A private construction company has already snatched up a part of the Mirador del Sur Park for the construction of parking area for the tenants of a highrise luxury building. Now, according to Hoy newspaper’s Sunday edition, a similar appropriation is planned, this time with the takeover of an even greater area – 6,700 square meters adjacent to the Hotel Embajador – sufficient space on which to build two highrise luxury buildings. The vice-president of the National District municipality, Julian Roa, told Hoy reporters that only Congress could authorize the rental of the lands to the apartment building project. He explained that because the Environment Law 64-00 prohibits this practice, an amendment to the law would have to be made. Supposedly, Bienes Nacionales leased the property to the Parque Embajador, S.A., the company that would build the two towers. The company reportedly made a first annual payment of RD$4.5 million on the lease. Roa says that the land’s market value is approximately RD$200 million.
Hoy newspaper tried to locate Bienvenido Brito of the Bienes Nacionales department, but he was not available. Brito has been criticized in the past for authorizing the construction of a private restaurant called Adrian Tropical, on the park areas of the Malecon (Parque Litoral Sur), another violation of Law 64-00.