Draw the Line for Coral Bay;
Let our love for St. John unite us.

Coral Bay’s future has not been decided.

Despite recent federal permit approvals (as of April 20, 2026) for the proposed Summer's End Group mega yacht marina project, this process is far from over. Local permitting, legal challenges, public accountability, and community action still matter — and the people of St. John still have a voice.

For more than twelve years, thousands of residents, native St. Johnians, business owners, scientists, environmental advocates, and visitors have raised serious concerns about the long-term impact this development project could have on Coral Bay’s culture, environment, infrastructure, and identity. Those concerns did not disappear with a press release.

Now, with territorial elections coming up in a matter of weeks, we have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to remind our elected leaders whom they serve.

This moment is bigger than politics. It is about protecting the places, traditions, ecosystems, and communities that make St. John unlike anywhere else in the world. No matter what neighborhood, family, or political circle you come from, Coral Bay belongs to all of us.

_________

We must hold leaders accountable by asking every candidate seeking

office in November 2026 to answer a simple question publicly:

"If elected, will you support or oppose the proposed mega yacht marina project in Coral Bay?"

_________

We urge residents, property owners, visitors, and supporters to make their voices heard. If enough people speak clearly and collectively:

local permitting can be rigorously enforced,
Public scrutiny can increase,
legal challenges can proceed,
and leaders will understand that the people of St. John are paying attention.

This is not over.

This is the chapter where we decide what comes next.

Poll anchor

Coral Bay, Slipping Away

This rendering was based on the original (2014) marina slip design documents and is populated at 75% occupancy, making it an accurate rendering of the currently proposed marina size (115 slips).

It is a photorealistic rendering from a vantage point on the west side of Coral Harbor at approximately 200 ft elevation.

For more details about the SEG project and its opposition, please visit savecoralbay.com.

Rendering by Daniel Pinto on behalf of Save Coral Bay.

"You would have a very difficult time finding a worse location than Coral Bay for a marina of this size and scope."

- David Silverman

President, Save Coral Bay Inc., a Virgin Islands nonprofit

corporation and IRS 501(c)3 public charity

What's so bad about the SEG plan?

Size of Vessels

The SEG project is designed to support vessels up to 160' in length (Mega Yachts), which is totally out of line with the conditions in Coral Harbor.

There is inadequate depth for safe navigation, insufficient space for maneuvering, and the sound, light, and air quality impacts of these yachts in small Coral Harbor would have a profound negative effect on the surrounding community.

Size of Marina

Initially proposed at 149 slips, and now somewhat reduced to around 115 slips, the marina would cover 28.5 acres of Coral Harbor. It is proposed to be built on around one thousand steel pilings, installed by impact pile driving over a period of a year or more.

The marina would quite literally consume virtually all of the inner harbor and displace the traditional uses of the waters.

Location of Marina

Positioned on the windy and exposed SW shore of Coral Bay, with an open fetch to the southeast, the proposed marina is literally in the worst possible location for exposure to severe tropical weather. Many vessels have ended up ashore in this exact spot, as it has experienced the brunt of most hurricanes over the past 50 years.

At a maximum resistance of 96 mph, the design strength of the proposed marina is inadequate to survive even a Category 3 hurricane, much less an Irma or Maria, as we have witnessed in recent years; in short, this is an unsafe location to position a yacht marina.

Impact to Protected Resources

Coral Harbor has some of the most extensive and healthy seagrass meadows in the Virgin Islands. Over 90% of the seabed is vegetated in the inner harbor and supports a range of threatened and endangered species, including Green and Hawksbill turtles, five species of endangered corals, Nassau Grouper, and Queen Conch - all of which are either federally endangered or threatened.

The construction and operation of the marina would destroy a minimum of 20 acres of seagrass due to the installation of pilings, structures, and vessel shading. The resulting turbidity would likely extend throughout the harbor, resulting in massive, large scale seagrass die-off.

Lack of Supporting Infrastructure

No fuel, no potable water, no police presence, no marine fire services, inadequate electrical power, no medical services... the list goes on.

SEG proposes to sell 2 million gallons of marine fuel per year, delivered by truck over Centerline Rd. This equates to 3-4 full truckloads of fuel delivered per day over Centerline Rd - a clear hazard to the entire island.

Similar issues would arise with wastewater and sewage disposal.

While an investment in infrastructure would benefit Coral Bay, we must do it in a way that also limits the risk of overdevelopment and overcrowding.

Additional concerns

Other issues frequently cited include:

- Creating an exclusive "wealthy white enclave" in Coral Bay

- Obstructing the Virgin Islands National Park visitor experience

- Adverse impact on the ecotourism-based economy of Coral Bay and the East End

- Disrupting the residential, non-commercial "vibe" of Coral Bay and of the area.

- Overcrowding issues in the BVI, the “charter capital of the world”, enhance the value of our tranquil, preserved, and undeveloped landscape –– a key differentiator and a motivation for visitors who seek out St. John.

A Sacred Symbol

Of Freedom

"Before the American Revolution, or any other revolution in the Western Hemisphere, the first was in Coral Bay with enslaved Africans.

On Nov. 23, 1733, their first strike for freedom took place in Fort Fortsberg with only knives and cutlasses. It was a small group about 14 slaves that changed the history of the Western world..."

- Dr. Olasee Davis, Ph.D., excerpt from his Op-Ed published on The St. Thomas Source

A painting of Coral Bay by Robert H. Schomburgk, dated 1833. (Image courtesy Michael and Jane Sheen collection)

- Kurt G. Marsh, Jr.

Architect and Virgin Islands native

“Development should deepen belonging, not erase it.”

Marsh Kurt_S12_edited_edited_edited_edit

A Change for the Better

True sustainability begins with cultural survival.

We propose an alternative development plan grounded by a different premise: that St. John is not a blank space to be optimized, but a living place—rich in memory, identity, and responsibility.

Drawing from the research and cultural framework articulated in local architect Kurt G. Marsh, Jr.'s So We Live: Within Place, and Without Space, this vision shifts the location of a proposed Coral Bay development and centers local knowledge, cultural continuity, and collective stewardship as the foundation for sustainable progress.

Rather than repeating models that displace residents and erode heritage, this plan reframes development as a long-term asset strategy rooted in people, place, and resilience that reinvests culture back into the land itself—supporting livelihoods, preserving ecological balance, and ensuring that future generations of St. Johnians can not only remain, but thrive.

This approach prioritizes:

Durable local economies
Cultural continuity as an economic asset
Environmental stewardship as risk mitigation
Community-rooted governance and ownership models

The result is a development pathway that aligns social impact with financial sustainability—one that protects what makes St. John irreplaceable while creating measurable, long-term value for residents, partners, and investors alike.

This is not resistance to change; it is an insistence that change serve the people and the place, together.

What's Best for the people of St. John?

We must believe in what we decide.

Instead of a mega yacht marina, we could reimagine Coral Bay to have:

- Improved infrastructure, notably power

- Boutique marina(s)

- Boardwalk

- Dinghy & Fuel Dock

- Customs House

- Community Theatre

All ideas are welcome for an alternative vision of Coral Bay.

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only

Coral Bay_new plan boardwalk_10 June.png

Your Participation Matters Now

St. John is approaching a tipping point, and the costs of inaction are rising.

Cultural displacement weakens social cohesion. Ecological degradation increases climate and insurance risk. A shrinking resident population erodes the very labor, knowledge, and authenticity that tourism itself depends on. These are not abstract concerns—they are measurable liabilities for any long-term investment in the island. Decisions made in the next few years will determine whether the island remains a living cultural homeland—or becomes a curated destination devoid of its people.

This moment also presents a rare opportunity. There is growing alignment among community leaders, cultural practitioners, and values-driven funders who recognize that place-based, culturally grounded development is no longer optional—it is essential. The frameworks, research, and local advocacy exist. What is needed now is timely action, patient partnership, and the courage to invest differently.

We invite you to:

Support catalytic projects that center local leadership, cultural infrastructure, and community-serving enterprises
Invest in long-term resilience, not short-term extraction
Partner with Sunlit St. John to pilot alternative development models that can scale responsibly across the Virgin Islands
Help shift the narrative—from consumption of place to stewardship of place

Acting now allows St. John to set a precedent rather than follow a crisis. It enables development that stabilizes land, strengthens local economies, and protects cultural inheritance before displacement becomes permanent.

By participating, you become co-guardians of a future where Coral Bay remains culturally whole, economically viable, and environmentally intact.

Take Action

Participate in the public poll
Ask candidates where they stand on the proposed mega yacht marina project in Coral Bay
Share this campaign
Stay informed as legal and local proceedings continue

The future of Coral Bay should not be decided behind closed doors. It should be decided by the people who love it, live it, and will inherit it.

You say, "I Love St. John." Will you draw the line?

Draw the Line for Coral Bay; Let our love for St. John unite us.