HPR Commissioner Investigates Gifft Hill School Building Buy

V.I. Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Clair Williams toured Gifft Hill School’s upper campus recently, investigating the property for purchase by the department to be used as a multi-purpose recreation center.

There’s just one problem — HPR doesn’t have the money to buy the property, and Williams is unsure whether the upper campus building is even for sale.

The building would be ideal for use as a community recreation center, explained the HPR commissioner.

“I certainly would recommend that we purchase it and use it as a multi-purpose center for recreation,” said Williams. “It could be developed into a gym. I think it would be ideal for the government to have so the community could utilize it.”

Although Williams was invited to tour the property and was shown around by GHS officials, he admitted the department would not be able to afford the property.

“I did meet with individuals there who were kind enough to let me see the facility, but at this point I’m not even sure if it’s on the market,” said Williams. “I don’t even know what price they’d ask for it, but I have no money to purchase it.”

GHS is open to ideas when it comes to enriching activities for Love City youth, explained GHS headmaster Ben Biddle.

“Gifft Hill is always considering ways to partner with the public sector to further opportunities for the children of St. John, whether in athletics or academics,” said Biddle. “We realize there is tremendous potential in sharing our eight-acre upper school campus and welcome the commissioner’s interest in developing community use facilities.”