are being used were removed from the site during the initial excavation. We have tried to re-use all the materials from the site that we could.Eva, Kat and Dave's timid pooch, searches for shade in the heat of the day. That might not be the best place to sleep!

Above Bobby our excavator poses with Kat next to one of the larger boulders that he helped us position at the entrance of the cafe.
As mentioned above the cafe is being set up today. Above Mon the new cafe manager tours the site with Joe and Jennifer. In the image below Mon and Maggie work to unwrap all of the appliances in the cafe. We are getting our electrical inspection tomorrow so we can then begin stocking our coolers for opening day! The landscapers are on site today working on the placement of the cactus garden and other plant around the site. Below you can see them working on the rock garden.

Jody, one of our excavators, takes a break in the shade on the newly created seating area. These rocks will be used by guest for star gazing at night, climbing, and as a shady spot during the day.

Below you can see our finished pavilion deck. Its hard to believe that this entire project began with an idea of creating a yoga center and has transformed into a beautiful spot for meetings, weddings, lunch, dinner, breakfast, and just plain relaxation. I just can't wait for it to open!

Well, I have to go work on the store layout but if you have any questions about our new store, cafe, or pavilion feel free to email me. I would be more than happy to answer any of your questions!

Check back soon!!

2007-02-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

The guys have stepped into over drive on the last few weeks. The roof has been completed and the skylights in the store are almost ready to be installed. We hope to open the store and bathroom areas in the next week. The cafe and pavilion will be the next step.

We received concrete last week to pour the walkway and the stairs and the entrance of the site. We are scheduled to receive two more loads one this week and another next week to complete the wheelchair access and walkways.

Pouring the walkway takes three or four guys and a great deal of hard work. It all must happen quickly to insure the concrete does not harden before they have distributed it evenly. Below Dave, Stafford, Alfredo, Segundo, and Lennox work together to distribute the concrete.The railings will be attached to the outer side once the cement has hardened.

Cyrille is working on the landing which will house the ice machine outside of the cafe level.Below Alfredo walks up the newly completed staircase which connects the cafe to the upper pavilion area.The painters are back on site and have begun to paint the floor of the store so we can install the shelves and coolers this weekend. It will be nice to have one part of the project complete. In the image below you can see Cyrille working in the skylight opening to form up the raised opening for both windows. The two loads of gravel arrived last week and we have had the track hoe out at the site working to distribute it evenly across the pavilion area and also in the parking area in the image below. The gravel should help with dust and mud once the pavilion has opened. Below you can see the track hoe preparing the parking lot area for the gravel and also our first delivery.

Below you can see the huge mound of gravel that must be distributed in this area.

As mentioned above the roof installation has been completed and it looks wonderful.

Alfredo and Edward have completed the staircase down from the campground area. Below you can see the almost finished product.

Our welder has been working hared to complete the awning supports so that the fabric can be attached as soon as possible. Below you can see a picture of Paul welding the beams together on the cafe deck. We have also received the roll down shutters and are working on installing those as we speak.

The parking lot gravel has been distributed and it looks great.

What a wonderful view we have!!

2007-02-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

The crew was downsized last week so that only our skilled trade men are working now. The projects are coming along quickly and most are nearly complete. Once the awning has been installed the cafe deck in the image below will be a cool and shady place to eat in the morning.

In the images below you can see Edward working to finish the stairs that will lead from the store down to the cafe. Due to a lack of concrete we have been set back a bit but there are many other projects that can be tackled in the mean time.

The beams for the roof were lifted, cut, and welded into place last week as well. You can see below how this looks. Since then Paul, Cyrille, and Lennox have completed the attachment of the cross beams and are ready to install the plastic greenhouse material on the buildings and also between them on the larger roof area. The roof has gutter attachments and is tested for hurricane strength winds so it is ideal for our application on the site. The material is lightweight, durable, and allows for natural light penetration into the buildings. Above you can see Paul climbing to the top of the scaffolding to attach parts of the green house roofing system. You can also see the flowers attached to the roof, which is a Virgin Islands tradition any time you finish a roof in construction.
Cyrille and Paul have been working hard to set up both the male and female bathroom areas. They installed the partitions and are working with Maggie on the specs of the handicapped side of the stalls. The sinks and toilets are in as you can see. We just need the plumber to hook them all up to the water system and the sewer lines.

In the image below you can see that the railing installation is almost complete. In the background is Drunk Bay, which can be accessed from our campground by trail.Once we receieve concrete on Wednesday we will be able to attach the remaining sections of railing. The crew has also begun work on the lower staircase which will allow guests to climb up to the pavilion from the deck of the cafe (see below). The ice machine for the cafe will also be on the left in this area. Addisiah came down from Registration to check out the site. She was very impressed by the progress that has been made in the last few weeks. All the employees in the Campground can't wait to have a place to purchase drinks or food and just relax during lunch breaks.In the image below you can see Stafford and Bernard working to attach the last section of railing on the cafe level.

Our electrician Steve Slade from Pangea is working to run all of the wires in the store and cafe. He installed the ceiling fans in the cafe yesterday and they look very nice. Below he and Maggie take moment for a picture next to the breaker box in the store.

Eyeball Engineering allowed us to use their truck and forklift to transport the coolers for both the store and cafe up to the site. All of the crew worked to roll the coolers into their locations with ease. Below you can see the crew maneuvering the cooler across the deck and into the cafe area.

It was a tight fit but the coolers made it into their predetermined areas with ease. Once all of the breakers and outlets have been installed we will begin to set them up and test them all.Maggie is meeting with two of St. Johns finest native plant experts to plan for the native plant garden on the site. Once the plants have had a chance to catch themselves on our site locals will be able to visit Concordia to see how certain plants grow on the island in hopes that they too will replant their properties with native flora as well.Above you can see Gary Ray, Curtis from Heaven On Earth Landscaping, and Maggie on a tour of the site. In the background is Salt Pond Bay which can be seen from all levels of the pavilion site.

Cyrille an Paul have moved on to the insallation of the roof over the pump room on the Cafe level. On the left is the 6ft grill, which will be the main attraction of the cafe.

Progess is happening fast so check back soon!!

2007-01-31T07:16:00.000-08:00

This week is a big one for us one the site. All of our contractors are on the job putting the finishing touches to their part of the construction.

The trailer is unloaded as I mentioned before and we have secured the items for the mean time at our staff house. In the image above you can see the items covered by a tarp. Once the roof sections arrive we will begin to move the large coolers into the store and cafe areas.

Cyrille and Paul are working diligently to fasten the steel beams that will be the support for the green house roofing material that will cover the store and bathroom entrance. In the image above you can see how it comes together, below you can see Paul getting dirty cutting the cement for the beams on the bathroom side.

Below Cyrille gives me a demonstration of how he fell on our last construction project. He is trying to be much more careful this time, so don't worry mom!!The crew poured the cap for the rock cribs along the entire length of the site last week. In the image below you can see Stafford attaching the rebar inside the form.

The cap will be used in attaching the railing system that arrived a few weeks ago. The crew has begun opening the boxes and reading the directions to insure it is put together properly.

The cap is about 2 feet wide and will almost disappear once the gravel has been installed. You can see the railing system in the images below. All the sections must be counted and organized prior to installation.

The crew poured the cover for the cistern and the counter in the cafe last week as well. In the picture below you can see that the counter is in the same style as the bathroom counters and has already been painted as well. The plumber, painter, welder, and electrician have all been out the the site working on their projects.

One of our contractors, Eyeball Engineering, is doing our onsite welding and they are moving quickly. You can see him working to weld the large I beams together for the roof support in the picture below. Once he has completed this he will move on to the roof cross beams, the grill grease trap, and awning supports for the cafe.

Check back with us soon for more updates and on site news!!

2007-01-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

It all seems to be coming together in the final weeks of the project. The crew has begun work on the final touches and larger projects that are currently scheduled. As you can see in the images below the last column was poured and the frame was also removed this week. It came out great, thanks Stafford!!

Segundo is back on the job and he seems to also be relaxed after his well deserved trip home. It is good to have he, Dave, and Stafford on the job to insure that it all comes together properly. The crew has stepped up to the challenge of our deadline and all seem very confident.

Our trailer finally arrived from Miami after numerous delays and we have successfully unloaded all of the coolers, ice machines, and various restaurant supplies that it contained. The guys were able to use sheer manpower to unload the coolers due to the lack of available forklifts on the island. Segundo worked to build a ramp from the trailer and used peices of PVC pipe to roll the larger items right out and onto the platform where they will be stored until we are ready for installation.

The bulldozer is still on site working to clear the gravel area and move the rock pile out of the new parking area. The crew was able to finish the rock cribs in the wall on the rear of the building. In the image above you can see how the wall was completed.

The cafe area is being leveled this week and a thin layer of sand is being put down for the paver installation. In the image above you can see Segundo working to remove larger rocks with a pick in order to create a level surface to lay the pavers on.

The pavers are all 16" square and must be laid precisely to insure correct spacing. In the image above you can see the pipe which will be hooked up to the bar sink in the outside bar on the cafe level.

Nat takes a moment to analyze how the paver installation is coming along. Once hey have all been laid they will sweep sand across the top and into the spaces to allow for a cushion between each brick.

In the image above you can see Edward smiling as usual. The triangle area to the left a planter is proposed to be built and planted with various vines and other native plants.

The installation is coming along quickly by the end of today they will be complete.

We have decided to include two skylights in the store area for more natural light. These windows will be installed next week when they arrive. The painter will begin work this weekend in the cafe and bathrooms applying both the primer and top coat colors.
The work in the bathrooms has been completed and is ready for paint. In the images above and below you can see what went into forming up the walls, closets, and countertops in both bathrooms. I love the sinks that were chosen they are very elegant.
The door installation is going well. All of the storage closet doors have been attached and the doors to the storgage rooms in the bathroom building have also been hung as you can see below. The doorknob and dead bolt cut outs must be cut before anything else can happen with them.

The installation of a deadman reinforcement began today. Stafford and Bernard work in the trench to attach rebar to the rock crib. This trench will be poured with concrete to add in securing the heavy rock baskets to the center of the gravel area.

In the image below you can see that a storage room has also been added to the massage room for any additional materials pertaining to the pavilion area.

This counter in the cafe is the next project for the crew. The counter must be hand poured like our exterior columns and also the counters in the bathrooms. When we open this counter will be used for continental breakfast and other items during meal service.

2007-01-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

I hope the seasons treated all of our readers well!!

I woul like to wish a Happy New Year to you all!!

As the crew returns from a needed vacation we continue work on the finishing of our construction project. We welcome both Cyrille and Paul back to the site today for their first day back on the job. They both seem to have had a rewarding vacation and are anxious to finish up the project.

After work on Friday I took a trip down to Salt Pond for a swim and a look at how the pavilion looks from down below. In the image above you can see the resort and the new buildings on the lower portion of the site. Once the vegetation has grown around the new buildings they will be able to blend in even more. We are planning to have a native plant interpretive garden at the pavilion site, which will add to the beauty and educational value of our eco-development.

The glass block inlay has finally been completed and they have turned out fabulous. As you can see in the image above, we used a colored stucco for the outside of the buildings so no painting will be needed once the stucco has finished its drying process. The crew are in the process of attaching the greenhouse roof material to both the store and bathroom buildings.

We were able to complete the pavilion floor construction during the holiday season and it is now ready to be sealed and painted. Alfredo and Lennox worked on the installation of the trecks on the outer edge and also the placement of plywood in the center, which will be sealed this week.

Alfredo takes a moment to admire his newly built steps and his finished pavilion floor. Gravel will be spread out in the dirt area to meet the bottom step.

This is a view from the massage room adjacent to the pavilion. This room will be relaxing due to the natural light, which will pour through the greenhouse roofing material. We will be able to offer massage by appointment, quite like Maho, once we are up and running.

Stafford and the crew removed the frame from column #4 and worked on pouring column #5 last week as well. Stafford did a great job keeping the crew focused durring the holiday break. Many vendors taking time off as well held us back but he was able to keep everyone on task, never the less. In the image above Stafford smiles at the latest column creation.

They just keep getting better each time!!

We have a bulldozer on site this week working to make room for more rock cribs to complete the gravel area off of the pavilion. The crew must fill and attach 5-10 more baskets to sturcturally complete the rock wall. These cribs must be filled by hand with various sized rocks in order to retain the stability of the wall. You can also see the 6th column in the foreground.

The area the Kia is parked in will eventually be for parking but it is still filled with a rock pile for now. We will have the bulldozer operator move this pile to backfill the rock cribs and the area behind the cafe.

This view will never get old!!

2006-12-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

The work at the site has continued steadily since the last posting. The crew have been working on the installation of the pavilion floor, windows, and preparing for the pour of the fourth column, which is happening today.

Since the last post Segundo, Cyrille, Nick, and Paul have all left us for the Christmas season. We wish them safe travels and a happy holidays. They will all be returning in early January hopefully refreshed and ready to finish up the construction project.

Stafford our carpenter has been chosen to run the crew in Segundo's absence. Since he has been working with us on the columns he has already gained the respect of the crew and the transition is working quite well.

In the image above the crew work together to sturdy the scaffolding so they can begin the pour of the fourth column. It takes the entire crew working together to mix and move the buckets of concrete up to the top of the column.

Nat and Alfredo are perched high up on the scaffolding ready for the buckets of cement to be passed up to them by the other crew members. The crew form a line and pass the buckets along to the next person in the bucket brigade.

Edward smiles for the camera as usual as he works to fill the buckets with sand and gravel so they can be mixed by hand for the column pour. The column cement mixture is very different than that of the walls and the ceiling which can be poured using a cement truck. The mix for the columns takes a much more intricate procedure. Stafford oversees the mix to insure its structural quality.

The awning window installation has been completed and they have turned out very nicely. In the image above you can see both the upstairs store and the two windows in the back of the kitchen area downstairs. These windows are all equipped with screens so they can be opened for ventilation but also keep out those pesky mosquitoes. Once the backhoe arrives we will begin removing dirt from this area and dig for the two remaining columns. A staircase will also be added on the backside of the cafe for access to the pavilion.

In his last day on the job Paul worked to place more of the floor boards for the pavilion. As you can see above the entire floor is almost complete. Once all of the floor has been laid a satin finish will be applied to insure a smooth and soft surface for our yoga classes and other functions in the pavilion. The trecks you can seen in the left side of the photo will be placed on the outer edge of the pavilion deck.

Francis Finishes mortar company that was hired to apply the stucco and mortar to the buildings are moving along quickly. The have almost finished the work on the bathroom building and they will soon be applying the colored stucco to the outside of both building's. In the image above you can see one of their workers applying the mortar to the wall of the cafe managers office. The mortar must cure for two weeks prior to being painted.

The outer glass block windows have been installed and they look wonderful!!

Of course we have managed to break a few in the process but like everything else it is a learning process. Once the windows have been installed on the inside the colors will be much darker but I think they look great. The aqua color in the middle row is definitely my favorite. The guys in the Maho Bay Glass Studio are working on the vertical windows for the store and bathroom so I will keep you updated on the status of that project as well.

Be sure to scroll down to see how this glass concept has evolved to what it looks like today!!

I would like to wish a sunny Happy Holidays to all of our readers!!!

2006-12-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Stanley arrives from New York today just in time to see the finishing touches on the pavilion and to meet all the new staff during the annual Christmas party.

It will be nice to relax with everyone at the party on Sunday!!

I hope all of your loyal readers also have a Happy Holidays wherever you are this season!!

The store looks great and the crew have almost completed the electrical wiring and framing for the roof. We are scheduled to pour the ceiling to the store tomorrow as long as we are able to get our inspections today. Maggie is working hard to get the inspectors out to the site today even if she has to drive them out to the site herself!

The picture above was taken from inside of the new store. The view is truly breathtaking. We have hired 2 new crew members to help with the installation of our awning windows that will be placed in the store, cafe, and bathroom areas. We hope they will stay on with us until the end of the construction project.Nick and Bernard are working hard to compact the fill which has been placed behind the retaining wall at the cafe level. You can see behind them how the windows will add a great deal of natural light to the store. The awning windows will also allow extra ventilation on those extra hot days on the island. Remember how the site looked a few month's ago when we only had the cistern poured? It is amazing to see how much progress has occurred on the project the guys are truly working hard.The compactor is a heavy piece of machinery and must be used with extreme caution. You have to have strong arms to operate such a large machine. Nick and Bernard are taking turns shoveling the fill and operating the machine.

We removed the frame from the second column this morning and more adjustments are needed to insure a clean removal of the frames. In the picture above you can see how it turned out. Each of the columns have lights at the top which will enhance their beauty when they are lit at night. The Vaseline is helping but some of the concrete is still sticking. Dave is hoping to have these issues settled by the next pour.The glass block openings are much easier to visualize now that the frames have been removed. You can scroll down through past postings to see how the opening's looked prior to the concrete pour. The blocks were delivered this morning so they should begin installing them either later this week or next week prior to Christmas. I will make sure that I take more pictures during this installation.Once the windows have been installed the scaffolding will be removed so the stucco can be applied and the awning can be installed over the cafe porch. In the picture above you can see the bags of stucco and palates of pavers, which have been stored in the cafe area so they stay dry.As you can see above all of the windows have already been installed in the bathroom area. The guys are working on the store today and hope to be finished by the end of the week. In the foreground you can see the next column which is scheduled to be poured this week.

2006-12-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

The crew has begun removing the framing from the store and the decorative windows look great, I can only imagine what they will look like when the glass blocks have been installed. There will be two blocks per window one on the outside and one on the inside of the store.
The image above was taken during our last large delivery of cement. You can see the crew perched on top of the walls while they work together to direct the pump truck in pouring our walls. You can see below how much work goes into framing up the walls prior to the cement delivery. This has all been removed now and the wood is being reused in the framing of the roof inside. During the week we were also able to get our retaining wall for the cafe poured so our sump-pump instalation and back fill can now proceed. As mentioned above the framing for the store roof has begun and we are scheduled to pour again next week. Once the ceiling of the store is complete the crew can begin working on the stucco, columns, and installation of the pavers for the floor in the cafe. The installation of the floor boards in the pavilion will also be completed in the next week.We successfully completed our first column which has served as a learning experience for the crew. Stafford our carpenter has modified his design for the remaining columns to insure a flawless piece. We have decided to use Vaseline instead of wax on the colum frames in order to minimize the concrete's adherence to the framing system. Our architect also feels like this is a very good idea. It may be hard to understand this concept if you aren't in the field of construction!! :-)

I will try to keep you updated next week on our progress.

Keep checking back for more updates prior to your visit with us!!

2006-12-01T07:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Anniversary National Park!!!

Today is the 50th Anniversary celebration of our National Park on St. John. If you have never visited the Friends of the Park web site be sure to take a look at it prior to your vacation they may have a function going on during your vacation with us. Go to http://www.friendsvinp.org/!

The very creative guys at the Maho Bay Glass Studio have almost completed the 30 glass blocks for the store entrance at the pavilion. After a few trial runs of the blocks they have mastered the procedure and have been able to create them very quickly. The two glass blowers who have taken on this project are Greg Lee and Jake Barron who have both worked at Maho for quite some time. They are honored to be included in our project here at Concordia. Our vice president Maggie took a trip over to the studio to witness the block creation. Glass work utilizes a very intricate and scientific process that I'm not even sure I understand fully. I hope the pictures give you a good idea.
As mentioned before the glass blocks will be two different shades of blue and also green in the bottom level. In the picture above you can see how these blocks will look when light shines through them. The glass that is being used is made from Corona, Carib, and Heineken beers. Thanks to a love of beer in the Virgin Islands we have accumulated quite a collection of these bottles at both Maho and Concordia. The Corona and Carib will be turned blue using different metals as a coloring agent. The deep blue is created using Cobalt Oxide and the aqua is made by adding Copper Carbonate to the molten clear glass. The Heineken, of course, will make the green blocks. Below are the images of the steps of our glass block creation.
In this image you can see Jake gathering the glass from the furnace on his punty(metal rod used to collect glass). Due to the size of the blocks multiple gathers are needed to full the 8" iron mold. He spins the punty in order to get the molten glass to stick together. For the brick to be made they had to set the furnace at 200 degrees higher that usual in order to get the proper viscosity.
Once enough glass has been gathered both Jake and Greg work together to get the glob of molten glass off the punty and into the mold. They use clippers to snip the molten glass off of the punty.
The molten glass is now in the frame so they must apply extreme force to push the glass into the corners of the iron mold. This must be done quickly or the glass will become to cool to form. The guys take a moment to step back and admire their work. These blocks are the deep blue but they appear to be orange due to the extreme temperature. As they cool they begin to show the color they will be when complete.

The glass cools quickly so Greg works quick to remove the mold and place the brick on a spatula much like pizza so the brick can cool slowly for 24hrs in the Annealing oven. This oven is controlled by a computer which drops the temperature by the degree so the bricks can cool slowly. These blocks are a great way to utilize large amounts of recycled glass at one time. I would estimate that each block uses about 5 bottles. They haven't decided how they are going to design the vertical window in the bathroom area that was in the last posting but Greg and Jake are putting their creative minds to work on that one. I'm excited to see what they come up with. Be sure to check back for updates. We got concrete this morning are pouring the store walls today!!!

2006-11-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

The crew continues to work on the framing for the columns, store, and roof of the bathroom and storage area. The concrete plant on the island has again run into problems so we are using this time to finish up on all of our framing work. We had to bring our own cement to the plant today in order to continue on our schedule. They will mix it for us and bring it to the site so we can pour our retaining wall and the wall over the rock crates.

The framing of the store walls has continued nicely in the picture below you can see Nat and Edward working on attaching the snapties and wedges to the wall frame. This wall will eventually look like a mirror image of the adjacent building. The sloped roof will be covered with the same green house material that is being used in the pavilion. This material will allow for light to filter into the building and through the glass. In the image above you can see Cyrille working inside the store to finish up the roof support column and the rest of the framing inside.

Our Vice President Maggie has decided to add more recycled glass accents to the store entrance which will be a beautiful artistic addition to the pavilion. Jake Barron one of the glass blowers at Maho is currently working on these decorative glass blocks. The blocks will all be made of recycled materials from the Maho Bay Art Center. In the image to the left you can see that the crew has worked out a framing system for these blocks above the store entrance. The plan for the blocks is to fade from deep blue at the top to green at the bottom to mimic our surrounding landscape.

In the bathroom building glass accents have also been added to allow for sunlight and color to fill the otherwise boring rooms. The picture below is from inside of the soon to be finished bathroom area. This vertical space will also be fitted with more hand made glass blocks from Maho.

2006-11-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

A light shower cooled off the morning as our crew set out for yet another day on the job. As the plywood comes down off the walls it becomes easier to see the final vision of our project. The entire job is coming together rather nicely.

The crew is working hard to take down the forms today. After the walls have cured you have to remove the boards so they can completely set using the sun and natural heat of the island. All of the walls came out great and they will continue forming up the store (Above Left) in time for our next pour in the coming week. You can also see the beginning of our column system behind Bernard. As mentioned before, we will have 4 columns formed to support the greenhouse roofing system between the two buildings.

The picture above shows the three storage rooms that will be used to store pavilion supplies like our yoga mats and extra chairs. Once a pour is complete and the forms are removed, all of the excess concrete must be removed from inside the rooms. There is always a great deal of splash that occurs when using a concrete pump truck. Patrick is working inside the storage rooms to insure that all of the material is removed and disposed of properly.

I was able to snap a picture of one of the column bases that will be formed up next week. Each of the columns will be 4' x 4' with a decorative Glen Spear original design. Dave and our new carpenter will beginning work on thest in the coming week. The columns, however, must be hand poured due to their intricate design so the crew has a great deal of concrete mixing to do very soon. I wonder if Dave has told them this yet? I can't wait to see how they will turn out.

There was enough concrete on Tuesday to also begin the pour along the rock cribs which will be the base for the railing system that will be installed along the entire perimeter of the pavilion site. Behind this new wall will eventually be the porch for the cafe.

We received our order of 40 windows yesterday through Tropical and hope to begin installing them in the next week. It finally feels like it is all coming to a close. We will soon have the coolers and other various supplies ready to be installed and stocked up for the guests.

2006-11-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hooray.... we recieved our concrete order!!!

The construction is back on schedule and we are doing a large pour today that will take a total of 5 truck loads full to complete. I was able to visit the site this morning to snap a few pictures of the guys working hard to pour the walls of the storage area and bathrooms for the pavilion. We will finish the framing for the store (below left) once we remove the forms for the bathrooms(below right). The plan is to reuse the wood for the framing on the store as well. There was a breakdown at the concrete plant and this has caused a delay in our concrete schedule but hopefully we will be back on schedule after this pour.

We have to use a concrete pumping truck to pour the walls of the building. It is always amazing to see these types of heavy machinery at work. It takes a great deal of power and precision to pump cement through a 20ft tube and into a wall yards away. Geff our pumping guy is great he always has a smile even when he is covered in cement (he probably wouldn't have it any other way).

Dave, our site contractor, takes a walk through of the site during the pour. He is working hard on the framing of our columns that will support the roofing material between the two buildings. On the right you can see how the walls will slope upward to meet the roof between them. The framing on the store side will have this same pitch.

The crew work hard perched on top of the wall while leveling off the freshly poured cement. They use various machined to insure that no air is trapped in the wall prior to it setting permanently. The steps of pouring concrete are very important to follow in order to have a structurally sound building.

This is a view of the East facing wall of the store. You can see salt pond bay in the distance and also the 6 windows that will allow for ample sunshine into the store. These windows will be placed all around the top floor of both the pavilion and cafe for natural light. We have insured that the maximum amount of natural light is let into the buildings.

2006-11-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

The blogg has once again changed hands and I will continue posting updates since both Victor and Kirsten have left the Concordia team. My name is Audrey and I have lived on St. John for my entire life and have loved every minute of it. I recently graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL and my many positions at Concordia include but are not limited to Site Cordinator, Accountant, and also Activities in the soon to be completed general store. Feel free to ask me any questions regarding the hotel, construction, and about my wonderful island. I will do the best I can to give my honest opinion.

As we enter the final month and a half of the construction project we have definatly stepped the crew into over drive. Since the rock wall issue we have hired two additional crew members and are now working Saturdays in order to have the cafe completed on schedule. The new crew members are working well with the group and Segundo is positive that the pavilion project will be done on schedule.

I was able to borrow the camera from Maho and took some pictures of the crew framing the walls for the store and removing the framing for the floor of the general store. The picture above was taken from the pavilion site imagine having coffee and a bagel while overlooking this view every morning.

We recieved our first order of cafe supplies that included beer mugs, spatulas, plates, and other restaurant supplies. The order for our coolers and freezers is in and we are awaiting a few other items prior to the trailors departure from Miami.

As Christmas approaches it doesn't seem to be getting any cooler out on the South side of St. John but wearing long sleeves definatly helps the guys to limit their sun exposure. Currently we are also going through 12 5gal bottles of water a week which still does not seem like enough. I hope they all stay hydrated and motivated as the project comes to a close.

In the picture above Vaughn and Alfredo work together in the cafe to remove the plywood that was used for the framing of the store floor. We are still waiting for concrete but we should have a large pour this week or so.

As mentioned before the green house roofing system was finaly completed on the pavilion. It looks a bit industrial now but once hanging plants and fans are installed it will be a very nice place to have meeting and yoga sessions in while you stay at Estate Concordia Preserve.

2006-10-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

Construction has continued with minimal setbacks and down falls since the last report. We are happy to announce that Segundo has returned to the crew and has fallen back into the flow on the job site. He seems to be excited to be back on the island and on the job.

We were able to complete the greenhouse roofing on the pavilion, we poured the floor of the bathroom, and the walls of the cafe have also been poured. Due to camera malfunctions there are no pictures available but I will update them as soon as possible.

We have had quite a few sever thunder storms during which we had a large part of the excavated hillside sluff off and fall down the hill. Luckily no one was on or near the area at the time but the large rocks will need to be removed and portions of our framing and roofing materials were damaged. We will need to reorder 3 portions of gutter material and realign the rebar in the form for the storage area of the pavilion that was damaged. This has put the crew a bit behind but as usual we are working hard to overcome these untimely delays.

At this time in the construction schedule we are working on the install of the flooring in the pavilion and also the framing on the ceiling and top floor of the cafe which will eventually house our new store. We are on schedule to also begin ordering materials for the project which include the cafe fixtures, the cafe awning, chairs and tables, and the windows and doors for the entire project.

In the scope of the entire project it would be ambitions to say that we are on the home stretch but we are definitely much closer to completion regardless of the setbacks we are still coming across daily. Check back soon we will have photos and updates as our project nears completion.

2006-09-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Above is a picture taken of Concordia from the Ram Head Trail. On the right is the newest section of tents. Notice the long flight of stairs at the end...imagine the workout you can get carrying luggage from your car at the top to your tent at the bottom! The studios and registration are on the left side of the picture. The pavilion is not yet visibile but it will soon be a predominant feature on the hillside.

The cistern has been painted with tar to seal out water from the hill. Last week truckloads of dirt were brought in to backfill against the cistern. The crew used a tamper to compress the dirt as they were back filling. A tamper operates a lot like a flat-footed jackhammer, pounding the dirt as someone guides it along. The backfill area has to be completely tamped down for every foot of dirt that was added.

Remember all that concrete that was poured last time? Well it is dry and new forms are being built for our next concrete pour. Our big projects right now are rebuilding the gabion basket wall that had collapsed a few weeks ago and the pavilion roof is going up now. I'll be sure to get a picture of the hillside once the roof is up. It will be the first time the pavilion will be visible from a distance. More pictures to come! Check back often!

2006-08-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've got Good News and I've got Bad News..... First, the bad news, Victor has left the island. He has moved back to the states and we will all miss him very much! Second, the good news, construction on the new pavilion is going well. As you can see, the stairs are almost finished.
Today our construction crew poured concrete for footers. Here they are next to the frame for the cistern.

Directly above the construction site is tent E7 (soon to be 21). This is the place to be if you want to be near all the action once the pavilion and cafe are opened. It is the closest tent to both the pool and pavilion. Currently, it is closed because of how close it is to the construction. We used this opportunity to practice our hurricane prep procedures. You can see everything is tied down or covered in plastic and all the windows are rolled up to keep the wind from getting trapped in the tent and carrying it off like a balloon.

It is amazing how they get such large vehicles on these steep hillsides for construction on the island. The concrete truck driver had a path barely wider or longer than his vehicle to maneuver in. You can't see it but on the driver's side of the truck is the hill and in front of it is just loose dirt the construction crew is using to back fill behind the baskets.

You have to give these guys credit for not only working in the hot Caribbean sun all day, but dealing with the mosquitoes too! Right now we are inundated with mosquitoes. Of course, we are located on the dry side of the island so they are not so bad. Over at our sister resort, Maho Bay, it's like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds recast with mosquitoes.

2006-08-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Concrete pour went well for the cistern floor. We are in need Jahn A Brackets so we can start forming the cistern wall. I am working on finding them. The excavators came and cleared the falling rock. The rock cribs arrived and the crew was out today tying them together.

Cyrille Fontaine and his brother Nick look over the layout plans for the cistern. They're funny when they argue with each other with their brotherly love. Cyrille is currently leading the crew and doing great. Segundo Soto needed to go home. We hope all is well with you Segundo!

That tropical wave I mentioned in the last post became Tropical Storm Chris and passed by the territory yesterday. It seemed to have fizzled out as it passed north of us. We were all very happy. It did however, give us a drill for preparation. The rain is always rewarding as it fills cisterns.

It is also rewarding to see fresh water running through the guts. Thank you Kirsten and Joseph for the photos.

2006-07-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

The camera fell on the floor causing it to malfunction so I need to send it in for repair. My sincere apologies. A Tropical Wave has been passing through for a few days with heavy showers, thunder, and lightning causing the rocky guts all over the island to fill with flowing fresh water. Reef Bay has a spectacular water fall after a heavy rain. A friend and I hiked up to a nearby gut yesterday and found an awesome waterfall. It felt great! However, the rains have caused some minor flooding, including some areas around our new Pavilion and Cafe. A section of the Gabion wall collapsed due to the stress of recent construction activity as well as the flooding. More Gabion Baskets have been ordered and should arrive on Tuesday. A minor setback and fixable. We are waiting for cement to arrive on island so we can do the concrete pour for the cistern. We have had some setbacks this week but overall the progress is coming along. There is another Tropical Wave approaching the territory in the next few days. All eyes are on the weather now as the prime season for Hurricanes approaches.
However, The Sun will rise again.

2006-07-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

I am back from a two week on island vacation. Alfredo has been finishing up on the stairway that leads down to the new Pavilion and Cafe. The railings will need to be installed this week.

The concrete has been poured in the forms and metal posts have been installed for the main floor of the Pavilion.

The forms and rebar have been laid out for the concrete pour for the 20000 gallon cistern.

I stayed in Sage Point 12 with a friend for a week during my on island vacation. It was a great opportunity to experience a new cabin. The wind was eternal and the waves soothed the senses. Rain showers would periodically come throughout the night. Seagulls and pelicans glided under the deck and out to the sea. The full moon was in all it's glory rising over Concordia. The sun rose right in the frame of the bedroom window. It was perfect. Stanley has created a fantastic place!

2006-07-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

St. John's July 4th Parade in Cruz Bay! Awesome costumes were on display today.
Rhythms filled the streets as thousands of spectators looked on.
Moko Jumbies were out and about today. Glenn Speer's beautiful Mongoose Junction is the Architecture in the background. He is the architect on our new Pavilion and Cafe.
St. John is a great place to be a kid! The island life keeps you young always...
The Jouvert Dance Party happened this morning at 4a.m. Fireworks will fill the sky tonight. A colorful and festive day. It was nice seeing friends and neighbors in the crowds. This is a great time to be on St. John so please stay with us next year and enjoy the festival.

2006-07-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

Salt Pond Beach is a twenty minute hike from Concordia. Great Snorkeling and hiking trails can be found here.
It will be fun to look back at these photos after the pavilion is completed and see the construction process.
It was such a beautiful day. The waves break along Drunk Bay's rocky shoreline. Nanny Point Peninsula situated in the middle has such rewarding scenery. The whole hillside has one acre parcels for sale.
I came upon a group of Concordia's volunteers at Salt Pond Bay. Many lasting friendships occur on this 13 by 5 mile island. Read about our Work Exchange Program at www.maho.org.
Pulling in closer to the Pavilion site. It took 4 months to complete the Gabion Stone Wall. Dave and Segundo began sorting out the greenhouse materials for installation.

2006-07-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

Sage Point 15 looks out over Drunk Bay. There were several surfers out today as a southerly swell came in. The Maintenance Staff and volunteers have been installing new solar panels on the older cabins. We needed to upgrade the old systems from a two panel service to a three panel. Everyone should consider solar when building a home. Great for drive way lights and garden lights. Science is trying to learn new ways to utilize solar without a battery bank. Go to this website for information about solar energy and consider whether it would be suitable for your home or business. http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/solar/solar.htm
John's Folly is right around the Nanny Point Peninsula. You look down on it when you drive up to Estate Concordia's Entrance. There is a rustic and truly authentic little novelty hang out in John's Folly called Sweet's. Take a drive or walk to Sweet's and kick back island style.
Here is Turks Cap 8. This cabin was built in 1993 along with 4 others. These were the first cabins to be constructed. Their design is different than our recent cabins but they have a rustic homestyle feel about them. Every Cabin has it's own character and view.
Coral Bay is the closest town to Estate Concordia. You can find ATM's, Groceries, Restaurants, and some cool historic sites. One of the great aspects of having the New Pavilion and Cafe is that you will not need a car as everything will be right here. But Coral Bay is worth a visit. There is rumor of a 116 slip Marina to be constructed in the near future.
The Turpentine Tree or Gumbo Limbo is full of leaves. This tree takes on so many personalities over the year. This will be the Frangipani section of Concordia. I need to install a few more room tiles on the cabins. Gail is working on the final tiles that will name each section. I will be taking a two week vacation starting Monday. I have a Philanthropist coming to see me.

2006-06-30T04:13:00.000-07:00

Wooden Forms were made to go around the circular plastic drums for the Pavilion Columns. I picked up the hoop rebar and L-rebar that the guys will tie together and sit inside the forms for the column support when the concrete is poured.
A nice morning shower came through this morning as I took photos of the progress. The stairway down to the pavilion will be completed within two weeks.
One of the column forms.
Nick, Charlie, and Alfredo construct another deck from our pool area that connects to the new stairway.
More area has been dug out for the Pavilion Cistern.

2006-06-26T03:06:00.000-07:00

These plastic circular bins were cut out for the column footings on the main floor of the pavilion.
The crew is moving along quickly on the stairway that leads from the pool to the Pavilion. We sent out a Newsletter to everyone last week so the news is out. I have a feeling we are going to get several calls from group organizations. It will be a perfect spot for a retreat. Please read the archives of this blog as you will discover the world of Concordia and the construction projects we are working on and have completed. This has been fun covering our efforts. Everyone should keep a journal.
Avalon.
Orchid 1, an accessible cabin is the first Eco Tent you pass when entering Concordia. No stairs. We installed ramps that provide access for individuals in wheelchair's.
The Flamboyant tree shows off it's peak beauty during the month of July. These trees are seen everywhere on St John. They indicate that the Summer is definitely here with their fiery color. I do believe Maggie returns today from her trip. Bienvenue en arriere Magggie. Nous nous sommes ennuyes de toi. J'espere que votre voyage recompensait !

2006-06-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Charlie has the last bag of concrete mix that I delivered from St Thomas. It rained like cats and dogs in St Thomas and it took 2 hours before I could get on a barge as only two were running. I picked up the permit at Division of Natural Planning and Resources (DPNR). They have their offices on the top floor of the airport in St Thomas. Be prepared to question the location of the cashiers office when they ask you to pay for a permit. Yet, through the rain and wait we finally have the permit therefore; we can start the footings for the columns and pavilion construction. The footings are all in place for the new stairway that will lead down from the pavilion.
O&E Heavy Equipment's Machines have been digging the hole for the 20000 gallon cistern. I had a nice conversation with Stanley Selengut today. He will be here in July to meet with us about future endeavors with our Art and Crafts center. His hope is to bring our ideas to other resorts around the world and set up Art Centers similar to what we have but with a new style. Imagine resorts all over the world that recycle their own glass and aluminum and turn it all into art that is showcased and sold in Galleries. Think about how much this could save on needless disposal. Great idea!
A huge trench was dug for the column foundation. This will be the main floor of the pavilion. I am heading out to look at some furniture for our Employee Residence. Juan Carlos has found another opportunity and will be leaving this week. Many thanks Carlos. We will miss you.

2006-06-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

The rock cribs have been completed for our new Pavilion and Cafe. Click on the photo for a closer look at the site plan.

Here is the curved deck that rises 30 feet and in the distance is the parking area. There's the Kia Dump Truck that has been serving many purposes. I need to get a chain for the gate because it keeps falling off when I go to the Transfer Station to dump a load of debris. It has been raining off and on this past week. It has been refreshing as it settles the ash from Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat that travels this far from 300 miles south. Part of the volcano's Dome collapsed. Check it out at http://www.mvo.ms/ Once in a while the Sahara Sands travel all the way across the Atlantic and cast a desert glow in the sky. But 90% of the year, the skies are vibrant blue and the water is a miraculous array of sparkling hues.

Forming for the pavilion floor has begun.

I went last week to Home Depot on St Thomas to pick up two pallets of Quickcrete for the post foundations for the new stairway to the Pavilion. Too heavy for the Kia so I had to take the company dump truck. The stairway starts right at the pool. Estate Concordia is perfect for all kinds of groups that need a space to set up a retreat. There is no porter service at Concordia nor is there gratuity. We are pretty easy going but will do all we can to provide you with a wonderful and memorable experience.

Friday's Concordia Tour was fun. It was a perfect day. Every time I take a group to a cabin out on Sage Point it seems everyone falls into a state of comfort and awe as soon as I unto a window zipper panel and expose the breathtaking view and Tradewinds. Lovia and Paul in the fore front of the photo have joined our reservations team and came a long on the tour. Welcome aboard guys.

2006-06-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

Another lovely day at Estate Concordia. Channel 8 News has been here this weekend to showcase Estate Concordia and Maho Bay Camps on their Caribbean Wild segment. We had a nice interview and I showed them around the property as well as Maho Bay Camps.
Nanny Point Peninsula can be seen through Sage Point 21's bedroom window. The wind pours through once you unzip this window panel.Refreshing
Here is Johanna filming in the Gumbo Limbo section. I was not camera shy like I thought I would be.
Every Eco Cabin offers an awesome view off their cozy decks.
Barometers and solar meters are in all of the cabins. The EcoTents have a boater/camper feel to them. There are five beds in every cabin. We came up with a new design for the twin beds in the lower bedroom so if you wish to have king size bed just lift and hook the left side twin to the wall and pull out the frame on the right side twin. Rest the other mattress in the king frame and we will give you a king size mattress pad and a king size blanket.

2006-06-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

We have been finishing up our employee residence. Estate Concordia Preserve Construction has it's office on the bottom floor. I have been painting the side of the house where our office is located. I hope to make it look nice for Maggie when she returns. Segundo and his crew have finished with the Rockcribs up at the Pavilion site. They will begin the stairway down from the pool area next. We are having some issues with the building permit for the Pavilion but hopefully get it straighten out next week.

It's not looking bad. Channel 8 News Cancelled yesterday due to camera malfunction. I checked my messages this morning and Channel 8 News phoned to say they would be on the 9 am boat. There goes the day off. That's okay...Should be fun. I love showing Concordia.

The Employee Residence has an awesome Mango Tree along with lime, Almond, Sour Sap trees. The House has an old well that we hope to dredge one day. Across the street is a salt pond teaming with birdlife and just over the ridge is the Exquisite Groot Pan Bay. The house has a Gabriel Garcia Marquez feel making it a great location for a story.

2006-06-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

The parking area has been raised another level. We are still waiting for the permit to put up the Greenhouse roof. Channel 8 news will be coming over from St Croix on Friday to film Concordia for a special segment on their program. I will give a property tour but I get a little camera shy.
Mamey Peak looks down on the pavilion site. Cyrille Fontaine has come back to help us out. He brought his brother Nick. We are happy to have you back. Carnival has officially started on St John and runs to July 4th ending in Fireworks in Cruz Bay. There is a popular all night dance party that happens in the street of Cruz Bay called Jouvert (Joo-vei). It begins at 4 a.m. I'll stay home.

I was able to get the business licenses for the Cafe and Tavern Keeper. Groups have been inquiring about the pavilion and some have reserved the space for next season.
I do not want to say it but Hurricane Season officially began June 1st. It runs to December 1st but the main season is August and September when the Caribbean sea and Atlantic ocean are at their warmest. General Manager, Papa Joe held a prep meeting with the managers yesterday to go over procedures in case of a storm. We have a great hurricane action plan. I was here in 1989 when Hugo devastated the islands includng Maho Bay. It was a rare occurrence for the Virgin Islands to have a hurricane back then so no one was prepared and no one evacuated! Since then, everyone takes great care to prep for an oncoming storm. Hurricane Marilyn was devastating back in 1995 but we were much better prepared. For me, Hurricanes appear to be more of a cleansing agent than anything. St John comes back so green and the waters look so clear. It takes about 3 weeks to grow back. If you truely love deserted beaches then the best time to come is two weeks after a storm. August and September are generally slow due to the threat of storms but it's a big ocean out there and we have a better chance of not getting hit. Keep track of the weather with us. http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseasthurrir.html. Our coordinates are Lat/Lon: 18.3° N 64.8° W

2006-06-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the Trail Head to Salt Pond Bay. It starts off the Pavilion Road and takes about 25 minutes to reach the water. You will pass by a fresh water pond and one of the oldest buildings on St John. Concordia was a small plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Wow! Segundo and his crew are moving along quickly. This is a gabion wall for a future drive way and parking. Segundo has cleared the path for the new tree covered stairway that will lead to the Pavilion from the pool area.

Here is a close up of the rockcribs filled with stones. From a distance, they look like old plantation ruins. I wonder what the lighting will be like. I was thinking that sconces made by our art department would be pretty.

More Rockcribs await their filling. This stage should be finishing up soon and we will be laying out the forming for the floor next. Still waiting for the permit to allow the green house roof to go up. Gail gave me the second set of room tiles to mount on the Cabins. I am painting the employee house today. Maggie has gone away for vacation. I hope we can get a lot accomplished in a month while she is away. Au revoir Maggie, nous espérons que vous avez un voyage sûr et plaisant !

2006-05-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

This book sits on the Activities Desk at Maho Bay Camps. "Exotic Retreats: Eco Resort Design From Barefoot Sophistication To Luxury Pad"
The first page showcases Estate Concordia Preserve. We have been written up in several magazines for our design and intentions. I like the book "1001 Places To See Before You Die" Estate Concordia Ranks on the list. Just think how we will rank once the Pavilion is up and the Art Center is flourishing. Thanks Deborah.

2006-05-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

THE 2005/06 SEASON MAHO AND CONCORDIA STAFF PHOTO. It was a great season!!! Thank you everyone for making us one of the best places to go in the world. Be sure to read the March, April, and May's archives and read about our progress. If you would like to join our team please view our online job link at www.maho.org.

2006-05-26T04:04:00.000-07:00

Segundo and his crew constructed this boardwalk in 2004 for phase 3 of the Eco Tents. It rises 20 feet. This is the more tranquil side of Estate Concordia where you hear the sounds of Tree Frogs and Morning Doves. This is the Gumbo Limbo section. The valley below a lovely sight.

The cabins are more secluded on this side and have shade trees. Here is Gumbo Limbo 25 nestled off by itself.
Here is probably the most requested studio unit, A-8. It's wrap around porch and high wooden beam ceiling create the perfect Caribbean get-away. Be sure to reserve early as we try our best to fulfill requests.

Papaya Trees shoot up along the stairway to Gumbo Limbo 23. One of natures greatest foods...The Papaya. Other fruit trees you may encounter on St. John are the Hearty and Filling Sour Sap and Mango. Genips are tart flavored fruits that flourish in the summer months. Sugar apples are delicious and exotic. Passion fruit vines dangle in areas. Tamarind is in season right now. The Guavea Berry comes around during Christmas time and is a favorite wine by many locals during the holiday season. When I first came to St John 20 years ago, I wanted to live like Tarzan and eat the fruits of trees and fish the waters. I am still a true believer in self sufficiency and simplicity. Where's Cheetah?

Dave and Carlos hooked up the septic to the Constructed Wetland. We'll need to let it fill half way so the weight of the soil does not crush it.

2006-05-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

I took a hike to Drunk Bay yesterday. This is a short hike from Salt Pond Bay. Turks Cap Berries kept me nourished. You can see the round part of the Pavilion Gabion Wall. The Pavilion and Cafe will serve the local community as well as Concordia. This will be a perfect spot to hold a conference. Hikers will delight to see that food and drink are close by.

Here is a shot from the Salt Pond trail. This trail starts from Concordia and takes about 25 minutes to reach Salt Pond Bay.

Nanny Point peninsula. Contact Maggie Day at maggie@maho.org (340-776-0838) if you are looking for a perfect spot in the Caribbean. The whole hillside has dramatic views of the BVI's and Caribbean Sea. Check out the entry in the April Archives about the parcels for sale.
I love this hike! It's just right. So much beauty. It's blinding sometimes.

Jenny holds fort at the Salt Pond Parking area. The public bus makes its final stop here from Cruz Bay. It only cost a dollar and has AC. Thanks for the hotdog Jenny. I am starting to look into business licenses for food and beverage, liquor, and retail for our new facilities.

2006-05-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Estate Concordia Preserve is a place of subtleties and peacefulness. It is an Island escape without pretense. Once the pavilion is completed and guests begin to socialize and entertainment fills the stage, I think Estate Concordia Preserve will become a must see destination in the Virgin Islands. It already is such a destination but we are expanding it into something far more extraordinary. I hope to see us on the cover of Islands magazine.

2006-05-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks for everything Kevin (right) and Doug (Left). Best wishes on your future journeys .

2006-05-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

A Frangipani Tree in the foreground sits on Nanny Point. One acre parcels are for sale along this hillside. We named one of the sections at Concordia after this tree that produces an aromatic flower. Hawaiian Leis are made of Frangipani flowers along with other floral and fauna. The odor is delicious.
I took this shot from the deck of E7, soon to be Frangipani 20. The Green House arrived and we removed the pieces one by one and stored the items under tarps. The structure should go up in about 6 weeks. We are waiting for the building permit.
I was talking to Shay and Maggie about utilizing more of the garden solar lights for the boardwalk out to Sage Point. They are self sufficient so they do not need to run off the grid and they actually are beautiful at night and make great guide lights. Mike Nelsen and Nick Lebre from Six Rivers Solar out of Eureka California installed our solar systems on phase 3 and 4 of the Eco Cabins. We placed these panels off the boardwalk for some cabins due to shade trees blocking the suns rays, otherwise the panels are placed off the decks of the cabins. 3 panels charge 6 golf cart batteries.

Turks Cap Cactus dot Nanny Point's trail. You can see some roofs of the Eco Tents on the distant hillside. These funky cactus produce an even funkier fruit that resembles a Candy Corn but is neon pink. They have a mild taste similar to a strawberry. The cactus is also called Barrell, Pope's Head, and Compass Plant (known to point to the south).

These tiles are my favorite. I like the exotic color. The boardwalk ends just a few feet away but over the years the railing will come down and the boardwalk will continue up the hillside to a Restaurant, an Amphitheatre, Art Center, and other resort facilities. Are there Eco friendly Tennis Courts?
It was another productive week:
The Pavilion’s second level has begun and leveled.
The Greenhouse roof has been delivered.
The Constructed Wetland has been piped and the septic resettled for connection.
More solar panels were installed with the help of our volunteers.
New Maintenance Manager began at Concordia.l His name is Don Cofield.
Thermometers are being installed.
The AC has been installed in the office
New Washing machines and plumbing have been set up in the house.
We purchased a UV filter that will kill 99.9% of bacteria in the water.
Gail has finished glazing and firing the next set of room tiles.
A huge pile of concrete and tile has been removed from our service road. Looks so much better now.
And of course, The employee house is getting closer to completion. The outside aesthetics are being applied.

2006-05-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

There's that view. It is going to be very beautiful to walk down and see the Pavilion silhouetted against this sky. Segundo and his crew are doing an awesome job constructing the Gabion Wall. The next level has started. We need to create a temporary fencing around the second level because it is 25 feet high
Hopefully Today, Blackhawk shipping out of Puerto Rico will be delivering our pre-designed Gable 7500 Greenhouse with 8mm Opal Polycarbonate roof. A product of the International Greenhouse Company. This will be the cover for the Pavilion and Cafe.! Nesbit Trucking is going to do the clearing of customs and delivery to St. John. We were wanting the items to be sent over on the barge, Tortola Pride because it comes directly to St. John however, Blackhawk was chosen by the Puerto Rico office.

This is the lower deck where the cafe will be. It looks out over salt pond.
You can see the level of gabion walls. I am standing where the parking will be and entry to the cafe.
We need to create an access stairway down to the Pavilion. This service stairway for employees may serve that purpose. It starts at the the pool and Registration office. It will need some renovation.

2006-05-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Segundo and his crew have added another layer of rock cribs this week. It started off nice this morning but the rain is pouring down now. It feels good and will help settle the dust.
The 6th layer has been set up.
That huge pile of stones has been Obliterated.
It looks like a fortress is being constructed. No pirates are going to take down this wall.

2006-05-11T04:11:00.001-07:00

The Back Ho arrived to the Staff House to begin filling the constructed wetland with gravel and soil as well as leveling out the yard.

Dave laid out the Perforated pipe and 4 " PVC that was connected to the septic tank and to a small leach field. The walls have been double coated with through-o-seal. These machines are like dinosaurs. I recall the fascination of them when I was a boy. Did you ever see "Kill Dozer" about a bull dozer that comes to life after being struck by a radioactive meteor? It was pretty corny. I loved it at 10 years old.
You can see the layer of gravel and soil. Imagine this full of plants one day. No one would ever know. Mary Blezine suggested mangroves as a possible species to plant in the wetland.
It went mostly smooth but the back ho cut into our neighbors electric line causing his power to go out. Luckily Tom, our electrician and Dave were there to fix the problem. We also discovered that the septic tank is too high, so it will need to be dug out around the sides and let the pressure off to help settle it back into place. A very good week for progress. I finished installing the room tiles. Joseph changed out the Screens in the Older Eco Tents. The constructed wetland was filled in. The staff house interior and floors have been painted. New solar panels were installed for Turks Cap 9 with great help from our volunteers Ben and Evan. We moved our office. It looks great! The pavilion wall is growing.

I stopped down to see the progress on the pavilion early this morning. Charlie was there enjoying the peace and solitude. Estate Concordia Preserve is such a beautiful place. There is a hint of a John Constable painting within this photograph. He would have loved the skies of Estate Concordia.

2006-05-06T03:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a diagram of the New Pavilion and Cafe. An Activities and Watersport center will operate within the right center area. Two massage rooms and restrooms are located to the left center. The Cafe and Grill will be on the lower level. It kind of looks like The Starship Enterprise. Beam me up Scotty....I'm coming home.

Here is a map of Estate Concordia designed by Kirin Makker. You can see where the pavilion will rest below the Eco Tents. There is talk of constructing fifteen more eco-tents and a possible new style that will create a third choice in accomodations. I need to get with Kirin on some minor changes to the map. We love the map Kirin! Thank you.

Kat Sowa did such a lovely watercolor of the future Pavilion and Grill. Maggie was telling me about a lounge area with a library that will be created near the Activities center.

I have been trying to mount the room tiles created by Gail Van Debogart and Susan Feraco from Maho Bay Clayworks. I have been able to put up a few a day on top of my other responsibilities. Segundo helped me create the frames and they look great. Much better than the the old laminate signs. Great idea Maggie! It's awesome how everyone plays a role in this project. Work because you want to not because you have to. It is funner that way.

2006-05-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

I was at Maho the other day and stopped by the Maho Bay's Art Gallery. All these pieces were hand blowned at Maho Bay's Glass Studio. It has been very successful as we recycle our glass bottles and turn them into art. It is a good thing! Every community should have a similar recycling program.
And there's more and more produced as we mail pieces home to our guests who request them at the time of production.
Kelly has been a tremendous help in the Trash to Treasure department and is surrounded constantly by changing art. Concordia will have a similar gallery in the future. We will also have an aluminum press that will recycle cans and create art.

Maho Bay Clayworks always keeps a beautiful display at the gallery.

Tom allowed me to have the dump truck. Thanks Tom. He is Maho's resident viking. He growled at me.

2006-05-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

The 75 Rock Cribs arrived. The crew has already began tying them together and the rock filling will begin tomorrow. The custom officers were present at the dock so clearing the baskets went smoother than normal. Our EDC certificate was approved therefore we were cleared of excise tax, one of the many benefits of this new economic initiative.
Once I returned with the Rock Cribs I had to go back to Cruz Bay to pick up gravel and cement at Penn's Trucking Company The items will be used to finish the walls for the constructed wetland. We had sand left over from a previous job so we were set. I went to the landfill transfer station today and disposed of old wood. The KIA has been doing great. I have to get a photo of the hogs sometime at the transfer station. I will have to get some of the animal world here on St. John. The cows on centerline road are entertaining. It's kind of like the Larson's Farside here with cows, goats, chickens, mongoose, donkeys, deer, and sheep all running along the roads.

2006-05-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

I called today to confirm the arrival of our rock cribs from Puerto Rico. There was a death in the family that caused the delay in the shipping. Our condolences go out to you and hope that you will continue to prosper.

It has been nice to be without the noise from the machines but they will start back soon and more rock cribs will be added.

The plywood and fasteners were pulled off the recent concrete pour for the constructed wetland. I cant wait to see the plants flourishing knowing that nature is our filter system for the septic. Something to consider when building a sight sensitive villa.

It all started with one rock. There is a parable within this wall.
I made an attempt at painting Saltpond Bay. You can make an attempt as well once we complete the Yoga Pavilion. This is the view from the road walking down to the pavilion. You can see the original photo in the archives.

2006-04-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Majestic Construction finally was able to bring out concrete to pour the walls for our constructed wetland at the Residence House. I need to go over to St Thomas soon to purchase furnishings for the Resident Manager's living area. It will be a great feeling to have the house completed and focus mainly on the Pavilion construction and possibly more Eco Tent building. We did a big road clean up the other day. Looks great now. It is amazing how stuff piles up. Storage is needed constantly. I can not wait to have a new maintenance building where everything will be stored in one area and easily accessed.
We waited a month for the concrete to come in. The Rock Cribs were delayed a week in shipping from Puerto Rico so we had the crew come down to help finish up on our Residence House and constructed wetland.
It turns out that not enough concrete was brought out for full completion of the wall so we will need to purchase more and mix it by hand to fill in the rest. Our staff party was held at Pastory Gardens last night. It was a nice evening. I need to get with Jared who took photos. Thank you Stanley for the party.

2006-04-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the last phase of Eco Tents back in early October, 2005. You can see the platforms and framing. We completed these by December 15th, 2005.
Here they are now. The wind is eternal on this hillside as well as the waves along Drunk Bay. There were a lot of children here for Easter vacation. The holidays bring the most families. The days in between tend to bring couples and friends. This time of year usually denotes the end of season but over the last few years we have been booked up to 90% through July 4th. Contact our reservations office at 800-392-9004 to find out if we have any specials during the summer.

General Manager, Joe Feraco otherwise known as Papa Joe is walking with Shay Copeland, Concordia's Resident Manager. Our volunteer program begins soon. Estate Concordia offers a work exchange program where we ask you for 120 hours of labor for a months worth of lodging along with discounts on activities and food at Maho Bay. Read about the program at: http://www.maho.org/WorkExchange.cfm

I started out as a volunteer back in 1986 when there were only two of us taking advantage of this cool opportunity. Now, we receive over a thousand applications per season. Everyone benefits from this exchange.

2006-04-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day Everyone! Melody Smith is Maho Bay's Art Center's Marketing Director. She is talking to local school children about our art classes in glass blowing, ceramics, paper making, and textiles. There was a great turn out today for Earth Day in The Park in Cruz Bay.
Jared Hill is explaining how a solar panel activates the pump that triggers a fountain of water. The kids loved it!
Stanley Selengut and Maggie Day. Stanley had to go back home today but will return next Thursday and join us for our end of season party. He said the public hearing went well.

This electric car was one of the show pieces. I brought Stanley over to hint at a possible electric car at Concordia one day.

This turtle showed up. It is a very cool experience to swim in these clear waters and come across a hawksbill or green turtle casually gliding through the water beneath you.

A fun afternoon!

2006-04-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

It looks like someone has done some clearing on Parcel 30-1. The view has to be one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean; The British Virgin Islands along with the east end peninsula of St John. Let's take a look at that view.
Isn't that wondrous? There is the road that leads to Nanny Point.
Tortola's Sage Mountain looms in the distance. A beautiful rain forest lies within its peak. If you think St. John has some steep roads wait till you drive up some of the hills in Tortola. Remember, we drive on the left.

Here is a view from Parcel 11. A more tranquil and relaxing view. Sometimes, the subtleties of life are the most rewarding.

Think of the possibilities of a sight sensitive villa nestled on this hillside. Utilize the forces of nature such as the sun and wind. Create a home that blends into the hillside that provides a true Caribbean ambiance. Create the most enchanting home on the island and make it low impact; An Architectural Digest showcase.

Tomorrow is Earth Day. I need to go assist with setting up a booth in Cruz Bay with Jared and Melody who are from Maho Bay. We will be displaying glass art as well as perform solar demonstrations.

2006-04-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another layer of rockcribs have been added. We had to order 75 more cribs yesterday from Puerto Rico. They should arrive next Tuesday. Stanley arrived yesterday. Maggie and Stanley had a public hearing today on expanding Maho Bay's Art Center. It is also Budget week therfore, all the managers will be busy putting their department finances together. Our end of season party should be coming up.

Here is a view of the Caribbean Sea from where the lower deck of the pavilion will rest.

I delivered more rock cribs. Segundo, Carlos, and Patrick unload them. We have a great crew working for us. Segundo has worked for Stanley for 20 some years.

Assistant Maintenance Manager Joseph and I assemble PVC fittings with thermometers inside. These will be connected to the Solar Showers in the new Eco Cabins. The water is heated in a black 50 gallon drum on the roof of each Eco Tent. The drum is sheltered by an A-frame plexiglass roof. The solar power operates an 8 amp refrigerator, a 12 volt water pump, 12 volt wall fans, 5 wall lights, and a voltage reader.

I stopped by Registration to get a coke and Dominique was there to greet me. Unfortunately for us, Dominique will be going back to San Francisco in a month. She has worked off and on for us over the past 6 years so hopefully she will get an itch to return. Everyone comes back to St. John. It's that kind of place. The idyllic lifestyle of the Caribbean sinks in your blood. We will miss you Dominique.

2006-04-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Maggie showed me Kat Sowa's beautiful rendition of the future yoga pavilion. The watercolor captures Glenn Speer's exquisite design of the Pavilion along with the surrounding environment. You can see the expansiveness of the view. A cafe will exist within it's arena along with massage rooms and...Who knows what we will think of. I can't help but see a bride and groom standing in that entry way. I look forward to walking down the graded road in the morning for a cup of coffee. The morning sounds are very soothing and refreshing. I love the soft flutes the morning doves play.

Hopefully, I can get a double expresso.

I can not believe it's the middle of April. Time just disappears here...

Thank you Kat for this beautiful rendition of Estate Concordia Preserve's Yoga Pavilion. The design is awesome. Thank you Glenn

2006-04-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

A beautiful Saturday morning at Salt Pond Beach. Estate Concordia Preserve is nestled on the distant hillside. I am standing where you would take the Ram Head trail or Drunk Bay trail. The snorkeling at Salt Pond Beach is superb. It is also a nice bay to take a swim. The most threatening creature in the water is the sea urchin. Never stand on or touch the coral reef. It is a complex world of tiny organisms living in colonies under the sea. A wonder to view. I haven't been snorkeling in a while. Night snorkeling is an exciting adventure. Be sure to go out with George at Maho Bay's Paradise Aqua Tours.
Here is a fine view of the clearing and wall construction for the Yoga Pavilion. I am on the Salt Pond Trail from Concordia. It is a 20 minute hike down to the beach or a short trip by car. We kept the cabins above the construction unoccupied. We appreciate everybody's cooperation. Norman Island and Peter Island in the distance.
Nanny Point Peninsula in the middle. Be sure to read the entry on our land that is for sale at Nanny Point. http://estateconcordiapreserve.blogspot.com/2006/04/mission-statement-estate-concordia.html. I just walked down to Drunk Bay. I made a short film for school here once when a sail boat had washed ashore and rested here for years. It was a film about finding a briefcase full of money and what the young lovers do with it. I made an A.
One night upon a full moon I took a hike with some friends to the cliffs of Ram head. Once we reached the cliffs of this dramatic coastline I looked back at Concordia and was so pleased with it's low lighting. The resort emitted such a warm presence, a place that looked like a haven for the spirit. The Yoga Pavilion is going to be an exquisite site from this perspective. Be sure to wear toe covered shoes as turks cap cactus dot the terrain on the trail to Ram Head. Always have water.
e15 will soon become Orchid 4. Butterfly orchids are a common site at Concordia. On my tour last Friday a guest said to me: "I wasn't expecting to be...but I am very impressed with Concordia." Happy Easter everyone!

2006-04-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

I had a fun tour today of Concordia. Everyone falls in love with the place. I drove everyone back to Maho and stopped by the Glass Blowing Studio. Check out the art work at http://www.maho.org/TTAC.cfm. Resident Artist, Jake Barron is giving a class to a young Maho guest. Jake and Greg Lee have produced fine pieces of glass art over the years. It is a beautiful craft especially at night as the furnace glows among participants and spectators.
Concordia will have an art center similar to Maho where glass and aluminum will be recycled into art. Maggie brought Christian Thornton over to Concordia yesterday to discuss the future of the recycling center. Christian Thornton is well known within the glassblowing community for his exquisite designs. Christian will teach us how to set up an aluminum recycling area as well as creating art from the metal.
Gail Van De Bogart at Maho Bay Clayworks. She has potter wheels as well as a wood fire kiln. The art center has been a fabulous addition to Maho Bay and will make Concordia even more extraordinary. Her and I created the mosaic in the photo. Gail offers classes as well.

" Christian Thornton started his glass career in 1984 in Spokane, WA. After two years of graphic arts studies, he moved to New York to work exclusively in glass. By the late 90s, he was working as a conservator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, teaching for UrbanGlass, and working as a glass artist. Now living and creating art in Oaxaca, Mexico, Christian is continuing in an effort to promote environmental approaches to the glass art field with formulated recycled glass and more efficient equipment design. He has work in collections around the US and Mexico, notably in the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art. Christian is currently working on an exhibition that will commence in the Galaria Quetzalli and travel to several other galleries and museums in Mexico for the duration of 2007. "

http://64.151.222.144/auction/itemdetail.php?item=56

Always an impressive sky show at Concordia. A pleasant rain came through this morning. We needed it as the island has been looking a bit brown. It is great for the cisterns. The cabins are fun when a storm comes through. Be sure to check out the archives in this Blog.

2006-04-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

I finally got the mulcher. The only vehicle I could tow it with was in the shop being repaired. However, Joseph fixed it. Allied Tool Rental brought the mulcher over from St Thomas and I had to tow it 10 miles from Cruz Bay to Salt Pond, a long and winding journey. 10 miles at 20 mph. It was especially harrowing when the mulcher came off the tow ball while I was on a main roadway in Cruz Bay with the Police coming up the hill. Allied did not put the pin in the hitch. Yet, all worked out as Cheeky from Allied came out to help put the mulcher back on the tow ball. The police were understanding as they drove by.
The rock cribs continue to be built up. The wall has gone up fast. This will be the retaining wall for the lower deck of the Pavilion.
This was once a dirt and bumpy road. We had it paved last year; 2000 feet of road. It was a very smooth operation. Currently, our guests park along the road but, in the future we plan to provide parking near the road that leads to the pavilion. Rumor has it we will put the parking area on top of our new maintenance building.
This is E13, one of the accessible cabins along the road. We constructed these in 2004. We had a Disabilities Conference in July of 2005. Multi Design for People, LLC and Stanley Selengut collaborated on bringing 4 individuals with disabilities and mobility issues to stay in our Accessible Eco Tents. It was a week long event that ended in an Island Conference held at Maho Bay's Pavilion. Senators and Public Officials were present to discuss the future of making The Virgin Islands more accessible for people with disabilities. ST. John restaurants such as Rumbalayan's, The Westin, Caneel Bay, Miss Lucy's, Aqua Bistro, Cinnamon Bay, Skinny Legs and of course, Maho Bay's Pavilion Restaurant all donated meals to the cause. Rhode Island School of Design had interns come and assist on constructing ramps and assist in activties. The participants had a great time.
I can envision the pavilion and imagine the sounds of nature flowing through it's design. I can imagine the weddings, musicians, artists, and writers all spellbound. The full moon will be a site to behold from the decks. I hear rumor we might set up a high powered telescope and let people get closer to the amazing starry nights. Bring several wishes as shooting stars are a common site.

2006-04-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

A car barge arriving to take the KIA and I along with a few others to St Thomas. This is the Roanoke. I love the palm trees. The Roanoke is the most accommodating of all the car barges. It takes about 35 minutes to get to the Red Hook dock in St. Thomas. The cost is between $42.00 and $50.00 for a roundtrip.

Then, you have the General. It needs a paint job. I missed the first two barges but was able to get on the Roanoke. This is also St John's new barge dock replacing the old loading place in downtown Cruz Bay. The traffic and congestion grew very tiresome for us all. Congratulations on this new dock. I wonder if they will open up the waterfront to shops or restaurants.

As you can see the view is pleasant. That is St Thomas in the distance. I needed to go over to pick up two bath vanity cabinets, interior doors, get new tires put on for the Kia, (Which is super cool to drive by the way)- tiles, ceiling fans, fluorescent lights, screws, mirrors...Home Depot was not much of a help in assisting my needs. Whereas, The Seachest was over extending with help. It turns out I purchased poor quality vanity cabinets. Termites would shred them within two years. So, I will need to return them. My work is teaching me about what it will take in building a home. In the states, the vanity cabinets I purchased would have fine but not here. Home Depot should not be selling that type of quality here and they should have helped me when I asked.

Here comes The General. It was a long day as the 6:30pm barge pulls in. The barges stop running at 7pm. That is St John in the distance.

I love riding on the barges or ferries at this time of day. The air feels very refreshing and the water is peaceful.

2006-04-10T04:42:00.002-07:00

The guys did quite a bit of work Friday. I have to call Maho to see if I can get the dump truck to load a mulcher I rented. The KIA is not registered yet but should be later today. I finally will be able to get rid of the debris from the wetland construction. Maggie had to go to St Thomas to meet with DPNR (Dept of Planning and Natural Resources) . They handle the building permits.

I will have to go over to St Thomas Tomorrow. I get to take the KIA. It's like driving a bubble. We need several items for the downstairs Staff House. There is a Home Depot on St Thomas that satisfies many needs. We also use MSI and Seachest. Then there is always Kmart. No Walmart yet...surprisingly. The Virgin Islands has recently adopted the EDC (Economic Development Commission) program that gives businesses many economical advantages in buying local merchandise. Go to http://sts.onepaper.com/ to find out all about life here in the US Virgin Islands.

More ground was dug out. This will be the future parking area for the Pavilion. Rock cribs will act as a foundation wall for the parking area. We are planning on keeping the road to the Pavilion graded instead of paved. This will keep a more natural feel to the environment. There is poetry in a morning walk on a dirt road as doves play their flutes in the trees, and the distant chimes of boats echo up the hillside.
Tranquil Salt Pond Bay. This is one of the views you will see if you are sitting on the lower deck of the Pavilion. Looks like a painting.

Oh yeah, the sunrise wasn't that bad either. This is currently E19 but once I finish with the numbered tiles it will become Sage Point 10. I can not express how wonderful the mornings are here.

2006-04-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

Doug, Rich and Kevin. Have a safe journey Rich. Thank you for all you did for us.

Segundo is back! He will lead the crew on the Yoga pavilion. Segundo is well organized and and has a terrific spirit. It's nice to have you back.
Our new KIA dump truck. Now I am going to feel a part of the in- crowd on St. John. These make great utility vehicles. It is very challenging getting a vehicle registered on St. John as the DMV can try your patience. Thank you Maggie!

2006-04-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

We wish you all the best Dave and Kat! Congratulations! They were married on Sunday, March 26th at Little Lameshur. St John is the perfect wedding location. Our new pavilion will make a great spot for sure. Kat is a well known and loved local artist here on St. John. Check out her works. www.katsowa.com

Dave and Kat compliment each other very well.

I wonder if Dave got his Boat Captains License.

2006-04-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

Carlos, Teran, Patrick, Lennox, Doug, Abel, and James (Welcome Back James!) are working very hard in the sun loading rockcribs. Thank you guys. The rockcribs are coming along. It is hot out there on the hill side. The guys have put up umbrellas to provide shade. Water is needed as it is consumed heavily. The crew is going to take off early tomorrow and go out on Dave's boat. The Virgin Islands has some of the most exquisite water in the world. It can be so blindingly beautiful at times. It's one of the those places where you look at a photo and say: "It truely is that color."

This retaining wall is going to blend very nicely into the hillside.

We met with the Backhoe crew this morning to push the time up to 10a.m before starting. Most of our guests have gone out to play by then.

Thank you for your patience.

You can get a perspective here of the view out to Ram Head. The umbrellas seem like a foreshadow of the cafe. We hope to be completed with the pavilion by December 1, 2006.

This is Lennox. He needs to return to St. Lucia for a while. He will be missed but he should be back in a month. Have a safe journey Lennox.

Maggie Day on her cell phone. Reception is not the best out this way. Maggie's priority is to get the building permit submitted for changes made to the Pavilion structure. The CZM permit allows us to do the site work but the building permit will let us begin on construction. Maggie is anxious to get the permit submitted before the Easter Holiday as well as the St. Thomas carnival when all work at Government offices slows to a crawl. It can take a month or more for a building permit to get processed.

I would like to nominate Maggie Day for Senator of the Virgin Islands. She is a great mediator and is well versed in politics and business. She has lived here for thirty years and is happily married with four children. Well loved here on St. John.

Carlos Solis, the Archeologist surveyor has given us some very exciting news. He has found a pre-ceramic historical site on Nanny Point, an area Stanley Selengut intends to donate to a conservation organization to preserve the natural habitat. This could be the most important historical site on St John. Carlos will continue his research and hopefully have a detailed report in a week. Fascinating!

I have to go to Cruz Bay now because Carlos left the Blazer parked at Gallows Point. I thought I was suppose to drive him in this morning but I guess he needed to get going. Thank you Carlos for all your work...

2006-04-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

Mission Statement

The Estate Concordia Preserve has been established to restore and maintain the fragile eco-systems adjacent to the Virgin Islands National Park in Estate Concordia, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. The mission of the Preserve is to achieve optimal bio-diversity and sustainability of the natural environment consistent with St. John’s native plant, bird and animal life as well as low impact development and human habitation. Land owners within the boundaries of the preserve will be encouraged and expected to support and participate in the fulfillment of this mission through mandatory membership in the Estate Concordia Preserve Association and providing reasonable access to their property for the re-introduction of species and the management of vegetation, bird and wildlife habitat. The Preserve will also co-operate with the Virgin Islands National Park and the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park to establish programs and policies designed to be a model for the Park and other private conservation areas on St. John.

As you can see, the drive down to Nanny Point is captivating.

Underground Utilities have been placed.

This hillside looks out to the east end peninsula of St John and out toward the British Virgins. The sun and full moon rise out of the sea. It is an enchanting sight.

The Villas at Estate Concordia Preserve

Construction Assistance / Sustainable Development

A critical challenge facing off-island property owners is the design and
construction of site sensitive villas . If you are interested in purchasing and
building a villa at the Preserve please become familiar with our Covenants and
Restrictions. It is our desire to “…ensure the development consistent with 1) the
principals of sustainable development and preservation of natural, historical and
cultural resources 3) promotion of indigenous flora 4) management and discouragement of non-indigenous flora and fauna… 5) maintenance of privacy and 6) good relations with the other property owners, the Concordia eco-resort and the Virgin Islands National Park.”

We have a long history of construction and low impact development in the US Virgin Islands. We are pleased to make recommendations, provide local knowledge and liaison with contractors who have adopted and adhere to the principals of the Island Green Building Association. We are open to discussing how our land and facilities may be used to assist with staging and we are available to help co-ordinate construction activity between Preserve members to minimize cost and environmental impact.

Conservation

Owners of villa sites at Concordia are encouraged to work with The St. John Land Trust if they are interested in conservation easements or land donations in an effort to preserve native vegetation on their site. We are pleased to announce that the buyer of parcels 30 Remainder, 29A and 30-6 has donated 6 acres of his purchase to the VI National Park. Stanley Selengut, the owner of all parcels for sale listed above is in the Process of donating the majority of the Nanny Point land parcel to the St. John Land Trust to preserve the area as green space for the enjoyment of all Preserve owners and visitors.
The Villas at Estate Concordia Preserve

The Resort and Eco-Tents are located on lots 20-26 Estate Concordia.

FIVE VILLA SITES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

The Villa Sites are located on lots 7 thru 11, 13 thru 17, 29 and 30.

Ten Villa Sites have been sold in the past two years. There are currently five sites listed for sale and eight sites off the market.

Parcel Price Size

#11 $550,000 .865 acre

#29-1 $999,000 1.0 acre

# 30-1 Remainder $999,000 1.0 acre

#30-2A $1,750,000 1.0 acre

#30-3A $2,000,000 .800 acre

All lots listed and exclusively offered by Holiday Homes of St. John

Please contact Christie O’Neil at Holiday Homes, 340-776-6776 or
Maggie Day at Estate Concordia Preserve
maggie@maho.org 340-626-4868 340-776-0838

for information and a property tour

2006-04-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

The rock pile is getting bigger. The crew is on the other side loading the rocks into Stone Cribs. So, the backhoe cuts into the hillside and creates the stones used to fill the basket; all resources are being used. Down at the constructed wetland I am going to run the branches and small tree's that were removed through a mulcher. Allied Tool rental is going to go over to ST Thomas and pick it up for me on Friday. The shavings will go back into the wetland helping retain moisture by shading the soil.

Joseph, is our company mechanic. He has come over to Concordia from Maho to repair the breaks. You do not want to be caught with no breaks on these roads. I am going to drive down to Nanny Point and take some photographs of the land we have for sale. Thanks Joseph!

But before Nanny Point, I need to get with Shay, Concordia's Resident Manager (left photo) and go over tile placement on the Cabins. I think we may need some more tiles created.

Here's me holding up one of Gail's Room number tiles. Too small? I am at what is now E1 but this cabin will soon become Turks Cap 9. I think the tiles will look nice once they are in place. Gail will soon be making larger tiles that denote each section of the Eco-Tents. The tiles will have the floral and fauna engraved as well as the name engraved. Gail has an apartment for rent that I can afford. Rents on St. John have risen remarkably as St. John has been discovered by many as a great place to live in the 21st century. It is wonderful here and is only getting better.

The best seat on St John. This is right at the top of the road that leads down to the land parcels for sale. What a view! It felt so good today. Let's drive down to Nanny Point.

2006-04-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome back Maggie! It's always good to have our Vice President back. She holds us all together.

2006-04-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Rich is finishing up on the downstairs kitchen to the Mandahl House, Concordia's new employee housing. Upstairs are 6 studio bedrooms where our construction crew resides. The downstairs will be the Resident Manager living quarters. It would be a good place to do Reality TV. Call it Construction in Paradise.

It should be another week before the downstairs is completed. Paradise Gas should be coming out today to change over the propane tanks. The small tanks don't cut the mustard with this hungry crew. Sad to say, Rich will be leaving us. He has been with us since October but has an itch to do some more traveling. Construction is a great field to be in for working and seeing the world.

Here is the Mandahl Estate, once a one story house. I look forward to the landscaping. We have one of the best Mango Trees on St John in the front yard. There is fresh water well that has been here for a hundred years. Soon, we will be checking out what has fallen in over the years. Hopefully nothing will crawl out of the TV set.

The constructed wetland has been put on hold. No concrete until April 15th. We need to pour the walls.

This is Gail Vandebogart. She has the Ceramic Concession at Maho Bay Camps (Maho Bay Clayworks). www.mahobayclayworks.com She does exceptional work. I love her frigate bird pottery. Gail has produced room number tiles for the Eco Tents. The ceramic board has been cut and I spent the morning predrilling holes for mounting.

We will be changing the Tent Numbers soon as well as naming each area of cabins after the local floral and fauna. What is currently Eco Tent 12 will soon become Orchid 1.
The sections will be named Orchid, Turks cap, Sage Point, Pipe Organ, Frangipani, and Gumbo Limbo. So, in the near future when you request a cabin you may say "I would like to request Turks Cap 7 or Sage Point 13" Every cabin has it's own charm just like at Maho Bay.

This is Glenn Speer, Architect for our new Yoga Pavilion. He has designed some of the most beautiful buildings on St John utilizing the classic stone and coral aesthetic of the old Caribbean Plantations.

Mongoose Junction is a perfect example of Glenn's accomplishments:http://www.mongoosejunctionstjohn.com/

I heard that he once built a castle out in California.

Little Lameshur Beach...a nice hike or drive from Estate Concordia. St John has 30 beaches to choose from. It is so nice to live here and enjoy this Insurmountable beauty.

2006-04-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Stanley!

We'll see you soon!

Stanley Selengut is the visionary, creator, and owner of Estate Concordia and Maho Bay Camps. He has created resort communities based on low impact design that have brought together the most unpretentious clientele. If there were indeed a chosen tribe, I would have to say that the people who stay with us belong to it. Stanley has created something wonderful without ego.

Thank you Stanley.

2006-04-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

The BackHoes have been going at it for a few days now. Not to pleasant on the ears. Our sincere apologies on the noise. It should last for a few more days. Once the CZM (Coastal Zone Management) permit came through we were able to start the clearing for the Pavilion. It can be a time consuming process.

Teran, Abel, Doug, and Patrick have been filling rock cribs. They take a break as the Backhoes continue to dump rock. Unfortunately, as with all construction, trees need to be taken down. Once the pavilion is constructed we will plant back as much as we can.

Dave Thompson and Juan Carlos work on surveying the dig. Dave is our Project Manager and a gentleman. Too smart for his own good.

I had to do a Concordia Tour today. It is a pleasure to show people Concordia. Everyone loves the Eco Tents however, some opt for the Studio Units that have more of the modern comforts of home. Here is a terrific bunch from Maho. This was a nice day. When you come stay at Maho please sign up for a tour at the activities desk.

This is Carlos Solis, an Archeological Surveyor. I picked him up at the ferry yesterday afternoon and their he was holding his shovel. He was ready! Carlos will be examining the land parcels that are for sale at Estate Concordia Preserve to see if there are any cultural remains from past communities that may have existed. Thank you Carlos!

2006-03-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

I took a walk early this morning to see how the digging went yesterday for the Pavilion. I took a walk through Estate Concordia. The guys are working at the employee house finishing up the downstairs kitchen and painting the walls. More gabion baskets (rock cribs) are being tied together and should begin the rock filling tomorrow.

Concordia is so peaceful and refreshing in the cool mornings. When you come and stay with us be sure to rise and take a walk around early in the morning. The following photos help explain why...

From top: Ramhead, Saltpond Bay, A turpentine tree, walking down to our last phase of Eco Tents.

As you can see, it is simply beautiful.

The new Yoga Pavilion will be nestled amongst all of this splendor. It will be so nice to have a cafe where you can enjoy a meal while being engulfed by this natural wonder.

Well, the day starts off as I learn that I have to go to St Thomas. We need more supplies. This means I have to take the car barge . St Thomas can be quite an adventure when you are not on vacation.

2006-03-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

A Constructed Wetland:

Joe Gelt states:

In brief, a constructed wetland is a water treatment facility. Duplicating the processes occurring in natural wetlands, constructed wetlands are complex, integrated systems in which water, plants, animal, microrganisms and the environmnent--sun, soil, air interact to improve water quality...

http://ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/arroyo/094wet.html

Estate Concordia Preserve has created this constructed wetland for it's new Employee House. We are currently researching the type of plants that will be used to keep the wetland active and functional. It has taken six weeks to create it this far. Sorry for not being able to include the cement pour. Always a fun activity...

2006-03-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

It's March 28, 2006. Abel, Teran, Lennox, Patrick, and Carlos have been setting up the Gabion Baskets that will serve as a foundation for the new Yoga pavilion. The baskets will be filled with stones and set up along the hillside to help support the structure.

Silt Fences have been put up around the clearing perimeter where the Yoga pavilion will sit. Concordia is on the arid side of St John where Pipe Organ Cactus and Turpentine trees dot the landscape.

This is very exciting! The Yoga pavilion will make a great addition to Estate Concordia. Our apologies for the noise.

2006-03-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

Estate Concordia Preserve, a 50 acre resort community incorporating sustainable design, nestled on a hillside on the south of St. John the Emerald Gem of The Virgin Islands, is beginning the first stages of construction on it's yoga pavilion. It has been two years since Estate Concordia began its third and fourth phases of Eco Tent construction. We have finished 14 solar powered eco tents that have been received with great review. Four of the cabins have been made accessible for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility.

The 2005 phase of the Eco Tents was exciting as we all labored on an arid hillside to construct seven new cabins overlooking the Caribbean Sea and out to the British Virgin Islands where the waves knock on your door 24 hours a day and the wind is a constant fan.

The future looks exciting as we have plans for a new restaurant, an amphitheatre, a gift shop, and an arts and crafts facility where glass blowing will be demonstrated and taught. We are very excited about the Yoga Pavilion that was designed by Architect, Glenn Speer who designed the exquisite Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay. The Yoga Pavilion will have massage rooms and a café, a marvelous addition to Estate Concordia.

Entrepreneur and Civil Engineer, Stanley Selengut is the visionary behind Estate Concordia and it’s popular parent resort Maho Bay Camps: http://www.maho.org/ He has created a place where time stops. Where the moon and sun rise out of the sea. A non-pretentious place where nature is the entertainment.

St. John has become in demand for it's natural island beauty…forever protected by The National Park System. St. John offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Caribbean. One and two acre parcels are for sale down the road from Estate Concordia where underground utilities have been placed and a paved road has been set. Estate Concordia will be setting up a Villa Management Company that will provide many services for it's guests including Maintenance, Provisioning, Housekeeping, and Construction. Please contact Christie O’Neil at Holiday Homes of St. John: 340-776.6776 or Maggie Day at maggie@maho.org

Phew! Seems like quite a bit of work is store for all of us. We are also finishing up on our employee housing where we are creating a Constructed Wetland: http://ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/arroyo/094wet.html

Check back with us as Stanley Selengut, Maggie Day, Dave Thompson, Victor Nunnally, Shay Copeland, Glenn Speer, Mary Blezin, Joe Feraco, Segundo Soto, Kevin Updike, and all the wonderful people who work on this project put together a resort community based on sustainable design. We are working on improving our co-existence with nature. Come along with us and experience putting together this unique community. Check for Blog postings every few days to observe our journey. Hope to see you soon.

We would like to start off by saying congratulations to Dave and Kat on their recent union at Lameshur Bay.