I have looked at the pictures that Steve has recently posted and they sent a wave of emotions over me.
I am sad to see Juan Dolio change so much. How many new apartments are there along Calle Blvd. now anyways? I do belive in growth and improvements but I do not have totally positive vibes with all these new buildings and the changes that come with them.
When I first saw the pictures it reminded me of how simple things were on Calle Blvd. when I first saw it. Way back then, in the good ole' days, it was a small dirt road with thick growth of trees on both sides of the road. The work horses from the cane fields traveled freely back and forth in the street to eat. They were never tied upback then. The chickens ran free also. Today you won't see them because of the number of cars. There were very few cars back then. There was not much to see past the Melia back then either. It was a small friendly neighborhood that was safe to walk any time of the day or night. The police were seen around town often during the day riding in their VW bugs. They then built the divided highway (LOL) complete with speed bumps on Calle Blvd. and made it prettier with flowers in the middle. Some building went on slowly but steadily such as Plaza Real but it still had that small town feeling. It was nice meeting some tourists now and then also. So that is what I will miss about Juan Dolio.
I am also sad to see that tourism is down in JD and that resorts are being pushed out by condos. So many people will lose jobs in that area.I don't envision residents of the condos spending money in the gift shops or on anything else tourist related. I do see some positive sides but they not for the benefit of Dominicans. I see more restaurants or improved existing restaurants, a grocery store, a bigger laundymat all owned and run by expats.The jobs they will provide will not make up for the jobs lost nor will they pay enough money for a Dominican to live on. The rent in exisiting apartments will also go up in price. I realize rents have gone up everywhere but let's remember we are still talking about the Dominican Republic and not Miami Beach. The first time I rented on Calle Blvd. my rent was $150 a month for a 2 bedroom furnished apartment. The second time, 2 years later it was $350 a month for a one bedroom furnished apartment. I am going to guess that either one of those apartments are now $500 a month. That is very sad to me. I pay $500 a month here in Massachusetts and would rightfully so expect to pay half of that in the DR.
I also see the crime rate going up in JD very rapidly such as we have seen up North of the island.
Soooooo those are some of the things running through my mind seeing my hometown in the DR change.
What are some of your opinions on the positive and negative sides of the growth in JD?
I am sad to see Juan Dolio change so much. How many new apartments are there along Calle Blvd. now anyways? I do belive in growth and improvements but I do not have totally positive vibes with all these new buildings and the changes that come with them.
When I first saw the pictures it reminded me of how simple things were on Calle Blvd. when I first saw it. Way back then, in the good ole' days, it was a small dirt road with thick growth of trees on both sides of the road. The work horses from the cane fields traveled freely back and forth in the street to eat. They were never tied upback then. The chickens ran free also. Today you won't see them because of the number of cars. There were very few cars back then. There was not much to see past the Melia back then either. It was a small friendly neighborhood that was safe to walk any time of the day or night. The police were seen around town often during the day riding in their VW bugs. They then built the divided highway (LOL) complete with speed bumps on Calle Blvd. and made it prettier with flowers in the middle. Some building went on slowly but steadily such as Plaza Real but it still had that small town feeling. It was nice meeting some tourists now and then also. So that is what I will miss about Juan Dolio.
I am also sad to see that tourism is down in JD and that resorts are being pushed out by condos. So many people will lose jobs in that area.I don't envision residents of the condos spending money in the gift shops or on anything else tourist related. I do see some positive sides but they not for the benefit of Dominicans. I see more restaurants or improved existing restaurants, a grocery store, a bigger laundymat all owned and run by expats.The jobs they will provide will not make up for the jobs lost nor will they pay enough money for a Dominican to live on. The rent in exisiting apartments will also go up in price. I realize rents have gone up everywhere but let's remember we are still talking about the Dominican Republic and not Miami Beach. The first time I rented on Calle Blvd. my rent was $150 a month for a 2 bedroom furnished apartment. The second time, 2 years later it was $350 a month for a one bedroom furnished apartment. I am going to guess that either one of those apartments are now $500 a month. That is very sad to me. I pay $500 a month here in Massachusetts and would rightfully so expect to pay half of that in the DR.
I also see the crime rate going up in JD very rapidly such as we have seen up North of the island.
Soooooo those are some of the things running through my mind seeing my hometown in the DR change.
What are some of your opinions on the positive and negative sides of the growth in JD?