Legislators Debate Historic Preservation Office Restrictions

As Sen. Kenneth Gittens predicted, everyone at Tuesday’s Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning hearing agreed that the dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the historic sections of the territory’s towns created an ugly situation.

he problems associated with them mentioned included being eyesores, incubators of criminal activity, and attractive homes for rodents and insects.

However, there were some sharp divisions on how the issues could be addressed and if Gittens bill, which would help. The bill would authorize the Historic Preservation Commission to relax restrictions concerning historical and cultural assets in Christiansted, Frederiksted, Charlotte Amalie, and Cruz Bay.