inside the villas at botany bay offer ultimate luxury and
TRANSCRIPT
he Villas at Botany Bay are the
newest offering at The Preserve at
Botany Bay. Situated at the pinnacle of
the property near the gated entry, The Villas
will be beautifully appointed with picture-perfect
panoramic views.
With a nod to the Danish Colonial heritage of the
island, these four-bedroom, four-bath residences will
be constructed of stucco, stone, and wood and
bathed in contemporary
Caribbean colors. Exposed
decks made of renewable
materials such as Peruvian
Ipe wood will offer
incomparable views of
the surrounding natural
beauty of Botany Bay.
Each of the residences will
feature the ultimate in luxury
and privacy, comprising two
spacious living levels, as well
as a covered parking space
on the ground floor.
On the first level will be
three bedrooms and three
baths along with a study.
The second level will have
a master bedroom and master bath with private
outdoor shower. There will also be a living area,
dining area, kitchen and partially-covered private
deck with an infinity-edge splash pool. Ceiling
heights will reach 10 to 13 feet.
Similar to The Residences at Esperanza, The Villas
at Botany Bay will have an open air capability with
sliding doors that rescind into the walls, transform-
ing the upper level into an indoor/outdoor space.
Interiors will include top of the line appliances,
solid mahogany doors and wood bladed ceiling
fans. Design schemes offered will be Sophisticated
Tropical, British Colonial, Island Contemporary
and Tropical Whimsy, reflecting the various
Caribbean themes.
Residences will be offered furnished or unfurnished,
by choice of the buyer. If you choose to furnish your
residence with our assistance, J. Banks Design Group
of Hilton Head, South Carolina, will present various
options to make it fun and easy.
At the center of The Villas will be a passive park
where flowers and plants such as Frangipanis,
Alaconias and Lobster Claws will dot the landscape.
Native plants will punctuate the existing vegetation
including ornamental species such as Birds of
Paradise and various broad leaf type plants. Non-
native plants will also be introduced as a food
source for birds and butterflies.
Interpretive signage will offer information and
history of the native flora and fauna as well as the
archeological history and features of the property.
All of the amenities offered to other Botany Bay
property owners will be extended to members and
guests of The Villas at Botany Bay. From concierge
service to airport transportation to access to the
proposed Sandy Bay Beach Club, the sumptuous
lifestyle of Botany Bay awaits your arrival.
For additional information and ownership
opportunities for The Villas at Botany Bay, please
contact The Preserve at Botany Bay at 866-963-5003
or email [email protected].
The Sugar Mill WINTER 2007
WINTER 2007ISSUE NO. 1 News and Events from The Preserve at Botany Bay
The Villas at Botany Bay OfferUltimate Luxury and Privacy
A Signature Development of Timbers Resorts
As the plans for The Villas at Botany Bay are very specific to the site, there may be alterations to the design and construction.
With unobstructed panoramic views, The Villas at Botany Bay will be situated at the top of the property. Each residence comprises two living levels with expansive decks as well as an infinity edge private plunge pool.
InsideSLO DANCIN’ IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
FROM BEACON HILL TO BOTANY BAY
BOTANY BAY REAL ESTATE TEAM
BORDEAUX FARMER’S MARKET
THE OLD STONE FARMHOUSE
BOTANY BAY PROJECT
DIRECTOR DON PARRIS
OFF-ISLAND DAY TRIPS
INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF
SYMPOSIUM COMES TO
BOTANY BAY
Secret. Seductive.Secluded.
T
An Afternoon on St. John
A short ferry ride from the eastern end of St. Thomas, St.
John offers incredible snorkeling and scenic nature trails.
Nearly two-thirds of St. John is designated as a National
Park, featuring fascinating hikes, secluded coves, and
sandy beaches.
The Reef Bay Trail is among the most diverse in the Caribbean with
dense forest, plantation ruins, and rock outcroppings marked by well
preserved petroglyphs.
It is a moderate hike, but for those not up for the uphill return trip, the
Virgin Islands National Park runs guided hikes several days a week that
end with a boat trip back to Cruz Bay.
Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on St. John and among
the most photographed in the world. Offering an interesting underwater
snorkeling trail, Trunk Bay's subsurface signs identify the various types of
coral and aquatic life that inhabit the area.
Cruz Bay, the center of activity on St. John, contains colorful shops, lively
bars, and great restaurants. Enjoy dinner in town at The Lime Inn before
heading back to St. Thomas. This lively open-air restaurant is located at the
Lemon Tree Mall in the heart of Cruz Bay and is known for its fresh
grilled Caribbean-style lobster. Reservations are recommended.
For reservations call 340-776-6425.
Passenger ferries from St. Thomas to St. John depart from Red Hook Bay
and Charlotte Amalie throughout the day. Ferries to and from Red Hook
and Cruz Bay take between 15 and 20 minutes; ferries to and from Charlotte
Amalie and Cruz Bay take approximately 45 minutes. Frequent car ferries
are also available between Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas
to Cruz Bay, St. John. For ferry schedules and information, call
340-776-6282.
Once on St. John, taxis are rampant and relatively easy to catch around
the island. For more information or to prearrange a ride, call the
Taxi Commission at 340-776-8294.
A Day in the British Virgin Islands
The only coral island in the volcanic BVI chain, Anegada was named by the
Spanish, meaning the “Drowned Land.” Measuring 11 miles by three, its
highest point is just 28 feet above sea level. The island is surrounded by
Horseshoe Reef, one of the world’s longest reefs at 18 miles.
Anegada has all the facilities needed for most water sports, as well as
bonefishing or sport fishing. For snorkelers, the reef offers a maze of tunnels,
drops and caves boasting a rich marine life. Beyond the reef, spectacular
sights await scuba divers with angelfish, stingrays, triggerfish, and parrotfish
inhabiting the waters and numerous warships from wrecks of years past.
On land, the island’s history can be discerned through the maze of stone
walls surrounding the Settlement, the main town. In the East End, ancient
conch burial mounds and islands attest to the presence of the Arawaks, who
called Anegada home nearly a thousand years ago. At the Anegada Museum,
maps reveal the location of over 200 wrecks, while cannons, musket balls and
ships’ timbers are part of the recovered bounty.
The easiest way to get to and from Anegada is by air. Blue Water Aviation
offers charter flights from St. Thomas. To book your flight, contact them
at 340-776-5631 or [email protected].
WINTER 2007The Sugar Mill
ith the easy proximity of neighboring isles, island hopping is a popular activity in the Caribbean.
In addition to exploring the myriad trails and reefs surrounding Botany Bay, we suggest
a couple of off-island excursions for day trips or overnight adventures.
Off-Island Day Trips
W
otany Bay Estate Lot owners Larry and
Theresa Dunn of Basking Ridge, New
Jersey, have been enjoying the Virgin
Islands as their primary vacation spot ever since
their sons, Brad and Patrick, outgrew Walt Disney
World. They usually manage to find time to visit
the Virgin Islands twice a year because of the
availability of flights from the northeast and
very reasonable travel time.
“You hear so much about ‘in-season’ versus
‘off-season,’ but we have enjoyed being in the
Virgin Islands in the summer as well as the winter,”
said Larry. “We have vacationed there during spring
break and during the summer months, when there’s
still a breeze to keep you comfortable – unlike
steamy Florida. Because of the growing popularity
of St. Thomas, there really doesn't seem to be a
slow time.”
When they visited Botany Bay this summer, the
foursome had the pleasure of a full day of sailing
on a 36-foot yacht, Slo Dancin’, captained by Omar
Van Rooyen. Larry recounted their adventure on
the water.
“We set out fairly early, about 9:30 in the morning,
and the weather was perfect. This was our first
experience sailing around the western end of St.
Thomas and we were amazed by the views of the
island. The waters were very calm and because
there were so few other boats, we felt like we had
this section of the Caribbean all to ourselves. When
we rounded the western tip of the island, we truly
did because there wasn't another boat in sight!”
The Dunns’ view of the property from the bay
was spectacular, as was their snorkeling experience
because there were plenty of fish to admire. After
snorkeling, they had lunch onboard the sailboat
and continued to take in the scenery all around
them. All too soon, it was time to get under sail
and head back around the point.
“Theresa and I are looking forward to returning
in November to celebrate our 25th wedding
anniversary,” Larry continued. “No doubt we’ll
look up Captain Omar for another cruise to help
make this visit even more memorable. I can't think
of a better way to see Botany Bay!”
If you would like to book a trip around Botany
Bay with Captain Omar, he can be reached via
email at [email protected] or by phone
at 340-690-8228.
WINTER 2007The Sugar Mill
The Dunns
Slo Dancin’ in the Virgin Islands WelcomeCharter Members
❖
David Campbell
Kingston, Ontario
Lawrence and Theresa Dunn
Basking Ridge, NJ
Mark Earle
Orlando, FL
Tony Harper
Baton Rouge, LA
Justin and Sheila Heatter
Naples, FL
Sean and Lisa Lynch
Suwanee, GA
Phillip Moncrief
Destin, FL
James Moody
Houston, TX
John and Sandy Nussbaum
Appleton, WI
Marjorie Rawls Roberts
St. Thomas, USVI
Dennis and Maria Sassano
Miramar Beach, FL
Paul and Joanne Schweibinz
Lafayette, CA
Brad and Barbara Shingleton
Boston, MA
Warren Spector
New York, NY
Victor and Kumi Von Klemperer
Scarsdale, NY
Gregory and Vicki Wachowiak
Norcross, GA
White strip of beach along Sandy Bay.
Slo Dancin’ under sail.
Right: Botany Bay membersLarry and Theresa Dunn
aboard Slo Dancin’.
B
WINTER 2007The Sugar Mill
n search of the perfect escape from Boston's chilly winters, Brad
and Barbara Shingleton were drawn to Botany Bay upon first glance.
Having spent a year on St. Lucia in the ’80s, Brad and Barbara knew they
would own a second home in that region of the world someday.
They chose Botany Bay for its easy access from the east coast, the consistent
weather patterns of the Virgin Islands and the fact that St. Thomas is a U.S.
territory with a significant port, which makes importing building materials that
much more efficient.
The Shingletons’ primary
residence is an 1829 house on
Beacon Hill, Boston’s prominent
historic neighborhood. Both
Brad and Barbara share an
interest in architectural
preservation and attributed the
design guidelines for Botany Bay
as an important factor in their
decision to build there. “We felt
the design guidelines embraced the historic nature of St. Thomas’s architecture,”
Barbara explained.
They chose a hillside lot on the south end of the property to build their dream
house and are currently in the design and conceptual phase of the project with the
deJongh Group, a St. Thomas-based architecture firm. The principals, Robert and
Donna deJongh, have practiced on St. Thomas and surrounding islands for many
years. Through their experiences with multiple restoration projects including their
own residence, the Crown House, the oldest domicile on the island, they bring a
sound understanding of the historic architecture of the Virgin Islands and of the
challenges of building there.
“We felt they would be in tune to the colonial nuances of St. Thomas, which
is important to us,” noted Barbara.
Though they are still ironing out details on the specifics of the house, they know
it will have historical references to the Danish heritage of St. Thomas. They are
planning on working in stucco on parts of the exterior, having hurricane shutters
on the windows, a pitched roof and classical lines throughout the structure.
All rooms will have high ceilings with long windows to allow for airflow and to
lighten up the interior. There will be terraces and porches to take advantage of the
outdoor space.
“The topography will dictate a lot of decisions regarding the design,” Barbara
added. “To us, it’s important that the house feels appropriate to the piece of land.”
Brad, Barbara, and their three daughters Elizabeth, Jennifer and Rebecca,
all look forward to having a vacation home in the Caribbean with great
excitement. They anticipate the completion date of their Botany Bay residence
sometime in 2008.
orn and raised in New Jersey, Susan
Jeffas credits her adventurous spirit
for the exciting choices she has made
throughout her life. One such decision would
be when she and her husband Patrick picked up
and moved to Los Cabos as newlyweds in the fall
of 2000. She joined the Timbers Collection of
private resorts several years later as an Ownership
Representative for Esperanza Resort. With the near
sell-out of Esperanza in early 2006, her adventurous
spirit took hold again when she flew to St. Thomas
to visit Botany Bay.
“All I needed to do was enter the gates of this
amazing property to know I wanted to be a part
of this resort's onsite team,” she noted. “The
excitement of being involved from the ground up
is something that thrills me every day as I arrive at
the property and see it take shape all around me.”
Originally from northern New Jersey, Patrick Jeffas
sites his service as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam as
the most impactful experience of his life. “It
demonstrated how fleeting our time here is and how
important it is to live life to the fullest and take joy
in the small gifts we receive along the way.”
When he and Susan moved to Cabo to explore life
in Mexico, Patrick opened up his own business,
Cabo Coffee. While owning and operating the
coffee shop was fun and rewarding, Patrick desired
the personal interaction of sales and saw firsthand
the joy that his wife was experiencing in her job
at Esperanza. When
the opportunity was
presented to both
Patrick and Susan to join the team at
Botany Bay, everything fell into place.
When they're not golfing or hiking the
hilly terrain around the island, the Jeffases
are happiest spending time with their pug
and chihuahua.
In the fall of 2000, Melanie Taylor and
her husband left downtown Chicago in a
44-foot sailboat in search of a life
aquatic. They spent three years cruising
the Caribbean before they dropped
anchor and settled in St. Thomas.
Prior to joining the Botany Bay Real
Estate Team, Melanie worked for John
Foster Real Estate and was a Membership
Executive in the launch and sell-out of
The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas.
“What makes Botany Bay so special is
the incredible beauty of both the land
and the sea.” she noted. “We have a
pristine coral reef system that is awe-
inspiring with its many fish and types
of living coral.”
Melanie’s favorite ways to spend a day on the island
are to explore the many different cays and islands
surrounding Botany Bay by kayak or boat,
snorkeling and diving the North Walls or kite
boarding through the tradewinds.
The Preserve at Botany Bay Real Estate Team
The Preserve at Botany Bay Sales Team – Melanie Taylor, Susan Jeffasand Patrick Jeffas.
Bottom row: Elizabeth (L), Barbara (R), Top row:Jennifer, Rebecca and Brad.
The Shingletons
From Beacon Hill to Botany Bay
“There are many beautiful places in the world, and Botany Bay
would be on the top of many lists. The warmth and hospitality
of the Virgin Islanders is irresistible.”
I
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WINTER 2007
Don Parris, the Project Director for The Preserve
at Botany Bay, has a long and distinguished
construction development and project management
career spanning more than 30 years. Don started
his career as VP of Finance for the Sea Pines
Company in Hilton Head, SC, working on
developments including River Hills Plantation
in Charlotte, NC.
Don later became General Manager of Glade Springs
Resort in Beckley, WV, and then acted as General
Manager of Aspen Glen in Carbondale, CO.
In May of 2005, after visiting Botany Bay for the
very first time, Don signed on as Project Director for
Botany Bay with great excitement. “When I saw this
property I knew we had a special place,” he recalled.
Drawing on his experiences in finance, develop-
ment and club resort operations, he felt this
opportunity would be the perfect fit for his career.
Don credits the professional team and Timbers
team for the success of the project thus far as all
have been and continue to work extensively to get
planning and design approvals and to build a
beautiful resort at Botany Bay.
“What I enjoy most is touring people around
Botany Bay and observing their expression as they
see it for the first time,” said Don. “They are
always in awe of how unbelievably beautiful it is.”
When he's not working on this exciting project,
Don enjoys spending time with his 25-year-old
son, Max, who lives in Denver. He also is an avid
Denver Broncos fan with season tickets on the fifty-
yard-line.
“I've got the best of all worlds,” he noted. “I live in
the mountains, have a place in the city and work in
the Caribbean!”
uring a visit to Botany Bay this spring, several friends and I had the pleasure of dining at
The Old Stone Farmhouse on the east end of St. Thomas. Housed in the renovated ruins
of a 200-year-old Danish sugar plantation house, the building’s rich history is evident in
its structure and aesthetics with much of its original stonework in place and archways intact.
The graceful interior with its two-foot-thick walls and majestic rafters are
reminiscent of St. Thomas during the days of the flourishing clipper ship
trade, sugar plantations on lush rolling hills and the aristocratic mansions
of prosperous merchants. Today this magnificently converted farmhouse is
an excellent example of restoration and is considered to be one of the best
examples of classic West Indian architecture on the island.
Offering Old World charm, paired with delectable fine dining, The Old Stone Farmhouse is a
gourmand’s dream come true. On the evening of our visit, our group of gastronomes settled into a
table overlooking Mahogany Run Golf Course. Designed to feature the freshest and the brightest ideas
and ingredients daily, the chef ’s tasting menu intrigued several members of our group. A minimum of
two per table are required to order from the specialized selection and can chose either four, five or six
courses with an option for wine pairings featuring varietals from around the world. As the menu
changes daily and throughout the night to suit each table’s likes and dislikes, one never knows quite
what to expect.
After inquiring about dietary restrictions and certain foods we most enjoyed, our server was off to the
kitchen. She did an impressive job of keeping each dish a secret before it was presented, maintaining
an element of surprise throughout the evening.
A typical tasting will begin with seafood and fish, progressively moving into richer dishes of poultry
and red meats. Ours began with seabass filet, followed by a seared scallop, and ended with duck, all
served in savory sauces and herbs.
Among our party of five was a chef who was able to blindly decipher certain ingredients in each
dish as well as correctly guess how they were prepared. As our dessert platter arrived, so did Steven
Jankowski, the executive chef at The Old Stone Farmhouse whom we invited to our table. During
his tenure at the helm, The Old Stone Farmhouse has been recognized with numerous awards and
accolades including Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and being
deemed the Most Romantic restaurant in the Virgin Islands in 2006. Although somewhat humbled
to be summoned from the kitchen, the esteemed chef greeted us warmly and extended an open door
invitation to all Botany Bay owners and their guests.
Reservations Recommended. (340) 777-6277. Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 5:30-9:30 pm.
The Old Stone FarmhouseBy May Selby
Bordeaux Farmer’s Markethe last Sunday of every month, the Bordeaux Farmer’s Market takes place not far
from the entryway to Botany Bay. A communal event and neighborhood gathering,
the monthly market takes over the Bordeaux Tennis Courts and fairgrounds and is open
to one and all.
Stands display exotic fruits and organic vegetables as well as prepared food
from the market. Delicacies such as pumpkin soup served piping hot with
fresh cornbread and chilled juice from pressed flower petals are among the
unique offerings throughout the year.
Depending on the season, one can find papaya, plums, guava, sweetsap,
apples, cherries, and sugar cane for sale (some of which you may need
direction on how exactly to eat). Vegetables including onions, peas, okra,
sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and beets are grown locally and sold at the
market. Herbs such as lemon grass, basil, sage, and peppermint are offered in abundance. Some
growers even sell healing bushes, the leaves of which are used for medicinal teas and salves.
The monthly market is sponsored by a growers' co-op founded in 1993. Today, 35 members
comprise “We Grow Food, Inc,” selling products grown on the Estate Bordeaux on the Northwest
corner of St. Thomas.
Farming on the tiny island of St. Thomas is no small feat due to the steep terrain and protracted
dry season, which brings cultivation to a halt for a period of six weeks or so each year. Aside from
the mid-to-late summer dormant period, the average annual temperature in the mid-70s helps
farmers to grow nearly year-round.
In addition to delicious dishes and produce, music is always a vital item of the monthly market
where steel drummers gather and local musicians play reggae.
If you find yourself at Botany Bay on the last Sunday of the month, be sure to pay a visit to the
market. Shoppers are warmly received and kindly invited to sample the goods. Don't forget to
bring cash – credit cards are not accepted.
The Sugar Mill
ProfileBotany Bay
Project DirectorDon Parris
D
T
Correspondence care of:201 Main Street, Suite 202 Carbondale, CO 81623
www.thepreserveatbotanybay.com
The information included herein is subject to modifications that are part of the Developer’s ongoing quality improvement programs. These renderings are conceptual and subject to change.
Don Parris
Project Director
Frank Stapleton
Island Coordinator
Ray Babcock
Project Accountant
Susan Jeffas
Sales Manager
970-704-6192 direct, 340-642-3487 cell
Patrick Jeffas
Ownership Representative
970-704-6167 direct, 340-642-4229 cell
Melanie Taylor
Ownership Representative
970-704-6142 direct, 340-998-4174 cell
A vision ofparadise perfected.
Secret. Seductive. Secluded.
For more information, please call 866-963-5003 or email [email protected]. We look forward to introducing these unprecedented ownership opportunities to you.
he Preserve at Botany Bay hosted approximately
thirty visitors on October 26 as part of the Coastal Zone
Management’s International Coral Reef Symposium. Botany
Bay was the site for the first stop of the tour where Coral Reef Task
Force members were greeted by project director Don Parris, project
environmental engineer Bill McComb, and project archeology
consultant Elvis Babilonia. They welcomed the group to the property
and shared insights into environmental preservation efforts on behalf
of Botany Bay. They explained how through proper planning,
appropriate environmental studies and thoughtful construction
techniques, development can in fact take place with careful
consideration towards the environment.
“We try to work very closely
with the local agencies, the
Coastal Zone Management
and the V. I. State Historic
Preservation Office,” said
Parris. “The beauty of this
development is the water
and the scenery. It’s the last
thing we want to destroy.”
McComb described the
conservation efforts incorporated
by the project. He explained that
double-reinforced silt fencing is
used, constructed with metal posts,
instead of wooden ones, which are
more prone to collapse. The fences
hold back the earth from erosion
during the road-paving process. Babilonia relayed the archeological and
historical aspects of the property and outlined the preservation plans
developed in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Next the group continued on to the neighboring Bordeaux Plantation
for a firsthand look at one of the island’s unique water-retention
ponds, which help protect coral reefs and also furnish water for the
Bordeaux farmers.
Botany Bay project director Don Parris.
Coastal Zone Management’s InternationalCoral Reef Symposium Comes to Botany Bay
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Left: Botany Bay project archeologyconsultant Elvis Babilonia.
Above: Botany Bay projectenvironmentalengineer BillMcComb.