ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands government has finalized the purchase of a historic building in downtown Christiansted, transforming the once privately owned office space into a multiuse government complex designed to cut rental costs, strengthen interagency collaboration, and stimulate economic activity in town.
The purchase of the “old Continental” building on a half acre at 46b & 47 King Street for $7.1 million was spearheaded by the Office of Management and Budget in collaboration with the Department of Finance and made possible through federal grant funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund.
OMB and Finance now share space in the 11,000 square-foot, two-story building that is more than 250 years old, came with all the furniture, and was completely renovated in 2019 by J. Benton Construction when International Private Bank owned it. The building has an elevator, two conference rooms, 16 private offices, multiple cubicles, a spacious lobby and reception areas, a full kitchen with two kitchenettes, and a gated parking lot with 35 parking spaces.
OMB Director Julio Rhymer discussed how the move accomplished long-term goals to reduce the government’s dependence on leased office space, revitalize downtown Christiansted, and modernize service delivery through shared resources and community access initiatives.
“We realized, of course, to drive economic activity back to the towns, you need to actually bring back some government offices,” he said.
Rhymer pointed out it was a proper fit to have OMB and Finance in the same building because the two agencies complement each other, noting OMB authorizes the release of funds and Finance makes the payments.
“The synergies are perfect,” he said. “Our employees talk to each other more than anybody in the government.”
OMB was renting, and Finance needed alternative office space so its old building in Estate Diamond near the Sunny Isle Shopping Center could undergo federally funded renovations to address damages sustained during Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Rhymer said. Rhymer said he and Finance Commissioner Kevin McCurdy jointly decided to purchase the King Street building and share the space after Governor Albert Bryan Jr. asked them to check it out.
“This space is not only for offices for OMB and Department of Finance, but we also have other activities in the building,” he said.
While the newly acquired building now houses OMB and Finance, there are plans to have the Economic Development Authority offer small business and other developmental training on site within a month in addition to a telehealth partnership with the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center that is expected to launch in three months. The building, which now offers free Wi-Fi, will also incorporate public computer stations.
“The building is not just an office building, but a multiuse complex that we intend to actually have more activities within the building for the public to enjoy, such as free Wi-Fi,” Rhymer said.
Discussing the telehealth partnership, Rhymer, a territorial hospital board member, said individuals will be able to visit a doctor virtually or consult with a licensed practical nurse who will be available twice a week.
“Now you ease the burden on the emergency room, but yet you still have the patient being able to be treated,” he said.
Now that OMB and Finance are fully moved into their new building, it has sparked a chain of strategic realignments that will further cut rental costs for government agencies.
As soon as the former Finance building, which also houses the Bureau of Internal Revenue, gets retrofitted, Rhymer said it will become the new home of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and the Office of Cannabis Regulations. The move will allow DLCA and OCR to occupy government-owned property instead of paying rent. BIR will move to another location, but Rhymer said it is unknown at this time if that transition will be into a rental property or if the government will purchase a building.
“At the end of the day, the government is looking at ways to streamline cost but drive an economy at the same time,” he said.
Rhymer estimates these relocations could save the government about $500,000 annually through reduced rent and shared operating expenses.
“We’re sharing utilities,” he said. “We’re sharing cost of operating the building. When DLCA and OCR goes there, they share the cost.”
Beyond cost savings to the government, Rhymer discussed how the relocation is expected to breathe new life into Christiansted’s business district as the employees will patronize nearby restaurants and shops.
“They can walk to lunch, but they’re generating activity,” he said, adding employees might see something they want to purchase from a retail shop while walking to lunch. “The point is now you have the activity.”
