WSJ do egress rules not apply on the island

[SMHarman]

How is this a legal bedroom?

There is no window in the other direction either.

Every building code I have ever encountered requires an egress window from a bedroom.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I hated those bedrooms I saw at CV (and non-lofts at BV) - I found a lot of the new villas to be too dark overall.

As too building codes...? You are in the USVI after all... If there is one, then nothing a little well placed cash won't solve. Look at the multi-millionaire NYC Designer ahole that built his mega-villa into the National Park - $10K fine (pocket change).

 

[SMHarman]

Seems to indicate not legal. St John follows Miami Dade county building code.

http://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,70266,70284

 

[SMHarman]

I hated those bedrooms I saw at CV (and non-lofts at BV) - I found a lot of the new villas to be too dark overall.

As too building codes...? You are in the USVI after all... If there is one, then nothing a little well placed cash won't solve. Look at the multi-millionaire NYC Designer ahole that built his mega-villa into the National Park - $10K fine (pocket change).

I thought about this. They can put Windows in these units. I'll edit this post when I take that photo also.

While I get some billionaire a hole can build against code and pay a fine I bet his bedrooms have Windows. I also bet that Starwood Corporate / the HOA insurers and Interval would not like a wrongful death lawsuit from this.

Perhaps I should stop by the fire department to ask.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Ask Mike Ryan - but not sure you will get a straight answer.
Also - the link you added was not clear - especially if Timeshare villas have different codes. I would assume that Starwood has their behinds covered. Especially with the conversions.

Regardless - I disliked the CV villas and looks like SB villas are mimicking floor design. Also, I like the 2Bd loft and 3 Bd BV villas floor designs, but not the standard 2Bd BV. The VGV studios are quite dark, or all the light comes from one direction (annoying) - but not a fan of studios anyway.

Enjoy StJ. get over to Little Lamshure...

 

[SMHarman]

We would love yo speak to Mike Ryan. He's not returning my wifes calls (she's the legal owner)

I know in NYC or NJ, this would be a 1bed plus den and priced accordingly. The next floor up has true 2 beds.

We also had the VGV Studio. Not a fan either. The shuttle back and forth round those corners and over those bumps with a 22mo on your lap is quite scarry.

No boat trips this time. 22mo is too much of a handful on them. The ferry was fun enough.

 

[SMHarman]

Ask Mike Ryan - but not sure you will get a straight answer.

Another day, another voicemail not responded to.

Generally Managing to avoid.

 

[scootr5]

Interesting thread. We stayed in a 2 bedroom at Wyndham La Belle Maison in New Orleans this past summer. It was an interior unit, and neither bedroom had any other egress other than the entry door to the bedroom - there were no windows.

 

[canesfan]

I didn't give much thought to the 3 bedroom. The 2 back rooms didn't have windows. They were dark but I never considered the egress at the time.

 

[okwiater]

Are egress requirements different for hotels/timeshares? I guess that is the question which needs answering. I've stayed in "interior" rooms in NYC hotels which had no window or other secondary egress.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Are egress requirements different for hotels/timeshares? I guess that is the question which needs answering. I've stayed in "interior" rooms in NYC hotels which had no window or other secondary egress.

^^^ this ^^^

Somehow there was a question about egress in USVI, and then somehow they became 'illegal'. That is a stretch.

My money would be on that it is not illegal in the case of these villas at WSJ (makes no sense that this would be overlooked - even with USVI kickbacks).

It does suck that these bedrooms have no windows for light - that would prevent me from buying and not the legality.

 

[YYJMSP]

How is this a legal bedroom?

There is no window in the other direction either.

Every building code I have ever encountered requires an egress window from a bedroom.

Hmm, we stayed in a 2BR in CV last summer, and the second bedroom had a window between the two beds.

 

[SMHarman]

Hmm, we stayed in a 2BR in CV last summer, and the second bedroom had a window between the two beds.

It does. The ground floor does not. They were too cheap to cut them in the wall during conversion.

 

[SMHarman]

Are egress requirements different for hotels/timeshares? I guess that is the question which needs answering. I've stayed in "interior" rooms in NYC hotels which had no window or other secondary egress.

Most hotel rooms do not have a second exit. Hotel rooms that do not have a second exit do not have a kitchen between the exit and outside / safety.

As timeshares have HOA and are run like condos are they hotel?

 

[SMHarman]

So I had an interesting conversation with the head of engineering this morning. Will recount more with non fuzzy photos in a post tomorrow.

He was the one quoting window sizes to me.

Anyway he promises to get back to me with answers.

 

[alexadeparis]

I will only add my two cents to say that when I stayed in a 2 bed loft unit before the CV conversion, (I added a hotel night after our stay using starpoints) that the second bedroom did NOT have a window even back then.

 

[JudyS]

I am getting claustrophobia just looking at those pictures!

I once stayed in an interior room on a cruise ship. I brought a set of curtains with a "trompe-l'oeil" picture of a window on them. I hung the curtains on one of the walls so it looked like a window.

If I ever stay at the WSJ, I guess I'll need to bring my trompe-l'oeil curtains!

 

[LisaRex]

My local housing rules also require a closet for a room to be called a "bedroom." I've stayed in tons of hotels/timeshares that have armoires instead of closets. So I don't think we can use housing codes to determine whether a hotel timeshare is "legal."

That being said, I recently stayed in an apartment in an historical section of Nashville that didn't have any windows. The only source of natural light was a skylight in each bedroom, which obviously couldn't be used for escape. I've also stayed in apartments and hotels where the rooms were too high for a window escape to be feasible.

I'd imagine that if you don't or can't have a second escape route, for whatever reason, then sprinklers are mandatory.

 

[ronparise]

I know in NYC or NJ, this would be a 1bed plus den and priced accordingly. The next floor up has true 2 beds.
.

So do I understand correctly, The important thing here is the pricing?

 

[SMHarman]

My local housing rules also require a closet for a room to be called a "bedroom." I've stayed in tons of hotels/timeshares that have armoires instead of closets. So I don't think we can use housing codes to determine whether a hotel timeshare is "legal."

That being said, I recently stayed in an apartment in an historical section of Nashville that didn't have any windows. The only source of natural light was a skylight in each bedroom, which obviously couldn't be used for escape. I've also stayed in apartments and hotels where the rooms were too high for a window escape to be feasible.

I'd imagine that if you don't or can't have a second escape route, for whatever reason, then sprinklers are mandatory.

Hotels/Timeshares is the potential conflation or answer here. But hotel rooms have far less combustible sources. No stoves, microwaves, ovens, washers and dryers.

So do I understand correctly, The important thing here is the pricing?

Nope, fire and life safety.

 

[GrayFal]

So I had an interesting conversation with the head of engineering this morning. Will recount more with non fuzzy photos in a post tomorrow.

He was the one quoting window sizes to me.

Anyway he promises to get back to me with answers.

I assumed the first floor units did not have Windows because the back of the building was in the hillside. So seeing your picture sure makes it puzzling. Why wouldn't they put a long narrow window just as a source of light???
The other thing that is odd about the first floor two bedrooms is they did not incorporate what would be the entrance hallway into that bedroom to make it more spacious.

They shoulda' asked us!

That said, how are you enjoying the first floor with the larger outdoor space????

 

[DavidnRobin]

My prediction:

The back bedrooms (egress) in BV, CV, and SB phases comply with the USVI codes.

Re: Windows as a means of escaping fire? There is no escape from the window in our 2Bd TH villa without somehow breaking the window structure (throw dresser thru it?) - and even after that it is a pretty good distance to the ground below (especially for the 2nd floor villas).

Good that they are required to have sprinklers and fire alarms.
Notice sprinkler in photo that YYJMSP posted (upper right)

Here is photo of evacuation plan for B21 {insert laughing face}

B21 Bedroom - No window (assume sprinkler)

Only escape route!!!

 

[SMHarman]

My prediction:

The back bedrooms (egress) in BV, CV, and SB phases comply with the USVI codes.

Re: Windows as a means of escaping fire? There is no escape from the window in our 2Bd TH villa without somehow breaking the window structure (throw dresser thru it?) - and even after that it is a pretty good distance to the ground below (especially for the 2nd floor villas).

If the St John fire department does not have a ladder to reach a second floor window or a tool to break it then we are all doomed. I'm considering that in the event of a fire a fire dept would be on site within minutes to help you out of that room.

In 2214. They would be at that back wall with Jack hammer from the construction site.

Only escape route!!!

That escape route us looking the wrong way to where the door should be!

Oh and do you see the flammable surface above the two burners.

 

[DavidnRobin]

bad attempt at humor I guess (?) - see {insert laughing face}.
I was agreeing with you about the route out (and this is not common issue with hotel rooms) - the light in photo is way out with photo taken in front of the back bedroom so Therefore if fire starts in kitchen (most common source) - then route out is by this kitchenette.
iirc - these photos were taken when BV first opened. I am content with waiting for the Fire Dept up in B24...

What I do not agree with is the statement that it is 'illegal'. As mentioned, I doubt this.

 

[SMHarman]

What I do not agree with is the statement that it is 'illegal'. As mentioned, I doubt this.

Yes that is an inflammatory forum style statement. I wait to be told by the head of engineering why it is legal though.