WSJ - Coral Vista Villas phase

[tomandrobin]

Dear THOMAS,

It’s an exciting time at The Westin St. John Resort & Villas. As an Owner here, you’re the first to know about an extensive renovation project that will solidify your resort as one of the premier destinations in the Caribbean. I am pleased to announce that we will be converting select hotel rooms to villas for the new Coral Vista Villas phase. Additionally, a variety of enhancements are being made throughout the entire resort for your future enjoyment.

We appreciate your patience during this journey to elevate the resort experience. Please look for additional information in the next couple of days.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Clark Signature
Suzanne Clark
Vice President, Owner Services



Introducing
Coral Vista Villas

Buildings 21, 22 and 23 in the lower hillside section will be converted to 54 spacious studio and two-bedroom villas overlooking Great Cruz Bay. What you can expect:

• Stylish and contemporary furnishings
• Sales begin this October
• Construction to begin this December
• Occupancy will begin January 2015 with final completion expected April 2015
• Once completed, there will be 200 vacation ownership villas at the resort.

 

[tomandrobin]

http://www.omvillasstjohn.com/images/westin_map.gif

 

[DavidnRobin]

Tom - I already posted this on the WSJ thread...
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1536221&postcount=1477

I assume that this will be it's own HOA like speculated previously, and told to me during an Owner's Update that it cannot be an extension of BV. These new buildings will cause further devaluation the VOIs of VG and BV. (supply/demand)

 

[tomandrobin]

The next three buildings will only feature studios and 2-bedroom units. No 3-bedroom units or 1-bedroom units. Since the email did not mention 2-bedroom lofts, I might assume none of them either.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm going to leave it in this thread, because I think it's of more general interest than the "BIG" thread.

 

[tomandrobin]

Tom - I already posted this on the WSJ thread...
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1536221&postcount=1477

I assume that this will be it's own HOA like speculated previously, and told to me during an Owner's Update that it cannot be an extension of BV. These new buildings will cause further devaluation the VOIs of VG and BV. (supply/demand)

I missed it.....

 

[DavidnRobin]

I'm going to leave it in this thread, because I think it's of more general interest than the "BIG" thread.

Fine by me - I would like to hear others opinions (and facts) on this.

I missed that they will only be 2Bd and studios - that helps the 1Bd owners in VGV as those will be the only 1Bd available.

My opinion - as mentioned - it will further devalue the VGV and BV VOIs due to an increase in supply (unless people figure out they can rent from owners instead of WSJ/SPG at a large savings).

Those who brought BV to be closer to the pool and resort should have waited.

 

[vistana101]

Thanks for the info! Its great to see so many things happening around the resort. I just checked the Westin Website and I saw the Cruz Bay Prime closed, does anyone know why or have any specifics?

 

[pharmgirl]

Any estimates on how many villas this will be?

 

[DeniseM]

From the first post: 54 spacious studio and two-bedroom villas

 

[pharmgirl]

From the first post: 54 spacious studio and two-bedroom villas

Oops, thanks
Interested, but hope there will be some that sell as floating, find fixed to be too rigid for us
We've rented from owners and once exchanged into WSJ press week using Maui

 

[LisaH]

Will Westin St John be 100% timeshares after this project is completed?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Will Westin St John be 100% timeshares after this project is completed?

No - there will still be B10-B12 and B14-B16

 

[tomandrobin]

We have two trips planned for next year.....May and July.

Hopefully, the construction will not be impacting both of these trips.

 

[czar]

Those who brought BV to be closer to the pool and resort should have waited.

Is this because these units are even closer? I'm assuming that these are the ones slightly lower and to the right if BV as you look up the hill?

I wonder if hear will be flex season like BV. How does the number of these units compare to BV?

I'm curious because I was planning to buy a BV summer float week but now I'm thinking it might be better to wait...although BV barely had a view so this section will probably have even less if a view.

 

[tomandrobin]

Is this because these units are even closer? I'm assuming that these are the ones slightly lower and to the right if BV as you look up the hill?

I wonder if hear will be flex season like BV. How does the number of these units compare to BV?

I'm curious because I was planning to buy a BV summer float week but now I'm thinking it might be better to wait...although BV barely had a view so this section will probably have even less if a view.

Some of the Bay Vista had views....not the sweeping vistas of the hillside units.

This is the view from our unit. The new phase is the next row down, you can see one of the roofs.

 

[Carolyn]

I am just hoping that with the building of the new studios, SVO will increase their Staroptions value. Considering that St. John is one of the most desired Caribbean islands AND the WSJ is a nearly impossible exchange, I would think their "value" would increase. And hopefully this would also prompt the 1 Bedrooms value in Staroptions to be increased also. I understand this happened when the 2 BR Bay Vista units were built. Therefore the 2 BR Hillside owners units also increased in Staroptions

 

[LisaRex]

I am just hoping that with the building of the new studios, SVO will increase their Staroptions value.

SO valuation is all over the place, IMO. It's not just WSJ. I just picked up a 3 bdrm at HRA for 125,000 for 5/31-6/4. I can't imagine paying all that $$ in MFs only to get 125,000 SOs.

 

[lizap]

I seriously doubt they will require any more than than Bay Vista. This is great news for those of us who own a mandatory property, as it will increase availability and our chances for an exchange..

I am just hoping that with the building of the new studios, SVO will increase their Staroptions value. Considering that St. John is one of the most desired Caribbean islands AND the WSJ is a nearly impossible exchange, I would think their "value" would increase. And hopefully this would also prompt the 1 Bedrooms value in Staroptions to be increased also. I understand this happened when the 2 BR Bay Vista units were built. Therefore the 2 BR Hillside owners units also increased in Staroptions

 

[DeniseM]

Should increase II deposits, too...

 

[SMHarman]

I am just hoping that with the building of the new studios, SVO will increase their Staroptions value. Considering that St. John is one of the most desired Caribbean islands AND the WSJ is a nearly impossible exchange, I would think their "value" would increase. And hopefully this would also prompt the 1 Bedrooms value in Staroptions to be increased also. I understand this happened when the 2 BR Bay Vista units were built. Therefore the 2 BR Hillside owners units also increased in Staroptions

Your weeks are already at the network max and on parity with HRA and HI (considering HI has a more consistent equatorial climate and year round good weather and the Caribbean is more seasonal).

SO valuation is all over the place, IMO. It's not just WSJ. I just picked up a 3 bdrm at HRA for 125,000 for 5/31-6/4. I can't imagine paying all that $$ in MFs only to get 125,000 SOs.

You are also paying for a 12 m booking window and buying where you want to go.

 

[alexadeparis]

I have stayed in these buildings

I stayed in this building for the last night of our trip. It was a two bedroom unit that opened on the ground floor and contained a living and dining room, in the size of a large hotel room. Stairs going up led to a bridge overlooking the first floor living/dining combo and the two bedrooms were contained upstairs (one on either side) in spaces where our room on the first floor did not go. Its hard to explain in words, so I will try to represent it here. So I believe that the set up in those buildings is:


Unit A / Unit B / Unit C
2nd Floor: 2nd Bedroom / Bridge / Master Bedroom


1st Floor: Studio / Entry -2 Bd unit / Studio


So, I believe that unless they do major structural work, the breakdown of studios will be 36 and there will be 18 2 bedroom units, divided among the three buildings. It is possible that there is some other configuration that I did not see, but based on the way the 2 bedroom unit was, I don't see where else the studios could go.

 

[GregT]

I stayed in this building for the last night of our trip. It was a two bedroom unit that opened on the ground floor and contained a living and dining room, in the size of a large hotel room. Stairs going up led to a bridge overlooking the first floor living/dining combo and the two bedrooms were contained upstairs (one on either side) in spaces where our room on the first floor did not go. Its hard to explain in words, so I will try to represent it here. So I believe that the set up in those buildings is:


Unit A / Unit B / Unit C
2nd Floor: 2nd Bedroom / Bridge / Master Bedroom


1st Floor: Studio / Entry -2 Bd unit / Studio


So, I believe that unless they do major structural work, the breakdown of studios will be 36 and there will be 18 2 bedroom units, divided among the three buildings. It is possible that there is some other configuration that I did not see, but based on the way the 2 bedroom unit was, I don't see where else the studios could go.

That is helpful information -- thank you!

Can you comment further on the size of the Studios? Can you guess if they will be same size as the Studios in the other phase (the press releases suggests they will be larger?)

Please advise and thanks!

 

[letsgomets]

I've stayed in 21, 22 and 23. About 1 minute closer to the pool (except 23, which is further than all BV except 27), but doesn't have nearly the views of buildings 24 and 27 in BV.

Interested to see how they configure the 2BR -- they can do it just like the BV units, which is essentially the footprint of 2 side-by-side hotel rooms. Or they can do it like the prior poster mentioned (I've stayed in the 2BR hotel rooms in 22 and 23), which would actually be somewhat similar to the 2BR+loft layout of BV.

 

[Carolyn]

Your weeks are already at the network max and on parity with HRA and HI (considering HI has a more consistent equatorial climate and year round good weather and the Caribbean is more seasonal)

.

What do you mean by "network max"? My Platinum WSJ Studio is worth 44,000 Staroptions. A studio at WKORVN is worth 67,100 My WSJ Platinum Premium 1 bedroom townhouse is only worth 51,700 Staroptions. This compares to the 1 bedroom at WKORVN worth 81,000