We did discuss this in another thread. I think key to this will be stopping the trucks coming along the Malecon. I just can't see how it could possibly work unless traffic on the Malecon was severely reduced, and certainly no trucks. There is already a law that says trucks can't use the Malecon, and Collado has been wanting to do this for years, so I imagine this will now be the clincher. The interesting thing is that if you walk from Jaragua to the Colonial Zone, you come in at the Ciudad Nueva / Independence Square / Pacos end of the Conde which is the most run-down end. And, indeed, the end of the Conde that they have done least to regenerate, no wires buried, no zhooshed up streets, a very basic amount of work. If this does regenerate that part of the Conde then happy days.
I also suspect that the mess of the Torre Veiramar 3 and the other tower directly opposite Guibia will now have to be sorted out. Real estate will go up in value as a result of the cruise port.
Of course the more radical solution, of building a breakwater and then allowing a beach to form would be the best one for tourism, this has been discussed many times - the traffic would then be diverted along the breakwater / bridge to join Avenida España and Santo Domingo would finally get a beach. Cruise companies do have deep pockets and Santo Domingo is such an obvious stop as it's only a day out from Fort Lauderdale. I just hope and pray this happens.
