AIA Community Vision

The goal of the concept plan is to support community services and economic development while respecting the cultural and natural environment of Coral Bay. This concept plan represents just one scenario for addressing the program presented by the AIA SDAT Team. The plan is rooted in low impact development and the protection of environmental and cultural resources on Coral Bay as a means to foster community and economic development, establish a public realm, and provide community services and access (AIA Report, p. 25)

Community Comes together: 140 people participated in the May 2013 Community Vision Workshop held in Coral Bay. Read Tradewinds article about this important event.

As part of the land use planning activities within the Coral Bay Watershed Management Project: Phase 2, the Coral Bay Community Council obtained a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) grant from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This grant is bringing a group of experts to St. John in May 2013 to work with residents, public officials & community leaders, to create a vision for Coral Bay, addressing issues such as appropriate development and infrastructure while protecting the natural environment and enhancing our overall quality of life for many years to come.

Coral Bay was one of 7 communities chosen nationwide to participate in the 2013 AIA program: www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS075426

Following this program, CBCC began seeking to work with the Virgin Islands government and the community to create an actual visionary plan for the future of Coral Bay, as well as continuing to work to implement recommendations in the AIA report.

In 2019-20, CBCC is building upon this previous community planning and visioning work under a USDA Community Facilities Grant. With this grant, we are seeking involvement and input of the community to develop 3 to 5 concepts for multi-use community facilities, two of which will be taken to the preliminary design and permitting stage. More information on this project is here: coralbaycommunitycouncil.org/community-facilities/