EDA To Host Charrette In Search Of Ideas To Develop Savanne-Downstreet Community Plan

ST. THOMAS – The Enterprise and Commercial Zone Commission (ECZC), an entity of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (EDA), will host a four-day charrette to initiate the Savanne-Downstreet Community Plan from July 13-16 at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel, according to a press release EDA issued on Tuesday.

The charrette, a series of intense, multi-disciplinary planning session meetings, will help to initiate the development of a community plan for the Savanne-Downstreet Community Plan.

Residents and owners of businesses and properties in Savanne and Downstreet, along with other interested persons, are invited to the event to provide their input for the project.

During the charrette, panelists who specialize in various topics that affect community and area development – in collaboration with the general public – will come together to share their ideas, opinions, recommendations and possible solutions to the challenges that exist in the areas of Savanne and Downstreet.   Savanne-Downstreet is one of the designated enterprise zones in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Topics of discussion will include:

Monday, July 13: Historic and Cultural Aspects of the Town.

Tuesday, July 14:  Environmental Impacts & Infrastructural Challenges.

Wednesday, July 15: Social Issues and Housing.

Thursday, July 16:  Economic Development.

The charrette will be held each day at 5:30 p.m.

Charrette Center, Inc., describes a typical charrette  as  “an intensive, multi-disciplinary week-long design workshop designed to facilitate an open discussion between stakeholders of a development project. A team of design experts meets with community groups, developers and neighbors over a period from 3-4 days to 2 weeks long, gathering information on the issues that face the community.   The charrette team then works together to find design solutions that will result in a clear, detailed, realistic vision for future development.”

For more information, contact Nadine T. Marchena Kean at (340) 714-1700, ext. 256; or Raheem Smith  at  ext. 253.  To learn more about the ECZC or the VIEDA, visit www.usvieda.org.