Little St. James Island: USVI Permits & Construction

USVI BUILDING PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION RECORDS Property: Little St. James Island, U.S. Virgin Islands Owner: L.S.J., LLC (Epstein-controlled entity) Records Period: 2000-2019 ISLAND OVERVIEW: Little St. James is a 70-acre private island located southeast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jeffrey Epstein purchased the island in 1998 for approximately $7.95 million through a shell company. CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Building permit records and aerial survey comparisons document extensive construction activity: MAIN COMPOUND: - Multi-building residential complex with main house and guest villas - Swimming pool with adjacent entertainment areas - Staff quarters and service buildings THE "TEMPLE" STRUCTURE: The most widely discussed structure on the island was a distinctive building with blue and white striped walls and a gold dome, often referred to as the "temple." Building permits identify it as: - Permitted as a music pavilion/study - Approximately 20x20 feet - Originally featured a gold dome that was damaged in Hurricane Irma (2017) - Drone footage showed the structure included a heavy wooden door with a lock OTHER STRUCTURES: - Helicopter pad - Dock facilities and boat house - Utility buildings and generators - Sundial structure - Various paths and roads ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS: The USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources issued several notices regarding: - Unpermitted construction activities - Environmental violations related to native vegetation removal - Coastal zone management compliance issues CURRENT STATUS: Following Epstein's death, both Little St. James and Great St. James were sold in 2023 as part of the estate disposition for a reported $60 million. Source: USVI Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources Available at: https://dpnr.vi.gov/